FACTS

1. Confined spaces can pose a variety of hazards, including poor ventilation, toxic or flammable gases, electrical hazards, and engulfment or entrapment hazards.
2. To ensure worker safety, employers are required to implement a confined space program that includes written procedures, employee training, and specialized equipment.
3. The permit-required confined space entry process involves evaluating the space, identifying potential hazards, and implementing control measures to mitigate those hazards.
4. Before entering a permit-required confined space, workers must obtain a permit that specifies the hazards of the space, the control measures that have been implemented, and the procedures for entry and rescue.
5. The permit-required confined space entry process also requires that a trained attendant be present outside the space to monitor the worker and initiate rescue if necessary.
6. Workers who are required to work in permit-required confined spaces must receive specialized training on hazard recognition, control measures, personal protective equipment, and emergency response procedures.

STATS

• According to data collected by Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) program, there are 92 fatalities in confined spaces per year, averaging almost two per week.
• More than 60% of confined space fatalities occur among would-be rescuers. According to OSHA, over 4.8 million confined space entries are made every year in the United States. Over 11,000 injuries could be prevented if employers and workers had implemented a well-designed and properly executed monitoring and rescue plan.
• According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States, there were 95 fatalities in confined spaces in 2018.
• According to OSHA, between 2011 and 2019, there were 530 fatalities in confined spaces in the United States.
• The overall fatality rate in confined space work is estimated to range between 0.05 and 0.08 per 100,000 workers.