What is a Confined Space?
2. Access/Egress Requirement
To be defined as a confined space, it must have limited access, egress, or both.
If a person must contort his or her body to enter or move around inside a space, it probably has a limited means of entry and exit. Climbing through a porthole or hatch to enter a space or crawling through a tunnel toward an exit are examples of spaces that have limited means of entry and exit.
Another way of measuring limited means of entry and exit is to determine how difficult it would be to remove an injured person from the space. If there is a need for a technical rescue to remove an injured person, you probably have a limited means entry and exit. Evaluate each space on a case-by-case basis.
3. Occupancy Requirement
To be defined as a confined space, it is not designed for continuous occupancy by workers.
What is the primary function and purpose of the space? A space that is designed for periodic occupancy is not the same as a space that is designed for continuous occupancy.
The presence of a fixed ladder, lighting, or ventilation does not always mean the space was designed for continuous occupancy. Is the space designed for a person to work there or is it designed to house and protect equipment that needs to be monitored or occasionally maintained? For example, a space may have lighting for periodic occupancy that may be necessary to safely enter and exit, read gauges, or perform maintenance or repairs.
Ventilation may be necessary to keep equipment from overheating or to provide fresh air for temporary job assignments or tasks. In both cases, the work performed is intermittent or temporary.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-2. What is a characteristic of a confined space as defined by OSHA?
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