Protect your workers, avoid penalties, and meet the latest confined space regulations with WHS. We provide certified, field-tested confined space support across Alberta and British Columbia.

What Is a Confined Space?

A confined space is any fully or partially enclosed area that:
  • Is not designed for continuous human occupancy
  • Has limited or restricted means of entry or exit
  • Has the potential for hazardous atmospheric conditions, engulfment, or other serious safety risks
Common examples:
  • Tanks, pits, silos, sewers, tunnels, crawl spaces, ventilation ducts, boilers.
​Confined vs Restricted Space
  • Confined Space: Requires hazard assessment, written procedures, and rescue planning.
  • Restricted Space: Limited access but does not pose atmospheric or engulfment risks.
  • We help you determine the correct classification and control approach.
    ​

Our Confined Space Services (AB & BC)

We offer end-to-end confined space safety solutions, designed to meet:
  • Alberta OHS Code Part 5
  • BC OHSR Part 9
  • CSA Z1006-16 best practices
  • Initial determination and confined space inventory
  • Hazard classification (low, moderate, high)
  • Written confined space entry program
  • Assignment of roles (entry workers, standby, rescue)
  • Site-specific procedures for:
    • Entry permits
    • Ventilation & air testing
    • PPE selection

Program Development & Documentation

  • Space inventory and hazard classification
  • Written confined space entry programs
  • Entry permit systems and roles/responsibilities
  • Standby personnel requirements and procedures
  • Integration with your emergency response protocols
​

Hazard Assessments & Control Strategies

  • Conducted by CIH, or CRSP
  • Formal risk assessments and procedure development
  • Engineering controls, PPE, and atmospheric control plans
  • Lockout/tagout strategies and contractor coordination

Contractor Program Reviews

  • 3rd-party review of subcontractor confined space plans
  • Gap assessments against Part 9 (BC) or Part 5 (AB)
  • Documentation audit and permit review
  • Joint review sessions with your internal OHS team
    ​​

Qualified Person Assessments

All assessments are conducted or reviewed by certified professionals:
  • CIH (Certified Industrial Hygienist)
  • CRSP (Canadian Registered Safety Professional)
We provide:
  • Formal hazard assessments
  • Written procedures aligned with CSA Z1006 & WorkSafeBC
  • Lockout/tagout and control method recommendations
  • Atmosphere risk classification & mitigation
    ​

Ventilation & Atmospheric Testing Plans

Pre-entry gas testing strategy
  • Continuous air monitoring program
  • Engineering control evaluations
  • Inerting / purging methods
  • Instrument selection (multi-gas monitors, calibration, etc.)
​

Rescue Planning & Emergency Preparedness

  • Custom rescue procedures for each entry type
  • Use of lifelines, retrieval systems, tripods, harnesses
  • Rescue personnel training (in-house or contractor oversight)
  • Integration with facility’s emergency response protocol
​

Province-Specific Compliance

Alberta – OHS Code Part 5
  • Full compliance assessments
  • Site-specific entry procedures
  • Pre-entry testing requirements
  • Written hazard assessments & permits
British Columbia – OHSR Part 9
  • Confined space inventory and classification
  • Qualified Person-led hazard assessments
  • Entry program documentation
  • Standby/rescue planning and documentation
  • Atmospheric testing and ventilation
    ​​

Why Compliance Matters

Failure to meet Alberta or BC confined space regulations can lead to:
  • Stop-work orders
  • OHS fines and citations
  • Injuries or fatalities
  • Civil liability and legal exposure
  • Voided insurance coverage

Why WHS?

  • Certified Expertise: All work led or reviewed by CIH, CRSP
  • Boutique Precision: We specialize in hygiene and hazardous materials — not a generalist EH&S firm
  • Trusted by Industry: Used by school boards, developers, industrial clients across Alberta and BC
  • Litigation-Grade Documentation: Our reporting stands up to audits, inspections, and legal scrutiny
  • Responsive & Field-Tested: We’ve worked on thousands of confined spaces in real conditions — not just on paper
    ​
Do I need a confined space program if I only have one space?
Yes — even one confined space requires documentation, assessment, and entry protocols per law.
Who can be a “Qualified Person?
A qualified person must have education, training, and experience — typically CIH, CRSP, or P.Eng.
What’s the difference between a permit-required confined space and a non-permit or restricted space
A permit-required confined space involves one or more of the following:
  • A high hazard atmosphere
  • The need for lockout or isolation
  • Risk of entrapment or engulfment
These conditions require a written entry permit authorized by a trained supervisor before any worker enters.
A non-permit confined space in B.C. is one with a low hazard atmosphere—meaning clean, respirable air that is not expected to change during work. These still require:
  • Identification as a confined space
  • Hazard assessment
  • Safe work procedures
In Alberta, a restricted space is different from a confined space. Restricted spaces may have limited entry or exit but do not have atmospheric or configuration hazards requiring special procedures. They still require hazard assessments and controls but do not need a permit system unless upgraded to confined space status due to additional risks.

Want a gap assessment or full program build?

WHS provides confined space services across Alberta and BC, including Calgary, Edmonton, Victoria, and the Lower Mainland. Let’s make sure your program meets the latest standards — and protects your workers and your liability.
→ Request a Confined Space Audit
→ Talk to a Qualified Person
revised October 2025
WHS - Occupational Hygienist