We help employers and building owners find the confined spaces on their sites, assess what makes each one dangerous, and put written entry, permit and rescue procedures in place. Confined spaces kill workers and, too often, the people who try to rescue them, so the program has to be specific to each space and practical enough to follow every time.
What we look at
- An inventory of tanks, vaults, pits, sumps, silos, manholes, crawl spaces, ducts, boilers and other spaces that may meet your province's definition of a confined space
- The hazards of each space: atmosphere, engulfment, energy sources, configuration, temperature, noise and access
- How each space is identified, labelled and secured against unauthorized entry
- Your entry permit system and how permits are issued, used and closed
- Isolation and lockout of piping, mechanical and electrical energy
- Atmospheric testing practice, gas detector selection and ventilation methods
- Roles, training and competency of entrants, attendants and entry supervisors
- Rescue arrangements: equipment, people, response time and practice
- Contractor entries and how responsibilities are shared with the owner
How it works
- We ask why. We find out what prompted the work: new equipment, an audit, an incident, a contractor requirement or a program that has not been reviewed in years.
- We survey the site. We walk the facility with your people to identify and document each space, its access points, connected systems and the tasks that require entry.
- We assess each space. We complete a written hazard assessment for each space, or for groups of similar spaces, and identify the controls needed.
- We write the program. We prepare the confined space code of practice or program, entry procedures, permit forms and a rescue plan aligned with your province's legislation and CSA Z1006.
- We help you put it into practice. We brief supervisors and workers, help set up rescue drills, and review the first permits used under the new system.
What you get
You receive a confined space inventory, written hazard assessments, a program document, space-specific entry procedures, a permit form designed for your sites and a rescue plan. Documents are provided in editable form so you can keep them current as equipment and tasks change. Where we find conditions that need attention, such as a space that cannot be safely isolated or an access opening too small for a practical rescue, we describe them plainly with options to address them.
Training is separate from the program. A written program does not make anyone competent to enter, attend or rescue. Workers in each role need training appropriate to the spaces and hazards involved, and rescue capability must be in place before entry begins.
Who it's for
This service is for industrial and municipal facilities, property managers with mechanical rooms, vaults and tanks, contractors whose crews enter spaces owned by others, and owners who hire contractors for that work and need to know the entries are being managed properly. Rules differ between Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and other provinces, including how they define confined and restricted spaces, and we build the program around the legislation that applies to your sites.
To learn more, start with What is a confined space?, then read Confined space hazard assessment, Confined space entry permits and Confined space rescue planning.
Common questions
Is every tank or pit a confined space?
Not necessarily. Each province has its own definition, generally based on whether the space is enclosed or partly enclosed, is not designed for continuous occupancy, has restricted access or exit, and could become hazardous. The assessment is how you decide, and the reasoning should be documented.
Can we rely on the fire department for rescue?
Only if you have confirmed in advance that they can respond in time with the right equipment and training for your specific spaces. Many employers find that a public service cannot meet that need, so an on-site or contracted rescue team is required.
Do contractors need their own program?
Usually both parties have duties. The owner knows the space and its connected systems, while the contractor controls the work and its own crew. The program should spell out who issues the permit, who isolates equipment and who provides rescue.