What is a Confined Space?

A confined space is any enclosed or partially enclosed area that:

Is not designed for continuous human occupancy
Has limited or restricted entry and exit
May have an atmosphere that is or could become hazardous (oxygen deficiency, toxic gases, flammable vapours)

Common Examples in South African Workplaces

Storage tanks, silos, and hoppers
Boilers, furnaces, and ovens
Pipes, ducts, and culverts
Manholes and underground chambers
Excavations deeper than 1.5 metres
Vessels, reactors, and columns
Roof spaces and ceiling voids
Water and sewage treatment tanks
Underground vaults and service tunnels
Ship holds and cargo tanks

Why Confined Spaces Are So Dangerous

Confined space incidents have a devastatingly high fatality rate — in many cases, would-be rescuers also die because they enter without proper equipment or training. The primary hazards include:

Atmospheric Hazards

Oxygen deficiency (below 19.5%) — can cause unconsciousness and death within minutes
Oxygen enrichment (above 23.5%) — increases fire and explosion risk
Toxic gases — hydrogen sulphide (H₂S), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides, chlorine
Flammable gases and vapours — methane, petrol vapour, solvent vapours
Inert gas displacement — nitrogen, argon, or CO₂ displacing breathable air

Physical Hazards

Engulfment — burial by grain, sand, or other bulk materials
Entrapment — getting stuck or caught by internal structures
Flooding — sudden inrush of water or other liquids
Temperature extremes — heat stroke or hypothermia
Moving parts — agitators, mixers, augers that could be accidentally activated
Electrical hazards — exposed wiring or equipment within the space

Legal Framework in South Africa

General Safety Regulations (GSR 5)

The General Safety Regulations under the OHSA regulate confined space entry:

A permit-to-work system must be implemented for confined space entry
The atmosphere must be tested before entry and continuously monitored during work
A standby person must be stationed outside the confined space at all times
Rescue equipment must be available
Workers must be trained in confined space procedures

Construction Regulations 2014

For construction activities involving confined spaces:

Risk assessment must specifically address confined space hazards
Included in the overall health and safety plan
Competent persons must supervise confined space work

OHSA General Duties

Section 8: Employer must provide a safe working environment — including within confined spaces
Section 14: Workers must follow safety procedures and report hazards
Section 10: Equipment used in confined spaces must be safe and suitable

The Permit-to-Work System

A confined space entry permit is a formal, written authorisation that ensures all safety precautions are in place before anyone enters a confined space.

Essential Elements of a Confined Space Permit

Identification: Description and location of the confined space
Purpose: Why entry is required and what work will be done
Personnel: Names of entrants, standby person, and supervisor
Duration: Start and end times — permits are typically valid for one shift only
Hazard assessment: Specific hazards identified for this space and task
Atmospheric testing results:

Oxygen level (19.5% – 23.5% is safe)
Flammable gas/vapour (below 10% of LEL)
Toxic gases (below occupational exposure limits)

Control measures:

Isolation (electrical, mechanical, pipework)
Lock-out/tag-out confirmation
Ventilation arrangements
PPE requirements
Communication methods

Rescue plan: Emergency procedures and equipment
Authorisation: Signed by the authorised person, entrants, and standby person
Cancellation: Signed when work is complete and all persons have exited

Who Authorises the Permit?

A competent person — someone with the knowledge, training, and experience to assess confined space hazards and authorise safe entry. This person should hold relevant safety qualifications.

Atmospheric Testing

When to Test

Before entry — the atmosphere must be tested before anyone enters
Continuously during entry — conditions can change rapidly
After any break — re-test before re-entering after a break

What to Test For

Parameter	Safe Range	Action if Outside Range
Oxygen (O₂)	19.5% – 23.5%	Do not enter / evacuate
Flammable gases	Below 10% LEL	Do not enter / evacuate
Hydrogen Sulphide (H₂S)	Below 10 ppm	Do not enter / evacuate
Carbon Monoxide (CO)	Below 30 ppm	Do not enter / evacuate

Testing Equipment

Multi-gas detector — the standard tool for confined space atmospheric testing
Must be calibrated according to manufacturer specifications
Must be bump tested before each use
Entrants should carry personal gas monitors during entry

The Role of the Standby Person

The standby person is a critical safety role:

Duties

Remain outside the confined space at all times
Maintain continuous communication with entrants (visual, verbal, or electronic)
Monitor atmospheric conditions
Be ready to initiate emergency procedures immediately
Keep a log of persons entering and exiting
Prevent unauthorised entry
Never enter the confined space to attempt rescue (unless they are a trained rescuer with proper equipment and a backup standby is in place)

The Critical Rule

The standby person must never abandon their post and must never enter the space without proper rescue equipment and a replacement standby. Many confined space fatalities involve standby persons who entered to rescue a colleague and became victims themselves.

Rescue Planning

Pre-Entry Rescue Plan

Before any confined space entry, a rescue plan must be in place:

Self-rescue — the preferred option. Can entrants exit on their own if conditions deteriorate?
Non-entry rescue — can entrants be rescued from outside? (Retrieval systems, lifelines, tripods)
Entry rescue — trained rescuers entering the space with appropriate equipment

Rescue Equipment

Tripod and winch — for vertical confined space rescue
Retrieval system with full-body harness and lifeline
Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) for rescue teams
Stretcher suitable for confined space extraction
First aid equipment including oxygen administration
Communication equipment (radios, hardwired communication)

Response Time

Rescue must be available to commence within minutes
On-site rescue capability is always preferable to relying on external emergency services
Practice rescue drills at least annually (quarterly is best practice)

Training Requirements

All Confined Space Entrants Must Receive Training On:

Hazard recognition specific to confined spaces
Atmospheric testing equipment use
PPE selection and use (respiratory protection, harnesses)
Permit-to-work procedures
Emergency procedures and self-rescue
Communication methods

Standby Persons Must Additionally Know:

How to initiate emergency procedures
Communication protocols
Non-entry rescue techniques
When and how to call for help

Supervisors and Permit Issuers Must Additionally Know:

Hazard assessment methodology for confined spaces
Atmospheric testing and interpretation
Isolation and lock-out/tag-out procedures
Rescue plan development
Permit-to-work system management

Recommended Qualifications

Confined Space Entry Training — specific to confined space procedures
NEBOSH IGC — covers confined space hazards within broader safety management
HIRA Training — for conducting the risk assessments that inform confined space entry
Incident Investigation Training — for investigating confined space incidents

How OHS Compliance Group Can Help

We provide the foundational training for safe confined space operations:

NEBOSH IGC — covers confined space hazards, risk assessment, and permit-to-work systems
HIRA Training — conduct thorough hazard identification for confined space entry
Incident Investigation Training — investigate confined space incidents and near-misses effectively

Our courses provide the competency framework that supports safe confined space operations in any industry.

دخول الأماكن المغلقة في جنوب أفريقيا: اللوائح والتصاريح والتدريب وإجراءات السلامة