OSHA Issues Final Rule For Working In Confined Spaces

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued its final rule regarding construction workers who are forced to work in confined spaces.

There are a number of hazards associated with working in confined spaces, including but not limited to exposure to toxic fumes, environmental collapse, electrocution, explosions, asphyxiations, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), and more. Examples of confined spaces consists of tanks, vessels, silos, storage bins, hoppers, vaults, pits, manholes, tunnels, equipment housings, ductwork and pipelines.

To put the dangers of working in confined spaces into perspective, OSHA estimates that roughly 780 serious injuries are attributed to confined spaces each year. Just last year, two construction workers in Idaho died from asphyxiation while attempting to repair a manhole leak. When the first worker become unresponsive, the second went down below to help, at which point he too suffered from asphyxiation.

Unfortunately, incidents such as the one mentioned above are all too common. Even if a confined space looks fine, it may lack the necessary oxygen for workers to safely inhabit it.

OSHA's new rule on working in confined spaces is designed to reduce incidents such as the one mentioned above. As noted by Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez, it will "significantly improve" the overall safety of construction workers are forced to enter and work in confined spaces.

The new rule will provide construction workers with protections that are already in effect in the manufacturing industry, such as the requirement for employers to share safety information and monitor potential hazards. While some employers may view these protections/requirements as a nuisance, they will almost certainly save lives.

"This rule will save lives of construction workers," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. "Unlike most general industry worksites, construction sites are continually evolving, with the number and characteristics of confined spaces changing as work progresses. This rule emphasizes training, continuous worksite evaluation and communication requirements to further protect workers’ safety and health."

Visit https://www.osha.gov/confinedspaces/index.html for a complete breakdown of OSHA's final rule on construction workers and confined spaces.