Canada–Nova Scotia Offshore Area Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (SOR/2021-248)

Marginal note:Entry and occupation requirements

• 133 (1) Every employer must ensure that no person enters or remains in a confined space at a workplace under its control unless

  • (a) the person is knowledgeable about the provisions of the occupational health and safety program that pertain to confined spaces;

  • (b) the person is wearing a full body harness to facilitate their retrieval or, if wearing the harness would pose a greater risk to them than not wearing one, measures are in place to ensure that the person can be retrieved safely in accordance with the alternate procedures referred to in subparagraph 131(e)(iv);

  • (c) the opening to be used for entry into and exit from the confined space is sufficiently large to allow safe passage of persons wearing personal protective equipment;

  • (d) any mechanical and electrical equipment that is in the confined space but not required to carry out any work there is

    • (i) disconnected from its energy source, and

    • (ii) isolated, locked out and tagged in accordance with Part 27;

  • (e) all sources of ignition are eliminated, if a flammable, explosive or combustible substance is present in the confined space;

  • (f) any liquid in which a person may drown or free-flowing solid in which a person may become entrapped has been removed from the confined space;

  • (g) engineering controls are in place to prevent any inadvertent discharge from any source, including a pipe or other supply line, that may be hazardous to the health or safety of any person in the confined space;

  • (h) measures have been taken to ensure that, if an atmospheric hazard arises while the confined space is occupied, the confined space will be continuously ventilated;

  • (i) persons have been designated to respond to any emergency that may arise in the confined space and have been notified of the time and location at which their assistance may be required;

  • (j) sufficient equipment referred to in paragraph 131(a) and subparagraph 131(e)(ii) is provided as close as feasible to the entrance to the confined space for use by the persons referred to in paragraph (i); and

  • (k) a drill has been completed simulating an emergency rescue from the confined space.

• Marginal note:Isolation of piping

  (2) The engineering controls referred to in paragraph (1)(g) must, with respect to a pipe containing a hazardous substance or a substance under pressure or at a high temperature, consist of a blank or blind in conjunction with valves or other blocking seals that are secured in the closed position — using a positive mechanical device that is designed to resist being opened inadvertently, other than as a result of excessive force — to prevent the substance from reaching the blank or blind. The employer must ensure that the pipe is clearly marked to indicate the location of the blank or blind and that the valves or seals are clearly marked as being closed.

• Marginal note:Unauthorized entry

  (3) The employer must ensure that adequate barriers are erected to prevent unauthorized entry to the confined space.

• Marginal note:Sign in and out

  (4) Every employer must ensure that every person entering and exiting a confined space signs in and out.