33.1 Objective
33.1.1 This Regulatory Standard aims to establish the requirements for the identification of confined spaces, the criteria for occupational risk management in confined spaces and preventive measures, so as to ensure the safety and health of workers directly or indirectly engaged in activities related to such spaces.
33.2 Scope of Application
33.2.1 This Regulatory Standard applies to organizations owning or conducting work in confined spaces.
33.2.2 A confined space refers to any area or environment that meets all the following requirements simultaneously:
a) Not designed for continuous human occupancy;
b) With limited access and exit means;
c) Having or potentially having hazardous atmosphere.
33.2.2.1 A hazardous atmosphere is defined as any atmosphere meeting one of the following conditions:
a) Oxygen deficiency or oxygen enrichment;
b) Presence of contaminants liable to cause harm to workers' health;
c) Classified as explosive atmosphere.
33.2.2.2 Spaces not intended for human occupancy with limited access and exit, used for storing substances that may engulf or submerge workers, shall be deemed confined spaces.
33.3 Responsibilities
33.3.1 The organization shall be responsible for:
a) Formally appointing the technical person in charge to perform the duties specified in Item 33.3.2 of this NR;
b) Ensuring facilities and resources for the technical person in charge to fulfill his duties;
c) Ensuring occupational risk management includes preventive measures to safeguard the safety and health of workers directly or indirectly involved in confined space related activities;
d) Arranging safety marking and locking of confined spaces to prevent unauthorized access;
e) Providing initial and regular training for entry supervisors, attendants, authorized workers and emergency rescue teams;
f) Informing workers engaged in confined space related work of risks and preventive measures stipulated in the Risk Management Program of NR-01 General Provisions and Occupational Risk Management;
g) Providing necessary equipment for risk control specified in the Risk Management Program;
h) Ensuring the availability of emergency rescue services and drills during confined space operations;
i) Supervising confined space operations undertaken by contracted organizations in accordance with Subitem 1.5.8.1 of NR-01 to comply with provisions of this NR.
33.3.2 The technical person in charge shall perform the following duties:
a) Identify and establish the register of confined spaces;
b) Adjust the template of Entry and Work Permit (PET) to suit the characteristics of confined spaces within the organization;
c) Formulate safety procedures for confined spaces;
d) Specify equipment applicable to confined space operations;
e) Draw up rescue plans;
f) Coordinate initial and regular training for entry supervisors, attendants, authorized workers and emergency rescue teams.
33.3.3 Duties of entry supervisor:
a) Issue the Entry and Work Permit prior to work commencement;
b) Conduct tests and inspect all equipment before use;
c) Implement all procedures specified in the Entry and Work Permit;
d) Ensure emergency rescue services are accessible and relevant triggering devices are in normal working condition;
e) Suspend entry and work procedures when necessary;
f) Close the Entry and Work Permit upon work completion;
g) Perform the duty of attendant if stipulated in the permit;
h) Ensure the attendant remains on duty throughout confined space operations.
33.3.4 Duties of attendant:
a) Only permit authorized workers specified in the Entry and Work Permit to enter confined spaces;
b) Keep constant count of authorized entrants and ensure all personnel exit upon work completion;
c) Stay outside the confined space near the entrance and maintain continuous communication with authorized workers;
d) Activate internal or external emergency rescue teams when necessary;
e) Operate personnel lifting devices;
f) Order evacuation from confined spaces upon detecting alarms, hazards, physical discomfort, complaints, prohibited conditions, accidents, unforeseen situations, or when unable to perform duties with no replacement available;
g) Refrain from engaging in other work during confined space operations;
h) Report all unforeseen incidents and abnormal situations including evacuation orders to the entry supervisor.
33.3.4.1 The attendant may supervise operations of multiple confined spaces if all the following requirements are satisfied:
a) Stay at or near the entrances of confined spaces, and may be assisted by electronic monitoring and communication systems;
b) All confined spaces are within direct visual range without electronic devices;
c) The quantity of confined spaces shall not affect the performance of attendant duties;
d) Identical work activities are carried out in all confined spaces under supervision;
e) No more than two workers stay inside each confined space;
f) Workers inside can be seen clearly through confined space access openings.
33.3.4.1.1 When assisted by electronic monitoring and communication systems in accordance with risk analysis and specified in safety procedures, the requirements stipulated in items e and f of subitem 33.3.4.1 of this NR may be exempted.
33.3.5 Duties of authorized workers:
a) Comply with training guidelines and work procedures specified in the Entry and Work Permit;
b) Properly use facilities and equipment provided by the organization;
c) Report any known safety and health hazards endangering workers and third parties to attendants or entry supervisors.
33.3.6 Duties of emergency rescue team:
a) Ensure rescue measures and first-aid measures are available and implement them in case of emergencies;
b) Take part in annual rescue drills covering potential confined space accident scenarios as specified in the rescue plan.
33.4 Occupational Risk Management in Confined Spaces
33.4.1 In addition to the provisions of NR-01, the hazard identification and occupational risk assessment process shall comply with the following subitems.
33.4.1.1 The preliminary hazard survey shall take into account:
a) The existence or construction of new confined spaces where work may be carried out;
b) Changes in geometry or access ways of existing confined spaces;
c) Changes in the use of confined spaces that lead to alterations of previously identified hazards.
33.4.1.2 When confined space work cannot be avoided, hazard identification and occupational risk assessment shall take into account:
a) Hazards around confined spaces that may affect on-site work safety;
b) Possibility of formation of hazardous atmospheres;
c) Need for hazardous energy isolation inside confined spaces;
d) Other preventive measures specified in this NR.
33.4.2 Entities with confined spaces shall establish and keep confined space registers including:
a) Confined space identification with tracking codes or numbers;
b) Internal volume of confined space;
c) Quantity and size of access openings and manholes;
d) Access modes, sizes and structural forms;
e) Operating status of confined space;
f) Schematic drawing with isolation and barrier layout marked;
g) Usage purpose, stored materials and pre-entry existing hazard descriptions.
33.4.3 Where confined space work is undertaken by service providers, both the client and the contractor shall comply with the provisions of Item 1.5.8 of NR-01 as well as the following requirements:
a) The client shall provide the contractor with the register of confined spaces for construction activities;
b) In accordance with Subitem 1.5.8.3 of NR-01, the client shall inform the contractor of occupational risks under its administration that may affect the contractor's operations, and specify applicable preventive measures;
c) In accordance with Item 1.5.8.4 of NR-01, the contractor shall submit confined space work risk lists, conduct hazard identification and risk assessment tailored to actual work contents in line with Subitem 33.4.1.2 of this NR, and formulate corresponding preventive measures complying with this standard.
33.4.3.1 Even if the client is not required to abide by this NR, the contractor shall still collect necessary information and implement all preventive measures stipulated herein.
