Chapter 04 · People & supply chainsHuman Rights & Social Sustainability
Confined space
Definition
Under OSHA standards (29 CFR 1910.146 for general industry; 1926 Subpart AA for construction), a confined space is large enough for a worker to bodily enter and perform work, has limited or restricted means of entry or exit, and is not designed for continuous occupancy — tanks, silos, pits, manholes, tunnels and vessels. A confined space becomes permit-required if it may contain a hazardous atmosphere, engulfing material, a trapping configuration, or any other serious hazard.
References
Overview
What it means
The classification triggers written permits, atmospheric testing, attendants, rescue planning and training before entry.
How it is used
Employers must identify confined spaces, assess hazards and run permit programmes; untrained would-be rescuers account for a large share of confined-space fatalities.
Why it matters
Confined-space incidents kill around a hundred US workers a year, most preventably — a core occupational safety and sustainability-reporting concern.