Workplace Safety and Health (Confined Spaces) Regulations 2009

No. S 462

Workplace Safety and Health Act

(Chapter 354A)

Workplace Safety and Health (Confined Spaces) Regulations 2009

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 65 of the Workplace Safety and Health Act, the Minister for Manpower hereby makes the following Regulations:

PART I

PRELIMINARY

Citation and commencement

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Workplace Safety and Health (Confined Spaces) Regulations 2009 and shall come into operation on 1st November 2009.

Definitions

2. In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires —

“authorised manager” means an authorised manager appointed under regulation 9 and includes any other person appointed to perform the duties of an authorised manager by the responsible person;

“competent person” means a person who has sufficient experience and training to perform the work required to be carried out;

“confined space” means any chamber, tank, manhole, vat, silo, pit, pipe, flue or other enclosed space, in which —

(a)	dangerous gases, vapours or fumes are liable to be present to such an extent as to involve a risk of fire or explosion, or persons being overcome thereby;
(b)	the supply of air is inadequate, or is likely to be reduced to be inadequate, for sustaining life; or
(c)	there is a risk of engulfment by material;

“confined space attendant” means a confined space attendant appointed under regulation 22;

“confined space entry permit” means a permit issued under regulation 13;

“confined space safety assessor” means a confined space safety assessor appointed under regulation 9(b);

“entry” means ingress by a person into a confined space which occurs when the person’s head passes through an opening into the confined space;

“hazardous atmosphere” means an atmosphere where —

(a)	the level of oxygen in the atmosphere is not within the range of 19.5% to 23.5% by volume;
(b)	the level of flammable gas or vapour in the atmosphere is 10% or more of its lower explosive limit; or
(c)	the levels of toxic substances in the atmosphere exceed the permissible exposure levels as specified in the First Schedule to the Workplace Safety and Health (General Provisions) Regulations (Rg 1);

“responsible person”, in relation to a person entering or working in a confined space, means —

(a)	his employer; or
(b)	the principal under whose direction he enters or works in the confined space.

Application

3. These Regulations shall apply in relation to confined spaces in workplaces.

Made this 25th day of September 2009.

LEO YIP

Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Manpower,
Singapore.

[C010-048-00006; AG/LEG/SL/354A/2006/11 Vol. 1]

(To be presented to Parliament under section 65(8) of the Workplace Safety and Health Act).

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