Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada
Symbol of the Government of Canada

Search

PART 11Confined Spaces (continued)

Ventilation Equipment

  •  (1) If a hazardous substance may be produced by hot work in a confined space,

    • (a) the confined space must be ventilated in accordance with subsection (2); or

    • (b) every employee who enters into, exits from and occupies the confined space must use a respiratory protective device that meets the requirements of section 173.

  • (2) If an airborne hazardous substance or oxygen in the atmosphere in a confined space is maintained at the value, level or percentage prescribed in subsection 160(1) by the use of ventilation equipment, a person must not be granted access to the confined space unless

    • (a) the ventilation equipment is

      • (i) equipped with an alarm that will, if the equipment fails, be activated automatically and be audible or visible to any person in the confined space, or

      • (ii) monitored by an employee who is in constant attendance at the equipment; and

    • (b) in the event of failure of the ventilation equipment, sufficient time will be available for the person to escape from the confined space before

      • (i) the person’s exposure to or the concentration of a hazardous substance in the confined space exceeds the value, level or percentage prescribed in paragraph 160(1)(a) or (b), or

      • (ii) the percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere ceases to meet the requirements of paragraph 160(1)(c).

  • (3) The employee referred to in subparagraph (2)(a)(ii) must activate an alarm in the event of failure of the ventilation equipment.

Reports and Procedures

 The written report referred to in subsection 160(2) must be kept by the employer for one year after the date on which the qualified person signs the report.

 When the employer establishes procedures or emergency procedures referred to in paragraph 160(2)(b) or (e), the employer must keep a copy of them at the employer’s place of business nearest to the workplace in which the confined space is located.

PART 12Protection Equipment

General

 Every person granted access to the workplace who is exposed to that hazard must use the protection equipment prescribed by this Part if

  • (a) it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate or control the hazard in a workplace within safe limits; and

  • (b) the use of protection equipment may prevent or reduce injury from the hazard.

 All protection equipment

  • (a) must be designed to protect the person from the hazard for which it is provided; and

  • (b) must not in itself create a hazard.

 All protection equipment provided by the employer must

  • (a) be maintained, inspected and tested by a qualified person; and

  • (b) if necessary to prevent a health hazard, be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition by a qualified person.

Protective Headwear

 If there is a hazard of head injury in a workplace, the employer must provide to every person granted access protective headwear that meets the standards set out in CSA Standard Z94.1, Industrial Protective Headwear – Performance, Selection, Care and Use.

  • SOR/2017-118, s. 24

Protective Footwear

  •  (1) If there is a hazard of a foot injury or electric shock through footwear in a workplace, the employer must provide to every person granted access protective footwear that meets one of the following standards:

    • (a) CSA Standard Z195, Protective Footwear;

    • (b) ASTM International F2413, Standard Specification for Performance Requirements for Protective (Safety) Toe Cap Footwear;

    • (c) ANSI Standard Z41, Personal Protection – Protective Footwear;

    • (d) ISO 20345, Personal protective equipment – Safety footwear.

  • (2) If there is a hazard of slipping in a workplace, non-slip footwear must be used.

  • SOR/2017-118, s. 25

Eye and Face Protection

 If there is a hazard of injury to the eyes, face, ears or front of the neck of an employee in a workplace, the employer must provide to every person granted access eye or face protectors that meet the standards set out in CSA Standard Z94.3, Eye and Face Protectors.

  • SOR/2017-118, s. 26

Respiratory Protection

  •  (1) Subject to subsection (4), if there is a hazard of an airborne hazardous substance or an oxygen-deficient atmosphere in a workplace, the employer must provide to every person granted access a respiratory protective device that is listed in the United States National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s NIOSH Certified Equipment List.

  • (2) A respiratory protective device referred to in subsection (1) must be selected, fitted, cared for, used and maintained in accordance with the standards set out in CSA Standard CAN/CSA Z94.4, Selection, Use and Care of Respirators.

  • (3) If air is provided for the purpose of a respiratory protective device, the air must meet the standards set out in CSA Standard Z180.1, Compressed Breathing Air and Systems and the system that supplies air must be constructed, tested, operated and maintained in accordance with that standard.

