In British Columbia, Canada, confined space entry procedures and safety regulations are governed by Part 9 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (B.C. Reg. 296/97). [8]

The regulations outline the requirements for a confined space entry program, responsibilities, hazard assessment, work procedures, and other safety measures to protect workers entering confined spaces.

Key aspects of the confined space entry procedures and safety regulations include:

• A written confined space entry program that includes assignment of responsibilities, a list of confined spaces and hazard assessments, and written safe work procedures.
• Hazard assessments to consider conditions and potential hazards such as oxygen deficiency, flammable gas, harmful substances, engulfment, and other hazardous conditions.
• Written procedures specifying means to eliminate or minimize all likely hazards.
• Identification of each point of access to a confined space with a sign indicating the hazard and prohibiting entry by unauthorized workers.
• An entry permit completed and signed by the responsible supervisor before a worker enters a confined space with a high hazard atmosphere, that requires lockout or isolation procedures, or in which there is a hazard of entrapment or engulfment.

[1] [2] [2] [5] [5] The employer is responsible for assigning overall administration of the confined space entry program to a trained person, as well as assigning a trained supervisor before any worker enters a confined space. [1] [1]

Before a worker enters a confined space, rescue personnel must be notified of work in the space, and again when all workers have exited the space. [3]

Continuous ventilation must be provided while a worker is inside the space, with some exceptions, and a minimum of 85 m³/hr of clean respirable air must be supplied for each worker inside a confined space with a low hazard atmosphere. [7] [7]

When entering a confined space with a high hazard atmosphere, risk of entrapment/engulfment, or any other recognized serious health or safety hazard, the worker must wear a harness with a lifeline attached, tended by a standby person outside the entrance. [3]

The atmosphere in the confined space must be tested before entry, and testing must be carried out by a qualified person with training and experience to calibrate, operate, and monitor testing equipment and interpret readings. [9] [4]

Electrical tools and equipment used in a confined space must be grounded or double-insulated and protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter if wet or damp conditions exist. [6]

Only non-sparking tools may be used in a confined space where flammable or explosive gases, vapors, or liquids are present. [10]