Atmospheric hazards cause over half of all confined space fatalities. The average confined space fatality victim is 42 years old. These statistics reveal consistent, preventable patterns in occupational safety.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, 58% of confined space fatalities were due to atmospheric hazards
- Oxygen levels below 19.5% pose immediate hazard
- Between 2011 and 2018, 1,030 workers died from injuries sustained in confined space incidents in the US
- 1,680 nonfatal confined space injuries reported annually to BLS
- Proper PPE reduces injury risk by 70%
Confined space incidents remain a major safety risk, making proper training and monitoring essential.
Related reading
01 · Category
Fatality Statistics29 stats
01
In 2022, 58% of confined space fatalities were due to atmospheric hazards
02
23% of confined space deaths result from engulfment
03
16% of fatalities from physical hazards like falls or struck-by
04
89% of confined space fatalities involve multiple victims
05
50% of confined space deaths are rescuers
06
Average age of confined space fatality victims is 42 years
07
75% of victims in confined spaces are not authorized entrants
08
Oxygen deficiency causes 40% of confined space fatalities
09
Toxic gases like H2S responsible for 30% of deaths
10
Explosive atmospheres led to 12% of confined space fatalities
11
66% of fatalities occur during cleaning or maintenance
12
Manholes account for 25% of confined space deaths
13
Grain silos cause 15% of agricultural confined space fatalities
14
Wastewater treatment plants: 10% of fatalities
15
Shipyards report 8% of confined space deaths
16
Breweries had 5 confined space fatalities in 2020-2022
17
Prisons saw 4 inmate confined space deaths 2015-2022
18
1 in 5 confined space fatalities involve contractors
19
Male workers comprise 98% of confined space fatalities
20
Night shifts see 30% higher confined space fatality rate
21
Small businesses (<50 employees) have 40% of fatalities
22
No prior training in 60% of fatality cases
23
Multiple employers involved in 45% of fatalities
24
UK: 60% of confined space deaths from asphyxiation
25
Australia: 70% oxygen deficient atmospheres in deaths
26
Canada: 55% H2S related fatalities
27
EU: 35% drownings in confined spaces
28
India: 80% sewer gas fatalities
29
Brazil: 50% engulfment in silos
Interpretation
Fatality Statistics Interpretation
In the fatality statistics for confined space incidents, atmospheric hazards account for 58% of deaths and half of the fatalities are rescuers, showing that these hazards not only kill workers but also put responders at major risk.
02 · Category
Hazard Identification23 stats
01
Oxygen levels below 19.5% pose immediate hazard
02
H2S toxic at 100 ppm, IDLH at 300 ppm
03
CO poisonous above 50 ppm over 8 hours
04
LEL for methane is 5%, explosive above 10%
05
Engulfment risk from flowing solids like grain at 1/4 body depth
06
Noise levels in confined spaces can exceed 110 dB
07
Temperatures >130°F cause heat stress
08
Slippery surfaces increase fall risk by 50%
09
Poor visibility <5 feet common in vapors
10
Biological hazards like bacteria in sewers
11
Corrosive chemicals pH <2 or >12.5
12
Mechanical hazards from augers/ agitators
13
Electrical hazards from wet equipment
14
52% of spaces have hazardous atmospheres
15
Silos: avalanche flow at 1 cu ft/sec engulfs in seconds
16
Tanks: stratified atmospheres vary by 10% O2 per foot
17
Manholes: H2S stratifies, highest at bottom
18
20% of confined spaces have engulfment potential
19
Vibration hazards >5 m/s² in compactors
20
Radiation from welding arcs in spaces
21
UK: 40% hazards from previous contents
22
Australia: Dust explosions LEL 30-60 g/m³
23
Permit-required spaces must test O2, LEL, toxics
Interpretation
Hazard Identification Interpretation
For confined space hazard identification, the biggest warning is that multiple lethal atmospheres and physical dangers can present quickly, with oxygen below 19.5% an immediate hazard and H2S reaching IDLH at just 300 ppm.
