Chapter One - General Provisions
Purpose and scope of application: The provisions of this Regulation have been formulated pursuant to Article (85) and Note (1) of Article (86) of the Labour Code of the Islamic Republic of Iran, for the purpose of protecting the country's human resources and material resources, and with the aim of preventing the occurrence of work-related accidents and ensuring safety at workplaces subject to the Labour Code that have a confined space.
Definitions: In this Regulation, the following terms shall have the meanings set out below:
1. Confined space: A space meeting the following criteria, which, depending on safety conditions, either requires or does not require an entry permit. 1-1. It is large enough for a person's body or upper torso to enter it so that the person can perform the assigned tasks; 1-2. It is not designed for continuous occupancy or work by persons, and persons enter it for matters such as inspection, repair, and maintenance; 1-3. It has limited means of entry and exit, such that escape in an emergency situation is not readily possible; 1-4. It does not have adequate natural ventilation, and, owing to the risk of air being trapped in such spaces, the internal atmospheric pressure differs from that outside, or it has a toxic and hazardous atmosphere.
2. Confined space not requiring an entry permit: A confined space which, based on the risk assessment, is free of hazards that could lead to death, severe physical injury (loss of a limb/organ), or other harm to the worker.
3. Confined space requiring an entry permit: A confined space which, based on the risk assessment, has one or more of the following characteristics: 3-1. It contains a hazardous atmosphere or has the potential to generate a hazardous atmosphere; 3-2. It contains a material in which a person could be engulfed; 3-3. Its internal configuration, owing to the condition of its walls or a sloped floor, could result in a person becoming trapped; 3-4. It contains at least one physical, chemical, biological, electrical, or mechanical hazard.
4. Operational execution programme: Refers to the planning, implementation, supervision, and monitoring of the presence of operations personnel in the environment, the entry of the authorised entrant, the performance of the work and their exit from the confined space, shift changes, the protection of persons against the hazards of this space, and the control and adoption of safety measures.
5. Entry permit: Means a written document prepared by the employer or their representative for entry, the performance of activity, and the determination of working conditions; it shall be issued in the name of the authorised entrant and their job title, and shall specify the location of the confined space, the purpose of entry, the date, duration, and type of work to be performed, the acceptable entry and exit conditions, the hazards of the space, and the names of the supervisor and the responsible person.
6. Acceptable entry and exit conditions: The condition prevailing in the confined space under which the entry, exit, and activity of authorised entrants therein is carried out safely.
7. Employer: A natural or legal person on whose instructions and account one or more workers are employed.
8. Main contractor: A competent natural or legal person who, on the basis of the contract documents, is recognised as the principal executor of the subject matter of the contract.
9. Subcontractor or sub-subcontractor: A competent natural or legal person with whom the main contractor has entered into a contract for the performance of part of the work, and who is required to fulfil its obligations on the basis of the contract documents.
10. Supervisor: A person appointed by the employer or their representative to oversee the safe conditions of the work environment, the performance of responsible persons, and the correct implementation of the operational execution programme; this person may be the employer themselves, a section supervisor, or a unit supervisor.
11. Responsible person: A person stationed outside the confined space who oversees the safe conditions of the operational execution of work in the confined space, the entry and exit, and the performance of authorised entrants. This person may, if necessary and in emergency situations, enter the space.
12. Authorised entrant: A person who, by holding an entry permit, may enter the confined space; this person shall have completed the training related to the type of activity in the confined space.
13. Tester: A person who possesses the necessary knowledge, ability, and skill to conduct tests and to identify and anticipate the hazards of the confined space, for the purpose of taking corrective action or eliminating them.
14. Operations personnel: Persons who, under the supervision of the supervisor and the coordination of the responsible person, carry out activities related to work outside the confined space.
