Confined Space E&A Facts

Fact Sheet | Fatal occupational injuries involving confined spaces | July 2020

From 2011 to 2018, 1,030 workers died from occupational injuries involving a confined space. The annual figures range from a low of 88 in 2012 to a high of 166 in 2017. This data are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI).

Confined spaces are based on guidelines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). A confined space:

• is large enough for workers to enter and perform certain jobs
• has limited means of entry or egress
• is not designed for continuous occupancy

More information on confined spaces, including examples, can be found on the OSHA website. Some examples include, but are not limited to, storage bins, manholes, and grain silos.

Geography

Confined spaces are found in workplaces throughout the United States. There are publishable data for fatal occupational injuries involving confined spaces from 2011-18 in 49 states and the District of Columbia. The map below shows the breakout by state.

Fatal occupational injuries involving confined spaces by state of incident, 2011-18

For technical information and definitions, please see the BLS Handbook of Methods.