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Saskatchewan Legislation

Saskatchewan Confined Space

This material has been extracted from the Acts and Regulations of the Province to help students understand the subject. It is not an official source of information and must not be used  for any other purpose.

The following is Copyright©2009 The Queen’s Printer, Saskatchewan

The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 1996



PART XVIII

Confined Space Entry
Interpretation

266 In this Part:
(a) “confined space” means an enclosed or partially enclosed space that:
(i) is not primarily designed or intended for human occupancy, except
for the purpose of performing work; and
(ii) has restricted means of entrance and exit;
(b) “hazardous confined space” means a confined space that is or may
become hazardous to a worker entering the confined space due to:
(i) the design, construction or atmosphere of the confined space;
(ii) the materials or substances in the confined space;
(iii) the work activities or processes used in the confined space; or
(iv) any other conditions relating to the confined space;
(c) “isolate” means to physically interrupt or disconnect pipes, lines and
sources of energy from a confined space.

Identification of confined spaces, hazards, etc.
267 Where a worker may be required or permitted to work in a confined space, an employer, in consultation with the committee, shall identify:
(a) types of confined spaces at the place of employment that a worker may be
required or permitted to enter;
(b) types of hazards that are or may be present at each confined space;
(c) alternative means to perform the work to be performed in a confined
space that will not require the worker to enter the confined space; and
(d) alterations to the physical characteristics of the confined spaces that
may be necessary to ensure safe entrance to and exit from all accessible parts
of each confined space.
Avoidance of entry into hazardous confined space

268(1) Where reasonably practicable, an employer shall use an alternative means to perform work that will not require a worker to enter a hazardous confined space.
(2) An employer shall take all reasonably practicable steps to prevent any
unauthorized entry into the confined space.
Requirements before confined space is entered

269(1) Where a worker will be required or permitted to work in a confined space,
an employer, contractor or owner shall, before requiring or permitting the worker to enter the confined space:
(a) ensure that there is a safe entrance to and exit from all accessible parts
of the confined space; and
(b) make all practicable alterations to the physical characteristics of the
confined space necessary to ensure a safe entrance to and exit from all
accessible parts of the confined space.
(2) In making alterations pursuant to clause (1)(b), an employer shall ensure that
the structural integrity of the confined space is maintained.
Requirements before hazardous confined space is entered

270(1) Before a worker is required or permitted to enter a confined space, an
employer shall appoint a competent person:
(a) to assess the hazards;
(b) where a hazardous atmosphere has been identified, to test the atmosphere
of the confined space for:
(i) oxygen enrichment or deficiency;
(ii) the presence of flammable or explosive substances; and
(iii) the presence and hazardous concentration of airborne chemical
substances; and
(c) to determine whether:
(i) work activities or processes will result in the release of toxic,
flammable or explosive concentrations of any substances during the
worker’s occupation of the confined space;
(ii) measures have been taken to ensure that a worker will not drown or
become entrapped in any liquid or free-flowing solid present in the
confined space;
(iii) the entry of any liquid, free-flowing solid or hazardous substance
into the confined space in a quantity that could endanger the health or
safety of the worker has been prevented;
(iv) all energy sources that present a hazard to a worker entering into,
exiting from or occupying the confined space have been locked out, with
the energy sources being put in a zero energy state;
(v) any hazards from biological substances are present in the confined
space; and
(vi) the opening for entry into and exit from the confined space is
sufficient to allow safe passage of a worker who is using personal
protective equipment required by these regulations.
(2) When testing the atmosphere of a confined space pursuant to clause (1)(b), a
competent person shall use appropriate and properly calibrated instruments that
have been tested to ensure that the instruments are capable of operating safely and effectively.
(3) A competent person who carries out the activities described in clauses (1)(a)
to (c) shall prepare a report in writing that sets out:
(a) the results of the assessment, tests and determinations;
(b) recommended special precautions and procedures to reduce the risk to a
worker that are to be followed by a worker entering into, exiting from or
occupying the confined space; and
(c) recommended personal protective equipment to be used by a worker
entering the confined space.
Notice where no hazard found

271 Where a confined space is not identified as a hazardous confined space, an
employer shall:
(a) notify a worker who is required to enter the confined space verifying that
the confined space is not hazardous;
(b) arrange for a method of communication with a worker on entry to and
exit from the confined space and at appropriate intervals while a worker is in
the confined space;
(c) prepare a procedure for the removal of a worker who has become injured
or incapacitated while in the confined space; and
(d) ensure that the ventilation in the confined space is adequate to maintain
safe atmospheric conditions.