  • (4) If there is a likelihood of exposure to hydrogen sulphide or combustible gases at a drilling rig, drilling unit or production facility, the employer must provide, at a readily accessible location

    • (a) on the drill floor, at least one self-contained positive pressure breathing device for each employee normally employed on the drill floor or an air manifold equipped with a face mask for each such employee;

    • (b) at least two portable hydrogen sulphide detectors; and

    • (c) at least two portable combustible gas detectors.

  • (5) If employee sleeping quarters are located adjacent to a drilling rig or on a drilling unit or production facility, at least four self-contained positive pressure breathing devices must be located in a readily accessible location.

  • (6) A person who may be required to use a respiratory protective device must not have hair that interferes with the functioning of the breathing device.

  • SOR/2017-118, s. 27

 If a steel or aluminum self-contained breathing apparatus cylinder has a dent deeper than 1.5 mm and less than 50 mm in major diameter or shows evidence of deep isolated pitting, cracks or splits, the cylinder must be removed from service until it has been shown to be safe for use by means of a hydrostatic test at a pressure equal to one and one-half times the maximum allowable working pressure.

Skin Protection

 If there is a hazard of injury or disease to or through the skin in a workplace, the employer must provide to every person granted access to the workplace

  • (a) a shield or screen;

  • (b) a cream or barrier lotion to protect the skin; or

  • (c) an appropriate body covering.

Fall-Protection Systems

  •  (1) The employer must provide a fall-protection system if a person, other than an employee who is installing or removing such a system in accordance with the instructions referred to in subsection (5), works from

    • (a) an unguarded structure that is

      • (i) more than 2.4 m above the nearest permanent safe level,

      • (ii) above any moving parts of machinery or any other surface or thing that could cause injury to an employee on contact,

      • (iii) above an open hopper, vat or pit, or

      • (iv) above water more than 1 m deep; or

    • (b) a ladder at a height of more than 2.4 m above the nearest permanent safe level when, because of the nature of the work, that person can use only one hand to hold onto the ladder.

  • (2) The components of a fall-protection system must meet the following standards:

    • (a) CSA Standard Z259.1, Body Belts and Saddles for Work Positioning and Travel Restraint;

    • (b) CSA Standard CAN/CSA Z259.2.2, Self-Retracting Devices;

    • (c) CSA Standard CAN/CSA Z259.2.3, Descent Devices;

    • (d) CSA Standard Z259.2.4, Fall Arresters and Vertical Rigid Rails;

    • (e) CSA Standard CAN/CSA Z259.2.5, Fall Arresters and Vertical Lifelines;

    • (f) CSA Standard CAN/CSA Z259.10, Full Body Harnesses;

    • (g) CSA Standard Z259.11, Personal Energy Absorbers and Lanyards;

    • (h) CSA Standard Z259.12, Connecting Components for Personal Fall-Arrest Systems (PFAS);

    • (i) CSA Standard Z259.13, Manufactured Horizontal Lifeline Systems; and

    • (j) CSA Standard Z259.16, Design of Active Fall-protection Systems.

  • (3) The anchor of a fall-protection system must be capable of withstanding a force of 17.8 kN.

  • (4) A fall-protection system that is used to arrest the fall of a person must prevent that person

    • (a) from being subjected to a peak fall arrest force greater than 8 kN; and

    • (b) from falling freely for more than 1.2 m.

  • (5) Every employee required to install or remove a fall-protection system in a workplace must be instructed and trained by the employer in the procedures to be followed for the installation or removal of the system.

  • SOR/2017-118, s. 28

Emergency Escape Devices

  •  (1) If reasonably practicable, an emergency escape device that is equipped with a brake mechanism that controls the descent of persons using the device must be provided in the derrick of a drilling rig or an elevated part of a production facility.

  • (2) The employer must set out in writing working instructions for the use of the device referred to in subsection (1) and keep them in a conspicuous place on the drilling rig or production facility.

  • (3) An emergency escape device referred to in subsection (1) must be installed, inspected and maintained by a qualified person.