15. Hazardous atmosphere: An atmosphere which, if persons are exposed to it, could result in death, injury, or the inability to exit the confined space, and which has the following characteristics: 15-1. Flammable and combustible gas, vapour, or dust at a concentration equal to or greater than 10 percent of the lower flammable limit; 15-2. An air oxygen concentration of less than 19.5 (nineteen and a half) percent or above 23.5 (twenty-three and a half) percent; 15-3. Changes in the concentration of substances present in the confined space, in cases where their permissible limits are specified in the latest edition of the Occupational Exposure Limits of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education - Classification of Toxic and Hazardous Substances; 15-4. Any other atmospheric condition that is hazardous to the life and health of the person.
16. Emergency and hazardous situation: A condition or situation that could create hazards for operations personnel or authorised entrants.
17. Prohibited condition: The occurrence of an unsafe condition or situation that creates hazards for the authorised entrant.
18. Engulfment: The surrounding and enveloping of a person by liquids or finely divided solid particles capable of movement and displacement, which, by disabling the respiratory system or exerting pressure on the body, could cause injury or death.
19. Inerting: An operation in which an inert, non-combustible, non-polluting, and non-reactive gas (such as nitrogen) is substituted for the gas or vapours present in a flammable atmosphere, such that the atmosphere of the confined space becomes non-flammable and non-reactive.
20. Isolation: A process that takes all or part of the confined space out of service to prevent the release of energy or the entry of substances into it. This is accomplished through disconnecting pipes, double block and bleed, disconnecting mechanical linkages, and locking out and blocking all energy sources.
21. Monitoring: Tests performed periodically and continuously, for the duration of the authorised entrant's activity in the confined space, to identify and assess hazards and to determine the extent of changes in the safe conditions of the confined space.
22. Rescue team: Designated, trained, and competent persons whose duty is to eliminate hazards and rescue persons who have had an accident, from the confined space.
23. Rescue equipment: Refers to equipment such as rescue rope, harness, rescue vest, fire extinguisher, personal protective equipment, oxygen cylinder, and other items needed for the rescue of persons present in the confined space.
24. Testing: This process comprises tests and measures for identifying the hazards of the confined space that authorised entrants may encounter upon entry or during work.
25. Records and documentation: Refers to all programmes, permits, certificates, and approvals for work in confined spaces, whether in written or electronic form.
26. Calibration: Refers to comparing a measuring device with a standard, determining the extent of the device's error relative to that standard, and, if necessary, adjusting it in comparison with the relevant standards.
27. Escape mask: A portable mask that can be readily used by persons in the event of unforeseen accidents resulting from the release of toxic gases.
28. Risk management: The process of identifying, assessing, analyzing, and eliminating hazard-causing factors, which, by controlling potential hazards, can prevent accidents that may occur during the execution of a plan (project).
Chapter Two - General Regulations
The employer shall, before the commencement of any activity and the entry of authorised entrants into the confined space, carry out the correct implementation of risk management. The results thereof shall lead to the identification, assessment, elimination, and control of all hazards and to the correction of processes.
The employer shall prepare, develop, implement, review, and update the operational execution programme and the procedures related thereto, including the necessary tests, identification of engulfment hazards, acceptable entry and exit conditions, performance of work by a safe method, rescue operations, and making the space safe after exit and completion of the operation.
The employer shall prepare and communicate the operational execution programme and the procedures related thereto in writing, before the entry of any person - whether the supervisor, responsible person, authorised entrant, or tester - into the confined space, and shall oversee its implementation.
The employer shall, during the performance of activities related to the confined space, prevent the entry of unauthorised persons into that space by installing danger, warning, or deterrent signs, such as "Danger," "No Entry," or similar phrases. Warning signs shall indicate the location of the hazard and its type.
The opening of the cover or hatch of the confined space is contingent on the elimination or control of unsafe conditions, and the accidental fall of persons or foreign objects into the confined space shall be prevented by a temporary barrier or guard.
Before entry into the confined space, and to ensure that conditions are safe, gas testing shall be conducted by the tester, based on the results of the risk assessment and using a calibrated instrument, to determine the levels of oxygen and of flammable and toxic gases and vapours. Re-entry is contingent on repeating the gas test, and the results shall be made available to persons before every work shift.