 

Entry plan
272(1) Where a worker will be required or permitted to enter a hazardous
confined space, an employer, in consultation with the committee, shall develop a
hazardous confined space entry plan to ensure the health and safety of workers who enter or work in the hazardous confined space.
(2) A hazardous confined space entry plan must be in writing and must include:
(a) the tests or measurements necessary to monitor any oxygen deficiency or
enrichment or the presence and hazardous concentration of flammable or
explosive substances;
(b) the identification of any other hazards that may be present in the
hazardous confined space and may put the health or safety of workers at risk;
(c) the means, if any, of isolating the hazardous confined space;
(d) the means, if any, of ventilating the hazardous confined space;
(e) the procedures to enter, work in and exit from the hazardous confined
space safely;
(f) the availability, location and proper use of personal protective equipment;
(g) the rescue procedures to be followed, including the number and duties of
personnel and the availability, location and proper use of equipment;
(h) the means to maintain effective communication with a worker who has
entered the hazardous confined space; and
(i) the availability, location and proper use of any other equipment that a
worker may need to work safely in the hazardous confined space.
(3) An employer shall ensure that the following workers are trained in and
implement a hazardous confined space entry plan:
(a) a worker who is required or permitted to enter the hazardous confined
space;
(b) a worker who attends a worker in the hazardous confined space
pursuant to subsection 274(4) or (5);
(c) a worker who may be required or permitted to implement the rescue
procedures mentioned in clause (2)(g).
(4) An employer shall make a copy of a hazardous confined space entry plan
readily available at the entrance to the hazardous confined space.
Purging and ventilating of unsafe atmosphere

273(1) In addition to the requirements of section 369, where a concentration of a
toxic, flammable or explosive substance is present or an oxygen enrichment or
deficiency exists in a hazardous confined space, an employer shall ensure that the hazardous confined space is:
(a) purged and ventilated before a worker is allowed to enter the space, so
that:
(i) any hazard associated with a toxic, flammable or explosive substance
is reduced to the extent that is possible or eliminated; and
(ii) an oxygen content of not less than 19.5% and not more than 23% is
ensured; and
(b) continuously ventilated at all times during which the worker occupies
the hazardous confined space, to maintain a safe atmosphere.
(2) Where ventilation is used to reduce or eliminate a hazard pursuant to
subsection (1), an employer shall ensure that a competent person tests the
atmosphere to determine that the confined space is safe for entry by a worker:
(a) before a worker enters the confined space;
(b) where all workers have vacated the confined space, before any worker
re-enters the confined space;
(c) on the request of a worker who is required or permitted to enter the
confined space; and
(d) continuously where any condition in the confined space may change and
put the worker’s health or safety at risk.
Precautions where safe atmosphere not possible

274(1) Where a hazardous confined space cannot be purged and ventilated to
provide a safe atmosphere or a safe atmosphere cannot be maintained pursuant to section 273, an employer shall ensure that no work is carried on in the confined space except in accordance with the requirements of this section and section 369.
(2) An employer shall ensure that a competent person continuously monitors the
atmosphere in a hazardous confined space.
(3) An employer shall ensure that a worker is provided with and required to use a
respiratory protective device that meets the requirements of Part VII if:
(a) the airborne concentration for any substance meets or exceeds the
permissible contamination limit mentioned in clause 307(1)(a);
(b) oxygen deficiency or enrichment is detected; or
(c) the airborne concentration of any other substance may be harmful to the
worker.
(4) An employer shall ensure that a worker in a hazardous confined space is
attended by and in communication with another worker who:
(a) has been adequately trained in the rescue procedures mentioned in
clause 272(2)(g);
(b) is stationed and remains at the entrance to the confined space unless
replaced by another adequately trained worker; and
(c) is equipped with a suitable alarm to summon assistance.
(5) If entrance to a hazardous confined space is from the top:
(a) an employer shall ensure that:
(i) a worker uses a full-body harness and, where appropriate, is
attached to a lifeline;
(ii) if a lifeline is used, the lifeline is attended by another worker who is
adequately trained in the rescue procedures mentioned in
clause 272(2)(g); and
(iii) where reasonably practicable, a mechanical lifting device is
available to assist with a rescue and is located at the entry to the
confined space while a worker is in the confined space; or
(b) an employer shall ensure that an alternate method of rescue is developed
and implemented where the use of a full-body harness or lifeline would create
an additional hazard.
(6) If any flammable or explosive dusts, gases, vapours or liquids are or may be
present in a hazardous confined space, an employer shall ensure that all sources of ignition are eliminated or controlled.
(7) An employer shall ensure that:
(a) equipment necessary to rescue workers is readily available at the
entrance to the hazardous confined space and used in accordance with the
rescue procedures developed pursuant to clause 272(2)(g);
(b) the holder of a class A qualification in first aid is available to provide
immediate first aid; and
(c) personnel who are trained in the rescue procedures developed pursuant
to clause 272(2)(g) and who are fully informed of the hazards in the confined
space are readily available to assist in a rescue procedure.
Piping discharging hazardous substances

275(1) Where a worker may be required or permitted to work in a confined space
into which piping may discharge a hazardous substance, an employer shall ensure that the piping:
(a) has a blank installed that is sized for the proper pressure in the piping
before the piping enters the confined space;
(b) is equipped with two blocking valves and a bleed-off valve installed
between the blocking valves located so that any bleed off does not contaminate
the confined space; or
(c) is equipped with an approved safety device.
(2) Where piping is equipped with two blocking valves and a bleed-off valve
pursuant to clause (1)(b) or an approved safety device pursuant to clause (1)(c), an employer shall ensure that:
(a) the valves in the flow lines are locked out in the “closed” position and the
bleed-off valve is locked out in the “open” position;
(b) the valves are tagged to indicate that the valves must not be activated
until the tags have been removed by a worker designated by the employer for
that purpose; and
(c) the worker designated pursuant to clause (b):
(i) monitors the valves to ensure that they are not activated while a
worker is in the confined space; and
(ii) records on the tag mentioned in clause (b) the date and time of each
monitoring and signs the tag each time the worker monitors the valves.

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