These regulations detail what general safety precautions must be adhered to on site. The regulations must be read in conjunction with the OHSA. Some of the more important definitions to note are: “Confined space”; “Fire resistance”; “Flammable liquid”; “High risk substance”; “Scaffold”.
Every employer must identify the potential hazards in a workplace and formulate a risk assessment based on those hazards. If, after having done the risk assessment, it becomes evident that your employees will need personal safety equipment and facilities, then this regulation will apply to you.
Compliance Obligations?
If, after having done the risk assessment, the employer cannot eliminate the risk then he/she must take steps to safeguard the hazardous conditions or situation and to reduce the risk as much as practicable. Employees must be provided with appropriate safety equipment and facilities as may be necessary, free of charge.
Employers must take into account the nature of the hazard that could be encountered by the employee and consider the safety equipment listed in regulation 2(3)(a)-(g). The employer must instruct his employees in the proper use, maintenance and limitations of the safety equipment.
Employers must take steps to ensure that no safety equipment is removed from the workplace where the machinery is used, except for purposes of cleaning, repair, maintenance, modification or mending. The employer also must ensure that no employee is permitted to work unless they have been provided with the correct safety equipment.
If, after having conducted a risk assessment and hazard identification on site you note that you have confined spaces or the potential of having a confined space this regulation will be applicable to you. Note the definition of confined space above.
Compliance Obligations?
An employer may not permit any person to work in a confined space that could endanger their safety unless the requirements in this regulation have been complied with.
An employer must take steps to ensure that confined space entry is only permitted after the air has been tested and evaluated by a person who is competent to pronounce on the safety thereof. The competent person must certify in writing that the confined space is safe and will remain safe taking into account the nature and duration of the work that is to be performed.
In the event that any confined space has a hazardous gas, vapour or fume or is likely to have an oxygen content of less than 20 percent by volume then the employee may only enter when:
• The confined space is purged and ventilated to provide a safe atmosphere and measures are taken to maintain a safe atmosphere; and
• The confined space has been isolated from all pipes, ducts and other openings by means of blanking or
• only when all valves and cocks which are a potential source of danger have been locked and securely fastened by means of chains and padlocks.
If you are still not able to ensure that the confined space is purged and ventilated as per above, then you must ensure that the confined space is only entered when the person entering uses breathing apparatus and a safety harness to which a rope is securely attached. At least one other person that is trained in resuscitation must be immediately outside the entrance of the confined space in order to assist or remove someone from the confined space if necessary. An effective apparatus for breathing or resuscitation must be placed immediately outside the entrance of the confined space in the case of an emergency.
Employers must ensure that any persons working in a confined space have vacated the space on completion of work done.
Where there is a hazardous gas, vapour, dust or fumes that are of an explosive or flammable nature, an employer must ensure that such a confined space is only entered if the concentration of the fumes etc. do not exceed 25% of the lower explosive limit of the gas concerned and that the work performed will not create a source of ignition.
If your employees work in elevated positions then this regulation applies.
Compliance Obligations?
You must not allow any person to work in an elevated position and no person should be allowed in an elevated position, unless the work is performed safely from a ladder or scaffolding or from a position where such person is as safe as he/she would be if they were working from scaffolding.
If hot work occurs at your premises, then the requirements detailed in this regulation must be complied with.
Compliance Obligations?
The person operating the equipment must be fully instructed in the safe operation and use of such equipment and made aware of the potential hazards that may arise. Effective protection must be issued and used for the eyes and respiratory system as well as any other part of the body that may be exposed to heat or dangerous radiation. The leads and electrode holders must be effectively insulated and the workplace must be partitioned off where persons could possibly be exposed to any potential hazards.
Welding or flame cutting should not be undertaken in a confined space unless there is proper ventilation and masks or hoods are provided so as to ensure a safe supply of air for breathing is provided.
Electric welding should never be performed in wet or damp palaces, inside metal vessels or in contact with large masses of metal unless the conditions listed in regulation 9 (3) (a)-(d) have been complied with. These previsions shall not apply to a welding process where the maximum voltage does not exceed 50 volts.
No hotwork may be permitted whereby the container is completely closed or contains any substance which under the action of heat may ignite or explode or react to form dangerous substances, unless a person who is competent to pronounce on the safety thereof has done an examination and certified in writing that any such danger has been removed by opening, ventilating or purging.