Before persons enter, the confined space shall be taken out of service, and the release of energy or the entry of substances into it shall be completely prevented by the method of elimination, containment, or control.
The entry of persons into the confined space is prohibited until all hazards present in this space have been eliminated and an entry permit has been issued.
Permanent mechanical ventilation of the confined space shall keep the area occupied by, and the activity of, authorised entrants safe from a hazardous atmosphere until the exit of the last person.
Contaminated air in the confined space shall be replaced with clean, breathable air, and this shall be carried out in such a way that the exhausted contaminated air cannot re-enter the confined space.
The employer shall, to identify hazards, prevent the accumulation of a hazardous atmosphere, and ensure the correct functioning of the mechanical ventilation, have the air of the confined space monitored by the tester throughout the duration of the work.
The use of electrical equipment for ventilating a flammable or explosive atmosphere of the confined space is prohibited, unless such fans are of the spark-proof type and equipped with an earthing system.
The employer shall, in the event that the performance of work is assigned by way of contracting, while observing the provisions of Article (13) of the Labour Code, act to ensure compliance with the safety and protection laws and regulations.
The employer shall, upon identifying a hazardous atmosphere or a change in the safe conditions of the confined space, at any stage of entry or performance of work, promptly evacuate persons from the confined space and assess the cause and extent of the release of the hazardous atmosphere or the change in conditions. Re-entry of persons into this space is permitted subject to compliance with protective measures and written approval.
The employer shall prepare written records relating to the elimination of the hazards of the confined space, together with the time and location of that space, and these records shall always be available.
A confined space in which all hazards leading to death, injury, or other harm have been eliminated, based on the results of the risk assessment, may, with written approval, be reclassified as a confined space not requiring an entry permit.
The employer shall, in the event of a change in the safety conditions of a confined space not requiring an entry permit, immediately order the evacuation of all persons present in this space, reassess that confined space, and, if necessary, reclassify it as a confined space requiring an entry permit.
The employer shall, prior to making the confined space safe, prevent the entry of all persons and the performance of any activity.
The contractor shall, prior to performing activity in the confined space, obtain from the employer the information required regarding the hazards and the execution operations, based on the results of the risk assessment.
The contractor shall, prior to entering the confined space, ensure that the operational execution programme conforms with the technical protection and safety programmes and procedures. The commencement of operations is contingent on the observance and implementation of these procedures.
Where the employer assigns the execution of work operations in the confined space entirely, from the beginning to the end of the work, to a single contractor, the contractor shall in such case be responsible for implementing the regulations relating to technical protection and safety at the workplace.
Where the employer assigns the execution of work operations in the confined space, by way of contract, to several different contractors, each contractor shall, within the scope of its own contract, be responsible for implementing the technical protection and safety regulations, and the employer shall be responsible for coordinating and overseeing the performance among them, to prevent work conflicts and the occurrence of potential hazards or accidents.
Where the main contractor, with the employer's agreement, assigns the execution of different parts of the contract operations to subcontractors, each subcontractor shall, within the scope of its own contract, be responsible for implementing the technical protection and safety regulations, and the main contractor shall be responsible for supervision and for coordinating among the subcontractors.
Where the employer assigns the execution of work operations in the confined space to a contractor, but the provision of equipment, work implements, testing equipment, ventilation, communication devices, rescue equipment, guards, and barriers remains the responsibility of the employer, then only the performance of the execution operations is assigned, and the contractor shall be responsible for providing personnel trained in confined space work and for overseeing compliance with safety standards by its workers during the performance of work. In this method of assignment, the employer shall provide them with sound and safe equipment and implements and shall exercise overall supervision of the safe performance of the contractor and the workers under its direction.
The contractor shall, at all stages of the execution operations and throughout the activity carried out in proximity to the employer's workers or other contractors' workers, oversee the safe behaviour of the workers under its coverage.
The contractor shall commence and conclude the execution operations in coordination with, and with the written authorisation of, the employer, and shall submit to the employer a report of any accidents and incidents occurring before, during, or after the operations in the confined space.
