Alberta's OHS Code Part 5 sets strict confined space rules. Learn the definitions, entry permits, atmospheric testing, and rescue requirements your crew needs.
Last updated: March 25, 2026
You just landed a maintenance contract at a processing facility outside Edmonton. Day one, your crew opens a manhole cover and someone asks: "Do we need a permit for this?" If you're not sure, you have a problem. Alberta's OHS Code doesn't leave room for guessing when it comes to confined spaces. Get it wrong, and you're looking at stop-work orders, fines up to $500,000, or worse.
Safety Evolution helps Alberta contractors build confined space programs that actually hold up when an OHS officer shows up on site. Here's what Part 5 of the OHS Code requires and how to make sure your crew is covered.
Alberta's OHS Code Part 5 (Sections 44 through 58) is the primary legislation governing confined space work in the province. Unlike some jurisdictions that lump all tight spaces into one category, Alberta draws a clear line between restricted spaces and confined spaces. This distinction matters because it determines which rules apply to your crew.
Part 5 applies to every employer in Alberta whose workers enter confined or restricted spaces. Construction, oil and gas, utilities, manufacturing, agriculture: if your crew goes into spaces that aren't designed for people to work in continuously, these rules apply to you.
The OHS Code sits under the broader Occupational Health and Safety Act (SA 2020, c O-2.2). The Act sets out the general duties. The Code gets into the specifics: what you need to test, who needs to sign off, and what records you need to keep.
This is where most Alberta contractors get tripped up. Many provinces use only "confined space." Alberta uses two separate definitions, and the difference isn't academic. It changes what your crew has to do before they step inside.
Restricted space (per Section 1 of the OHS Code): an enclosed or partially enclosed space that is not designed or intended for continuous human occupancy and has a restricted, limited, or impeded means of entry or exit because of its construction.
Think of it as the base category. A crawl space under a building, a storage tank that's been fully cleaned and ventilated, an attic with a small hatch. Limited access, not meant for people to live in, but no specific atmospheric or condition hazards.
Confined space (per Section 1 of the OHS Code): a restricted space that may become hazardous to a worker entering it because of:
In other words: every confined space is a restricted space, but not every restricted space is a confined space. A confined space has the access limitations of a restricted space plus at least one of those three hazard categories.
Why does this matter on the ground? Because the entry permit system under Section 47 only applies to confined spaces. If your crew is entering a restricted space that doesn't meet the confined space threshold, they still need training, PPE, and a hazard assessment, but they don't need a formal entry permit. Misclassify a confined space as "just a restricted space" and you've skipped the permit requirement entirely. That's exactly the kind of gap an OHS officer will catch.
Part 5 puts most of the obligations squarely on the employer. Here's what you're responsible for:
You must have a written code of practice that governs the practices and procedures for entering and working in confined spaces. This isn't a binder you buy from a template site and forget about. Section 44(2) requires that your code of practice:
Every worker involved in any aspect of a confined space entry must comply with your code of practice. If your code of practice is out of date or doesn't cover the specific spaces your crew works in, you're exposed.
Before any worker enters a confined or restricted space, you must appoint a competent person to identify and assess hazards, specify inspection and testing requirements, perform those tests, specify required PPE, and identify emergency equipment for rescue operations.
Every worker assigned duties related to confined or restricted space entry must be trained by a competent person in recognizing hazards and performing their duties safely. You must keep records of this training. Workers responding to emergencies must be competent in first aid, emergency response equipment use, and procedures specific to the space.
Section 47 is one of the sections that separates confined spaces from restricted spaces in practice. No person may enter a confined space without a valid entry permit.
Your entry permit system must include:
Before any worker enters, a competent person must complete and sign the entry permit. A copy must be kept readily available. If you have multiple similar confined spaces on a job, Section 47(4) allows you to issue one permit that covers them, but only after reviewing them to confirm they're actually similar.
Most contractors who've been through an OHS inspection know that the entry permit is one of the first things an officer asks for. If you don't have one, or it's not properly completed and signed, you're already in trouble before they look at anything else.
