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Confined space is a term from labor-safety regulations that refers to an area whose cramped conditions make it dangerous. Confined spaces present special hazards to workers, including risks of toxic gas accumulation, fires, falls, flooding, and entrapment. A utility tunnel, the inside of a boiler (only accessible when the boiler is off), the inside of a fluid storage tank, and a small underground electrical vault could all be classified as confined spaces. Special labor regulations typically apply to confined spaces — employees are typically required to undergo special registration procedures to enter one, and are often required to wear special safety gear (respirators, helmets, etc.) depending on the hazards within. In the U.S., the Occupational Safety and Health Administration makes regulations with respect to confined spaces.

A subset of confined spaces are permit required confined spaces which are particularly hazardous due to the presence of one or more of the following:

1. Contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere
2. Contains a material that has the potential for engulfing the entrant
3. Has an internal configuration that might cause an entrant to be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or by a floor that slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross section
4. Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazards.

In many situations, certification of non-hazardous atmosphere by a trained or competent person is required before personnel may enter a confined space without the use of a respirator. In the United States Navy, that person is the designated shipboard gas-free engineer. Certification in civilian settings can be performed by a certified marine chemist or industrial hygienist.

• OSHA page on confined spaces
• Guide to confined space regulations from Alberta Canada

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