The employer shall obtain from the confined space contractor a report on the operations and the hazards encountered during work and, if necessary, take the action required to review the operational execution programme.
The employer shall designate the supervisor, the responsible person, the authorised entrant, the tester, and the in-house rescue team, and, while communicating their job descriptions to them, shall oversee the precise and safe performance of those duties and shall provide them with the necessary training before the commencement of work.
The employer shall anticipate and prepare a rescue operations programme for emergency situations, and shall record and retain its documentation at the workplace.
The employer shall, before persons commence work in the confined space, carry out the necessary coordination with the external rescue team, so as to inform it of the existing conditions and of its possible attendance for rescue operations.
The safety data sheet or other information relating to substances by which authorised entrants have been injured shall be made available to the rescue team and the treating medical team, for use in the treatment of the injured person.
The employer shall conduct rescue operation drills in the confined space at least once every 12 months and shall keep the related records and documentation at the workplace and readily available.
Chapter Three - Operational Execution Programme
The employer, having regard to the type of activity of the workplace, shall prepare the operational execution programme for the confined space with priority given to observing safety, and shall update it at specified time intervals.
The employer shall, to ensure the safety of authorised entrants in the confined space, act to identify the confined space, to isolate, clean, inert, and/or ventilate that space, and to determine the acceptable entry and exit conditions and access, based on the results of testing.
The employer shall, to protect operations personnel and authorised entrants, designate the passage routes for persons and machinery and shall protect them from hazards by installing barriers and guards.
The employer shall, in addition to providing the work implements, provide the equipment necessary for testing, supervision, ventilation, personal protection, communication, rescue, and the required guards and barriers, and shall provide persons with the training necessary for the proper use and maintenance thereof, and shall oversee their correct use.
The lighting of the confined space shall be such that the authorised entrant can perform their duties safely, and shall be sufficient for leaving this space in an emergency situation.
The lighting of the confined space shall be provided based on the environmental conditions and the atmosphere present in that space. Where there is a possibility of ignition or explosion, spark-proof lighting equipment (24 volts) shall be used; otherwise, ordinary lighting equipment may be used.
Lighting equipment shall be appropriate to the conditions of the confined space. In spaces where there is a possibility of ignition or explosion, this equipment shall be spark-proof and fire-resistant.
Continuous testing shall be carried out to identify hazards and to ensure the safety of the execution operations in confined spaces where, owing to continuous production and the ongoing process flow, complete isolation is not possible.
Testing shall be carried out to identify atmospheric hazards in the confined space, with priority given to measuring the level of oxygen and of flammable and explosive gases and vapours and of toxic gases and vapours, and these results shall be made available to authorised entrants before entry.
The employer shall station and maintain the permanent presence of at least one responsible person outside the confined space, for the purpose of overseeing the performance of the authorised entrant and the safe conditions of the confined space. Assigning unrelated duties to the responsible person is prohibited.
The employer, based on the results of the risk assessment, shall prepare the execution procedures, including: procedures for the issuance of the entry permit, for the simultaneous work of several operations personnel, for summoning the rescue team, for action in emergency situations, and for the cancellation of the entry permit to the confined space.
The employer shall, upon being notified by the supervisor, the responsible person, or the authorised entrant of the existence of a defect or deficiency in the course of the operational execution programme, prevent the continuation of the activity and shall then review that programme and take corrective action to remove the hazards.
The employer, for the purpose of reviewing the operational execution programme to protect persons from hazards, shall examine the reasons for the cancellation of issued permits and the hazards recorded in completed permits, within a one-year period from the date of issuance of each permit.
Chapter Four - Entry Permit
The employer shall issue the entry permit to the confined space in writing. The entry of the authorised entrant into the confined space is contingent on holding a permit signed by the supervisor and the responsible person.
The entry permit shall be issued in the name of the authorised entrant, with their job title stated. The name and signature of the supervisor and the responsible person, the purpose of entry, the date of entry, the duration and type of work to be performed, the acceptable entry and exit conditions, and the hazards of the confined space shall be stated therein.
