S.L. 424.27 Art. 2Interpretation.

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires:

"the Act" means the Health and Safety at Work Act; "Authority" means the Occupational Health and Safety Authority established by article 4 of the Act; "competent person" means a person having suitable training and sufficient knowledge, expertise and skill for the safe performance of the specific task or work required;

"confined space" means an enclosed space which has limited openings for entry or egress, and, or which may contain insufficient levels of oxygen or contain or produce dangerous air contaminants liable to cause a risk to the health and safety of workers who enter such a space, and includes any room, chamber, booth, tunnel, tank, silo, vat, pit, pipe, drain, sewer or flue and any other enclosed space: Provided that for the purposes of these regulations, any enclosed space which is liable to be flooded or filled by the inflow of any liquid or solid material shall also be considered a confined space; "explosive atmosphere" means a mixture with air, under atmospheric conditions, of flammable substances in the form of gases, vapours, mists or dusts in which, after ignition has occurred, combustion spreads to the entire unburned mixture;

"fumes" includes any gas or vapour; "maintenance" means keeping in an efficient state, in efficient

*These regulations have been transferred to Cap. 646. Vide S.L. 646.19 and Act XXXIII of 2024. HAVING EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERES)

working order, in good repair and without loss or deterioration of function, and includes inspection, testing, cleaning, lubricating, adjusting and replacing as necessary;

"supervisor" means a person appointed or employed by an employer having overall direction on site and, or having the task of supervising entry and work in a confined space, and who has received appropriate training for such a task; "suitable system of maintenance" includes the regular maintenance, the proper carrying out of repairs in the shortest possible period, the prohibition of access to and use of defective equipment, and the keeping of appropriate and adequate records to ensure the proper implementation and easy monitoring of such a system, and where applicable, taking due regard of the manufacturer’s or installer’s specifications.