Hong Kong Regulations

FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (CONFINED SPACES) REGULATION - SECT 7

Safety precautions before work begins

A proprietor or contractor shall ensure that no worker enters a confined 
space for the first time unless-

   (a)  every piece of mechanical equipment in the confined space, which is
        liable to cause danger, has been disconnected from its power source,
        with its power source locked out;

   (b)  every pipe or supply line whose contents are liable to create a hazard
        has been properly blanked off;

   (c)  the confined space has been tested to ensure the absence of any
        hazardous gas and no deficiency of oxygen;

   (d)  the confined space has been adequately purged and sufficiently cooled
        and ventilated, having regard to the circumstances of the particular
        confined space, to ensure that it is a safe workplace;

   (e)  an adequate supply of respirable air and an effective forced
        ventilation have been provided inside the confined space; and

   (f)  effective steps have been taken to prevent-

        (i)    an ingress to the confined space of hazardous gas, vapour, dust
               or fume; and

        (ii)   an in-rush into the confined space of free flowing solid or
               liquid. (L.N. 17 of 1999)