About Confined Spaces
Learn about the definition of confined spaces. Find out about related laws and industry standards.
Definition: Confined Spaces
A confined space is any enclosed space, in which:
- Dangerous gases, vapours or fumes are likely to be present;
- The supply of air is inadequate; or
- There is a risk of engulfment.
Examples of a confined space include manhole, barge tank, ISO tank, bore hole, silo and reactor.
Law and Industry Standards
As an employer, you are expected to comply with Singapore's WSH laws. You should pay particular attention to:
- WSH (Confined Spaces) Regulations
- WSH (Shipbuilding and Ship-Repairing) Regulations
- WSH (Risk Management) Regulations
You should also observe relevant industry standards, such as:
- Code of Practice on WSH Risk Management (PDF); and
- SS 568: 2011 Code of Practice for Confined Spaces.
Please refer to the WSH (Approved Codes of Practice) Notification(PDF) for the full list of approved Codes of Practice.