Atmospheric testing is mandatory before any worker enters a confined space. Section 52 is specific about what you need to check and how:
Before entry, a competent worker must test the atmosphere to:
The testing must be done with calibrated instruments appropriate for the atmosphere being tested, used according to the manufacturer's specifications. "We had a gas monitor" doesn't cut it if the monitor wasn't calibrated or wasn't the right type for the hazards present.
After initial entry, Section 52(3) requires continued testing as often as necessary. If there's potential for the atmosphere to change unpredictably, Section 52(3.1) requires continuous monitoring. This is common in oil and gas work where H2S or other toxic gases can accumulate without warning.
All test results must be recorded. If additional hazards are identified during testing, you must address them per the OHS Code and update your code of practice accordingly.
If atmospheric testing reveals a hazardous atmosphere exists or is likely, you must ventilate or purge the space before anyone enters. If ventilation is impractical, workers must use appropriate respiratory protection.
When mechanical ventilation is needed to maintain a safe atmosphere during work, it must include a failure alert system that gives workers enough time to evacuate safely. All workers inside must be trained on evacuation procedures for ventilation failure.
Section 55 is blunt: no worker may enter or remain in a confined or restricted space unless an effective rescue can be carried out. This applies to both confined and restricted spaces.
Employers must develop and implement emergency procedures, including immediate evacuation if the atmosphere becomes hazardous. This isn't a suggestion. It's a condition of entry.
For every confined or restricted space entry, you must designate a competent tending worker who stays in communication with the worker inside. The tending worker needs a system for summoning help and must be trained in evacuation procedures and the site's emergency response plan.
When specific hazards are present or may be present (oxygen outside 19.5%–23.0%, toxic substance above 50% of its occupational exposure limit, or any uncontrollable hazard), the tending worker must be physically present outside the entrance or at a remote monitoring station. They must track how many workers are inside at all times and maintain constant communication with each one.
If you use a remote monitoring station, Section 56(6) sets strict requirements: it must be at the same work site, have live visual display of both the entrance and interior, two-way continuous communication, emergency backup power, and a system for summoning help. You also need a second worker located outside the confined space who can physically check the area and communicate with the tending worker.
If your company works across provincial lines, the differences matter. Here's how Alberta stacks up:
| Requirement | Alberta (OHS Code Part 5) | BC (OHSR Part 9) | Ontario (O. Reg. 632/05) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Space categories | Restricted space + confined space (two distinct definitions) | Confined space only (single definition) | Confined space only (single definition) |
| Entry permits | Required for confined spaces only (not restricted spaces) | Required for all confined spaces | Required for all confined spaces |
| Written program | Code of practice required (Section 44) | Written procedures required | Written program + plan required |
| O2 range | 19.5%–23.0% | 19.5%–23.0% | 19.5%–23.0% |
| Remote monitoring | Allowed with strict requirements (Section 56(6)–(7)) | Not specifically addressed in the same detail | Not specifically addressed in the same detail |
| Record retention | 1 year (no incident) or 2 years (incident occurred) | Varies | 1 year minimum |
The biggest practical difference: Alberta's two-tier system means you need to classify every space as either restricted or confined before deciding which rules apply. In BC and Ontario, the question is simpler: is it a confined space or not? In Alberta, you've got an extra classification step, and getting it wrong has consequences.
If your crew also works in BC under WorkSafeBC rules or Ontario's confined space regulation, make sure your program accounts for the differences. A code of practice built for Alberta won't automatically satisfy BC or Ontario requirements.
Alberta doesn't play around with confined space violations. The enforcement structure has two tiers:
Administrative penalties: An OHS officer can issue penalties up to $10,000 per day, per contravention. These are issued on-site without going through court. They're designed to be fast and painful enough to force compliance.
Prosecutions and convictions: For serious violations, charges can be laid under the OHS Act. A first offence under Section 48(1) can result in fines up to $500,000 and up to 6 months in prison, per violation. For repeat offences, fines can reach $1,000,000.
In 2024 and 2025, Alberta issued dozens of administrative penalties to contractors across the province, including penalties specifically for failure to comply with OHS officer orders and failure to conduct hazard assessments. Recent conviction fines have ranged from $70,000 to $210,000 for serious incidents involving workplace safety failures.