The entry permit shall conform to the results of the risk management. It shall also include the assessment and control measures for the isolation of the confined space and the methods for eliminating or controlling hazards prior to entry, and the exit conditions in an emergency situation.
The entry permit shall specify the method and manner of access to the rescue team, the personal protective equipment, the test results, and the communication and warning methods.
The entry permit shall specify the type and method of communication between the responsible person and the authorised entrant.
The employer shall retain the records relating to the issuance, cancellation, or expiry of the entry permit to the confined space, for the purpose of review, correction, and improvement of methods, for a period of at least one year.
Chapter Five - Duties of Persons
Section One - Duties of the Supervisor
The supervisor shall possess the necessary information and awareness of the hazards of the entry, exit, and in-work operations, and shall, on the basis of the entry permit, oversee the safe conditions of the work environment, the performance of responsible persons, and the correct implementation of the operational execution programme.
The supervisor shall approve the presence and operations programme of the rescue team.
The supervisor shall oversee the work process and the environmental conditions outside the confined space, and shall, based on the reports of the responsible person, prepare the final report and submit it to the employer.
The supervisor shall, where several confined spaces exist, oversee the performance of the responsible person of each confined space and carry out the necessary coordination among them.
The supervisor shall cancel the entry permit, based on the report of the responsible person, upon completion of the execution operations, or in the event of an emergency and hazardous situation arising inside the confined space or in its vicinity.
Section Two - Duties of the Responsible Person
The responsible person shall, based on the operational execution programme, oversee shift changes and confirm that working conditions are safe prior to entry.
The responsible person shall possess the necessary information and awareness of the work process and of the hazards relating to the entry, exit, and in-work operations of the authorised entrant, and shall be informed of the exact number and details of the authorised entrants present in the confined space.
The responsible person shall be stationed full-time at their place of work and shall maintain permanent communication with authorised entrants so as to ensure their well-being.
The responsible person shall, in the event of an inability to perform the assigned duties, the authorised entrant being placed in a hazardous situation, the identification of an emergency situation outside the confined space, or the identification of a prohibited condition in a manner that endangers the lives of persons, immediately halt the execution operations and order the evacuation of authorised entrants from the confined space.
The responsible person shall, where authorised entrants inside the confined space need help, promptly act to rescue them and request assistance from the rescue team.
The responsible person shall refrain from performing duties inconsistent with their job description and shall, during the performance of activity in the confined space, prevent the presence and entry of unauthorised persons into this space.
The responsible person shall, in the event of an accident or unforeseen occurrence in the conditions of the confined space or the surrounding area, prevent the presence, gathering, and involvement of unauthorised persons in participating in the rescue operations.
The responsible person shall, in addition to checking the entry permit of the authorised entrant, ensure that they are equipped with protective equipment appropriate to the work being performed.
The responsible person shall oversee the enclosure of the confined space area and the installation of warning signs, and, upon observing any defect or deficiency, shall halt the work and report the matter to the supervisor.
The responsible person shall be informed of the stages of the work performed inside the confined space and shall record and log the report of the work execution process and submit it to the supervisor.
Section Three - Duties of the Authorised Entrant
The authorised entrant shall possess the health and physical ability necessary to perform work in the confined space and shall, while being aware of the hazards of the confined space, correctly and fully implement the procedures established by the employer within the scope of their duties, and shall obtain the entry permit from the responsible person before entering this space.
The authorised entrant shall have completed the safety training courses related to the type of activity in the confined space and shall possess the skill necessary for the deployment and correct use of communication, technical, and personal protective equipment.
The authorised entrant shall, upon being placed in a hazardous situation or encountering and identifying a prohibited condition, promptly leave the confined space and inform the responsible person of these conditions.
The authorised entrant shall, as soon as the evacuation alarm is activated or an evacuation order is issued by the responsible person, promptly and safely exit the confined space.
The entry of authorised entrants into the confined space without the presence and approval of the responsible person is prohibited.
The authorised entrant shall, upon entering the confined space, be equipped with rescue equipment so that, in the event of a hazard occurring, the rescue team can readily carry out the rescue operation. If, with the employer's approval, the use of this equipment would create a hazard or would not aid the rescue operation, it shall not be required.
