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According to a December 2005 post featured on FacilityBlog ("www.todaysfacilitymanager.com/facilityblog/2005/12/confined-space-guidelines-in-ansi.html), ANSI Standard Z117.1-2003 “covers confined space requirements with regard to identification and evaluation of a confined space, emergency response and rescue, permit and non-permit requirements, atmospheric testing, isolation and decontamination, lockout/tagout safeguarding procedures, personal protection equipment (PPE), and warning sign requirements.” Do you know of equivalents to this confined space standard for the European Union, Canada, Asia, or any other region of the world?

Sebatien
Posted on FacilityBlog

James Elledge replies ...

Here is what I was able to locate regarding rules and regulations for confined spaces outside of this country:

Canada’s equivalent is The Workplace Safety and Health Act, which can be downloaded as a pdf file (web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/regs/pdf/w210-217.06.pdf). Specifically, Part 15 deals with confined spaces.

In the U.K., the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 is the resource to follow (www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si1997/19971713.htm).

For Hong Kong, I found one report regarding confined spaces which you should find useful (www.legco.gov.hk/yr98-99/english/hc/papers/h0801976.htm).

Finally, I found this link from the International Labour Organization (www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/natlex_browse.home?p_lang=en), which may help you locate pertinent information in other countries.

Thanks for your question

Jim Elledge

Elledge, facility/office services manager for Dallas, TX-based Summit Alliance Companies, is the recipient of the Distinguished Author Award from the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), is an IFMA Fellow, and is a member of TFM’s Editorial Advisory Board. All questions have been submitted via the “FM Expert Advice” portion of the magazine’s Web site.

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