top border
 
traumatic occupational injury logo
traumatic occupational injury

















Confined Spaces

photo of worker entering a manhole
"Confined Space" refers to a space which by design has limited openings for entry and exit, unfavorable natural ventilation which could contain or produce dangerous air contaminants, and which is not intended for continuous employee occupancy. Confined
spaces include but are not limited to storage tanks, compartments of ships, process vessels, pits, silos, vats, degreasers, reaction vessels, boilers, ventilation and exhaust ducts, sewers, tunnels, underground utility vaults, and pipelines. (from Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Working in Confined Spaces.)

NIOSH Publications on Confined Spaces:

Worker Deaths in Confined Spaces (DHHS (NIOSH) Pub. No. 94-103) January 1994. this logo designates a pdf document

This publication provides a summary of surveillance findings and the full text of 70 investigative case reports from 70 incidents in which 109 workers died. These incidents and investigations occurred between December 1983 and September 1993.

A Guide to Safety in Confined Spaces (DHHS (NIOSH) Pub. No. 87-113) July 1987. this logo designates a pdf document

This manual provides information on recognition of confined spaces and their hazards, and specific safe work practices for testing, monitoring, and ventilating the atmosphere; isolation of energy sources (lockout-tagout); respirators; standby/rescue; and addressing general physical hazards such as temperature extremes, engulfment hazards, slick surfaces, and noise. A checklist for confined space entry is appended.

NIOSH Alert: Request for Assistance in Preventing Occupational Fatalities in Confined Spaces (DHHS (NIOSH) Pub.No. 86-110) January 1986.

This publication emphasizes the hazards faced by workers and rescuers who enter confined spaces. It provides summary case reports of eight fatal incidents that were investigated under the Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) program. The report concludes that in each case there was lack of recognition of the hazards; lack of testing, evaluation, and monitoring; and lack of planned rescue procedures. The Alert provides recommendations for addressing these problems.

Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Working in Confined Spaces (DHHS (NIOSH) Pub. No. 80-106) September 1979. this logo designates a pdf document

This publication outlines a classifiction system for confined spaces (Class A-Immediately Dangerous to Life/Health (IDLH); Class B-dangerous, but not IDLH; Class C-potentially hazardous). It provides a checklist of factors to consider for each class, and provides information on establishing a permit-based entry system, testing and monitoring the atmosphere in a confined space, safe work procedures, and safety equipment and clothing. Other specific topics covered include ventilation, lockout-tagout, rescue, and training.

Fatality Investigation Reports (conducted under the FACE Program)

One of the initial emphasis areas for the FACE program was confined space-related fatalities. Since the inception of the FACE program in 1982, 132 fatal incidents involving confined space entry and rescue efforts have been investigated by NIOSH and State investigators. This link provides a list of those cases which in turn links to the full-text reports on the FACEWeb.

 

Other pages of interest:

OSHA Technical Link on Confined Spaces

American National Standards Institute

The National Safety Council

 

small traumatic occupational injury logo Traumatic Occupational Injury Home