Beyond fines, a stop-work order on a confined space entry shuts down that part of your project until compliance is demonstrated. If you're in the middle of a turnaround or shutdown, the cost of delays will dwarf the fine itself.
Here's what a compliant confined space program actually looks like in practice:
Walk every site and identify which spaces are restricted and which are confined. Document them in your code of practice. Don't forget seasonal or project-specific spaces that come and go, like excavations or temporary tanks.
Your code of practice needs to be specific to your operation, not a generic template. It must reference Part 5 requirements, identify all confined space locations, and be reviewed periodically. If your company does different types of work (construction, maintenance, oil and gas), your code of practice needs to address each one.
Every worker who could be involved in a confined space entry, including tending workers and rescue responders, needs documented training from a competent person. Keep those records. Training certifications in confined space entry typically need to be refreshed every three years, though Alberta's OHS Code doesn't specify an exact renewal period. Check with your confined space training provider for current requirements.
Create permit forms that cover all Section 47 requirements. Assign competent persons to sign off on permits. Make blank permits accessible on every job where confined space work might happen. Don't wait until someone's standing at a manhole to figure out who's authorized to sign.
Invest in calibrated multi-gas monitors appropriate for the atmospheres your crew encounters. Calibrate them according to manufacturer specs. Document calibration records. If your crew works in spaces where H2S is a risk, make sure your monitors detect it and your crew knows the exposure limits.
Decide whether you'll handle rescue internally or contract a standby rescue team. Either way, the capability must exist before anyone goes in. Your rescue plan should address the specific spaces and hazards at each site. Rescue equipment must be inspected before each entry.
Review your code of practice at least annually and after any incident. Run practice drills. When OHS legislation changes (Alberta updated parts of the OHS Code effective March 31, 2025), update your program to match.
If you don't have a dedicated safety coordinator and you're managing this alongside running crews, it's a lot. That's exactly the situation where a free safety assessment can help you figure out what's solid in your program and where the gaps are.
Want Expert Eyes on Your Safety Program?
Book a free 30-minute assessment with a safety consultant. You’ll get a 90-day action plan, whether you work with us or not.
Get Your Free Assessment →In Alberta, a restricted space is an enclosed or partially enclosed space not designed for continuous human occupancy with limited means of entry or exit. A confined space is a restricted space that also has potential hazards from atmospheric conditions, changing circumstances, or the nature of the work being done inside. The key difference: confined spaces have the same access limitations plus at least one additional hazard category, which triggers stricter requirements like entry permits and atmospheric testing.
Yes. Under Section 47 of Alberta's OHS Code, no person may enter a confined space without a valid entry permit. The permit must be completed and signed by a competent person before entry. For restricted spaces that don't meet the confined space definition, a formal entry permit is not required, but hazard assessments, training, and PPE requirements still apply.
Alberta's OHS Code Section 52 requires that oxygen content in a confined space be verified between 19.5% and 23.0% by volume before a worker enters. Below 19.5% is oxygen-deficient and above 23.0% is oxygen-enriched. Both conditions are hazardous. Testing must be done with calibrated instruments appropriate for the atmosphere.
Alberta OHS can issue administrative penalties up to $10,000 per day per contravention without going to court. For prosecuted offences, a first conviction under the OHS Act can result in fines up to $500,000 and up to 6 months imprisonment per violation. Repeat offences can reach $1,000,000 in fines.
Under Section 58 of the OHS Code, you must retain all records related to confined space entry (including entry permits and atmospheric test results) for at least 1 year if no incident or unplanned event occurred, or at least 2 years if an incident or unplanned event occurred during the entry.
For a broader overview of confined space requirements across Canada, see our complete confined space guide. If you need help understanding the difference between confined and restricted spaces in more detail, read our guide on confined space vs. restricted space.
Confined space vs restricted space: learn the legal definitions, compliance requirements, and how Alberta OHS Code distinguishes between the two.
Ontario Regulation 632/05 explained for contractors. Confined space definition, entry permits, atmospheric testing, rescue requirements, and...
Confined space hazards explained: atmospheric dangers (O2, H2S, CO, LEL), physical risks, testing thresholds, and control measures for contractors.