The authorised entrant, where required to use respiratory equipment, shall be equipped with a full-body harness connected to a rescue line.
Section Four - Duties of the Tester
The tester shall possess the knowledge, expertise, and skill necessary for the deployment of testing equipment, personal protective equipment, and communication and technical equipment, in performing the tests required for the confined space.
The tester shall use sound, calibrated measuring equipment in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and shall, in the event of a defect in the equipment or its not being calibrated, notify the responsible person and the employer of the matter.
The tester shall, while measuring contaminants in the confined space, identify the hazards of the confined space and act to correctly and fully implement the procedures relevant to them, and shall, upon being placed in a hazardous situation or encountering or identifying a prohibited condition during testing, promptly exit that space and report the matter to the responsible person.
The tester shall always be available at every stage of the performance of work operations in the confined space and shall be prepared to repeat the tests as necessary, and shall also record the test results in the entry permit and sign it.
Section Five - Duties of the Rescue Team
The rescue team shall have the awareness and readiness for carrying out rescue operations, working with devices and equipment, and performing other duties assigned to them in the confined space.
The rescue team shall have access to all necessary parts of the workplace and to the confined spaces, for the purposes of planning and carrying out the operation.
The in-house rescue team shall participate in practical rescue training courses related to confined spaces and shall obtain a valid, written certificate from a competent authority.
Chapter Six - Training
The employer shall, before authorised entrants commence work, provide them with knowledge- and skill-based training, through competent authorities, for the safe performance of the duties assigned to them in the confined space.
The general and specialized safety training of authorised entrants and the rescue team shall be conducted by competent authorities, and a certificate bearing the trained person's details, the title of the course, the date of training, and the seal and approval of the training authority shall be issued and made available at the workplace.
The employer shall require the contractor to employ workers who have completed training appropriate to work in confined spaces.
The contractor shall, before commencing work, submit to the employer the records and documentation relating to the safety training of its workers.
Chapter Seven - Other Provisions
The employer shall, for the performance of repairs, servicing, and other activities in the confined space, make the space safe by isolating moving and rotating parts through guarding.
The employer shall safely lock out all electrical equipment and machinery, such as switches, motors, and turbines, so that they are not suddenly or accidentally started up during the performance of work operations in the confined space.
The use of pure oxygen to supply the required air or to ventilate the confined space is prohibited.
Placing the tank or cylinder that supplies air for ventilation inside the confined space is prohibited.
Air-supply (blower) pumps shall be equipped with emergency electrical facilities.
Continuous gas testing shall be carried out to monitor the concentration levels of oxygen and toxic substances in confined spaces where there is a possibility of a change in atmospheric conditions due to the disturbance of sludge or the leakage of substances from equipment or adjacent units.
The employer shall equip authorised entrants with an escape mask, to deal with potential hazards and to enable escape in emergency situations.
The workplace of the authorised entrant in the confined space shall be such that it has tolerable conditions in terms of heat and cold, or the entrant shall be equipped with work clothing appropriate to the temperature of that space.
Smoking, creating an open flame, and carrying a mobile phone, matches, a lighter, and similar items in a confined space where there is a possibility of combustion, ignition, or explosion, is prohibited.
Implementation of the provisions of this Regulation, pursuant to Articles (85) and (91) of the Labour Code, is binding on all employers and workers subject to the Labour Code, and responsibility for its implementation in the workplace rests with the employer of the workplace.
This Regulation, comprising 7 chapters and 5 sections in 96 articles, was drawn up pursuant to Articles (85) and (86) of the Labour Code of the Islamic Republic of Iran at the one hundred and seventy-seventh session of the Supreme Council for Technical Protection, dated 1401/4/21 (2022), and was approved by the Acting Minister of Cooperatives, Labour and Social Welfare on 1401/5/26 (2022).
Acting Minister of Cooperatives, Labour and Social Welfare - Mohammad Hadi Zahedi-Vafa.