Fast facts
| Required by law? | YesO. Reg. 632/05, ss. 8 (1) and 9 (1) |
|---|---|
| Approved provider required? | NoO. Reg. 632/05, s. 8 (2) |
| Does it expire? | None in Ontario lawO. Reg. 632/05 |
| Can it be verified? | No public registryO. Reg. 632/05, ss. 8 (5) and 9 (2) |
| How long is the training? | Not prescribedO. Reg. 632/05, s. 8 |
| Also called | confined space entry training, confined space ticket |
| Applies to | Workplaces generally |
Last verified August 23, 2026 against the sources listed at the bottom of this page.
Is confined space training required by law in Ontario?
Yes. Every worker who enters a confined space or performs related work must be given adequate training for safe work practices in confined spaces, including training in recognising the hazards, and separately must receive training specific to the written plan for that space.
O. Reg. 632/05, ss. 8 (1) and 9 (1)
Does the training provider have to be government-approved?
No. Ontario does not approve confined space training providers or programs. The employer must appoint a person with adequate knowledge, training and experience to conduct the training.
O. Reg. 632/05, s. 8 (2)
Does confined space training expire in Ontario?
None in Ontario law. The regulation sets no expiry date and no renewal period. It sets a review duty instead.
O. Reg. 632/05
Refresher
There is no refresher course in Ontario law. There is an annual review duty under s. 8 (4), carried out with the joint health and safety committee, plus a review whenever circumstances change.
How long is the training itself?
Not prescribed. Ontario sets no minimum course length for confined space training. The standard is adequacy, judged against the plan for the specific space.
O. Reg. 632/05, s. 8
What has to be covered
- Safe work practices for working in confined spaces and for performing related work
- Recognition of the hazards associated with confined spaces
- The content of the written plan for the specific confined space the worker will enter
How an employer proves it
No public registry. There is no government confined space registry. The employer must keep up-to-date written records showing who provided the training, who received it, the nature of the training and the date.
O. Reg. 632/05, ss. 8 (5) and 9 (2)
What the employer has to keep
- Up-to-date written records showing who provided the training, who received it, the nature of the training and the date it was provided
- These records may be incorporated into the entry permit for the space
What people get wrong about confined space training
Construction projects follow a different section
Sections 8 and 9, the hazard recognition and plan-specific training duties, expressly do not apply to workplaces that are projects. Construction projects are governed by section 9.1 instead. A course written for an industrial plant is not automatically the right course for a jobsite.
O. Reg. 632/05, ss. 8 (0.1), 9 (0.1) and 9.1
It has to be reviewed at least once a year
The employer must review the training in consultation with the joint health and safety committee or health and safety representative whenever there is a change in circumstances that may affect the safety of a worker entering a confined space, and in any case at least once annually.
O. Reg. 632/05, s. 8 (4)
There are two separate trainings, not one
General hazard recognition training under section 8 and plan-specific training under section 9 are distinct duties. They may be combined in delivery, but both have to happen, and the plan-specific part changes every time the space or the plan changes.
O. Reg. 632/05, ss. 8 (7) and 9 (4)
The ticket is the smallest part of the obligation
A confined space entry also requires a written program, a hazard assessment, a written plan, an entry permit, on-site rescue procedures, rescue equipment and a means of communication, isolation of energy and material movement, an attendant stationed outside, controlled means of entry and exit, prevention of unauthorised entry, and atmospheric testing. Training alone does not make an entry lawful.
O. Reg. 632/05, ss. 5 to 18
Related safety training requirements
Official sources
Every statement above was read from the source itself rather than a summary of it. Where Ontario law is silent, this page says so instead of repeating industry practice as if it were a legal requirement.
This is an independent summary of public information, not legal advice, and requirements change. Confirm the current requirement with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development before acting on it.