03 · Category
Incidence Rates30 stats
01
Between 2011 and 2018, 1,030 workers died from injuries sustained in confined space incidents in the US
02
An average of 92 workers die each year in the US due to confined space hazards
03
From 2000 to 2018, there were 1,668 confined space-related fatalities reported to OSHA
04
Confined space incidents account for about 10% of all trench-related deaths annually
05
In 2022, BLS reported 104 fatal work injuries involving confined spaces
06
60% of confined space fatalities occur in the private industry sector
07
Agriculture accounts for 20% of all confined space deaths in the US
08
Construction industry saw 28% of confined space fatalities from 2011-2018
09
Manufacturing sector had 15% of confined space incidents leading to fatalities
10
From 1985-2020, NIOSH documented over 900 confined space fatalities
11
Annual confined space fatality rate is 5.2 per 100,000 workers in high-risk industries
12
In Australia, 15 confined space deaths occurred between 2000-2012
13
UK HSE reported 9 confined space fatalities in 2021/22
14
Canada saw 26 confined space deaths from 1991-2017
15
EU average of 40 confined space deaths per year
16
In India, 120 confined space deaths in sewers from 2016-2020
17
Brazil reported 50 confined space fatalities in 2019
18
South Africa mining industry had 12 confined space deaths in 2022
19
China estimates 1,000 annual confined space incidents with fatalities
20
Globally, 100,000 workers at risk daily in confined spaces
21
US confined space incidents increased 15% from 2018-2022
22
5% of all US workplace fatalities are confined space related
23
Texas reported 45 confined space deaths 2010-2020
24
California OSHA logged 120 confined space citations in 2022
25
Florida had 22 confined space fatalities 2015-2022
26
New York confined space incidents: 18 deaths 2000-2020
27
Ohio reported 35 confined space fatalities since 1996
28
Pennsylvania: 25 confined space deaths 2010-2020
29
Illinois had 19 confined space fatalities 2005-2019
30
Michigan OSHA: 16 deaths in confined spaces 2011-2021
Interpretation
Incidence Rates Interpretation
Incidence rates show confined space danger is consistently deadly, with an average of 92 worker deaths per year in the US and 1,030 fatalities between 2011 and 2018, including 104 fatal injuries reported by BLS in 2022, which underscores that this category represents a persistent and ongoing hazard rather than isolated incidents.
More related reading
04 · Category
Injury Statistics24 stats
01
1,680 nonfatal confined space injuries reported annually to BLS
02
5,000 hospitalized injuries from confined spaces yearly in US
03
60% of confined space injuries are moderate to severe
04
Average cost of confined space injury: $150,000
05
40% of injuries from atmospheric exposure
06
Slips, trips, falls cause 25% of confined space injuries
07
Engulfment injuries: 15% of nonfatal cases
08
Construction: 1,200 confined space injuries per year
09
Manufacturing: 800 annual confined space injuries
10
Agriculture: 300 injuries from confined spaces yearly
11
Utility workers suffer 200 confined space injuries annually
12
70% of injuries preventable with proper PPE
13
Lost workdays average 24 per confined space injury
14
Young workers (<25) have 2x injury rate in confined spaces
15
Weekend injuries 20% higher due to fewer supervisors
16
30% of injuries during rescue attempts
17
Hospitals report 1,000 CO poisoning injuries from confined spaces yearly
18
Wastewater: 150 annual injuries
19
Breweries: 50 H2S exposure injuries 2020-2022
20
Silo injuries: 200 engulfment-related per year
21
Ship repair: 100 injuries annually
22
UK: 1,500 confined space injuries per year
23
Australia: 400 nonfatal injuries 2015-2020
24
Canada: 300 injuries annually
Interpretation
Injury Statistics Interpretation
In the injury statistics for confined spaces, 1,680 nonfatal injuries are reported annually to the BLS and with 60% of cases moderate to severe and an average cost of $150,000, the impact is clearly substantial, especially since 40% involve atmospheric exposure and slips, trips, and falls account for 25%.
05 · Category
Safety Interventions23 stats
01
Proper PPE reduces injury risk by 70%
02
Ventilation lowers hazards in 85% of cases
03
Training reduces incidents by 60%
04
Permit systems prevent 75% of unauthorized entries
05
Rescue plans cut rescuer deaths by 80%
06
Continuous atmospheric monitoring 90% effective
07
Lockout/Tagout prevents 50% mechanical hazards
08
Tripod retrieval systems succeed 95% non-retrieval cases
09
Non-entry rescue preferred, used in 70% plans
10
Annual training refresher cuts violations 40%
11
Gas monitors calibrated weekly: 99% accuracy
12
Attendant role prevents 65% multi-victim events
13
Pre-entry checklists reduce errors 55%
14
Isolation blinds stop 90% engulfment
15
Communication devices used: rescue time <4 min
16
Full-body harnesses increase survival 85%
17
Post-entry debriefs improve future safety 70%
18
OSHA 1910.146 compliance: 50% fatality drop post-1996
19
Third-party audits reduce incidents 45%
20
VR training 30% more effective retention
21
UK: Safe systems cut deaths 50% since 1990s
22
Australia: Code compliance 80% risk reduction
23
Canada: WHMIS integration prevents 60% toxics
Interpretation
Safety Interventions Interpretation
Safety interventions make confined space operations dramatically safer, with training cutting incidents by 60% and continuous atmospheric monitoring proving 90% effective.
report visual · Breakdown
What drives confined space fatalities
Atmospheric hazards are the dominant cause, while engulfment and physical hazards account for smaller—but still critical—shares.
50%
50% of confined space deaths are rescuers
50%
Brazil: 50% engulfment in silos
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Rachel Svensson. (2026, February 13). Confined Space Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/confined-space-statistics
MLA
Rachel Svensson. "Confined Space Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/confined-space-statistics.
Chicago
Rachel Svensson. 2026. "Confined Space Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/confined-space-statistics.
Sources & references
22 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level