Protection Against Drowning

  •  (1) If, in a workplace, there is a hazard of drowning, the employer must provide every person granted access to the workplace with

    • (a) a life jacket or personal flotation device that meets

      • (i) the Canadian General Standards Board Standard CAN/CGSB 65.7, Life Jackets, or, if the workplace is a ship used for construction or diving or for geotechnical or seismic work, the International Maritime Organization’s Resolution MSC.81(70), Revised Recommendation on Testing of Life-Saving Appliances, or

      • (ii) the Canadian General Standards Board Standard CAN/CGSB 65.11, Personal Flotation Devices; or

    • (b) a safety net or a fall-protection system.

  • (2) If, in a workplace, there is a hazard of drowning,

    • (a) emergency equipment must be provided and held in readiness;

    • (b) a qualified person to operate all the emergency equipment provided must be readily available;

    • (c) if appropriate, a powered rescue boat must be provided and held in readiness; and

    • (d) written emergency procedures must be prepared by the employer containing

      • (i) a full description of the procedures to be followed and the responsibilities of all persons granted access to the workplace, and

      • (ii) the location of any emergency equipment.

  • (3) If a workplace is a wharf, dock, pier, quay or other similar structure, a ladder that extends at least two rungs below water level must, if reasonably practicable, be installed on the face of the structure every 60 m along its length.

  • SOR/2017-118, s. 29

Loose-fitting Clothing

 Loose-fitting clothing, long hair, dangling accessories, jewellery or other similar items that are likely to be hazardous to the health or safety of an employee in a workplace must not be worn unless they are so tied, covered or otherwise secured as to prevent the hazard.

Protection from Extreme Temperatures

 If there is a likelihood that exposure of an employee to extreme temperatures could result in the employee suffering from hypothermia or hyperthermia, protection equipment suitable to protect the employee from the hazard must be used.

Protection Against Moving Vehicles

 If an employee is regularly exposed to a hazard resulting from contact with moving vehicles during their work, the employee must wear a high-visibility vest or other high-visibility clothing.

Firefighting Equipment

  •  (1) Every marine installation or structure must be equipped with the fire protection equipment that is appropriate for fighting any class of fire that may occur.

  • (2) Fire protection equipment must be installed, inspected and maintained in every workplace in accordance with the standards set out in Parts 6 and 7 of the National Fire Code of Canada, published by the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes.

  • (3) However, if the marine installation or structure is a ship used for diving, construction, geotechnical or seismic work, fire protection equipment may instead be installed, inspected and maintained in accordance with the following standards:

    • (a) the standards set out in regulation 10, Fire fighting, of Chapter II-2 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974;

    • (b) the standards set out in the International Maritime Organization’s International Code for Fire Safety Systems; and

    • (c) the standards of the American Bureau of Shipping, Bureau Veritas, DNV GL or Lloyd’s Register.

  • (4) A person must not tamper with or activate without cause any fire protection equipment.

  • SOR/2017-118, s. 30

 All fire protection equipment must be inspected by a qualified person at least once a month and tested, maintained and repaired by a qualified person.

Records

  •  (1) A record of all protection equipment provided by the employer and requiring maintenance must be kept for as long as the equipment is in use.

  • (2) The record referred to in subsection (1) must contain

    • (a) a description of the protection equipment and the date of its acquisition by the employer;

    • (b) the date and result of each inspection and test of the protection equipment;

    • (c) the date and nature of any maintenance work performed on the protection equipment since its acquisition by the employer; and

    • (d) the name of the qualified person who performed the inspection, test, maintenance or repair of the protection equipment.

Instructions and Training

  •  (1) Every person granted access to the workplace who uses protection equipment must be instructed by the employer in the use of the equipment.

  • (2) Every employee who uses protection equipment must be instructed and trained in the use, operation and maintenance of the equipment.

  • (3) Every person granted access to a workplace must be instructed in respect of the written emergency procedures referred to in paragraph 178(2)(d).

  • (4) The employer must

    • (a) set out in writing, and keep readily available for examination by the employees referred to in subsection (2), the instructions referred to in that subsection; and

    • (b) keep readily available for examination by every person granted access to the workplace a copy of the emergency procedures referred to in paragraph 178(2)(d).

  • SOR/2017-118, s. 31(E)
 

Date modified: