Confronting Complacency: New Perspectives on Confined Space Safety

Confined space entry has been a well-known hazard for decades, yet fatalities persist. Blackline Safety’s Todd Connolley explains why complacency remains a top concern and how to combat it.

• By David Kopf
• Oct 15, 2025

Each year, more than two million U.S. workers conduct permit-required confined space entries. These environments—characterized by limited access, poor ventilation, and unpredictable hazards—pose life-threatening risks ranging from toxic gases to oxygen deficiency. Despite decades of awareness and regulation, confined space incidents remain stubbornly persistent, claiming about 130 lives annually. 

Todd Connolley, rental sales manager at Blackline Safety with two decades of experience in critical life safety, says the root cause can be summed up in one word: complacency. “For a lot of workers, confined space incidents are something that happens to someone else, somewhere else,” he explains. 

Connelly has more than 20 years of progressive experience in critical life safety, including in fixed and portable gas detection, life support systems, and confined space, high angle and technical rescue. Also, he has experience in confined space monitoring systems, including the integration of those systems with other elements of connected safety. And when it comes to confined space incidents, a common contributing factor is complacency.  

The Complacency Trap 

Complacency often arises when hazards feel abstract or routine. Data shows how dangerous that mindset can be. According to NIOSH studies of confined space fatalities, only 15 percent of victims had confined space training, just 31 percent of incidents had written entry procedures in place, and half of fatalities were would-be rescuers. In every case reviewed, written procedures were ignored or absent, pre-entry checks were skipped, and rescue planning was inadequate. 

“The truth is, under pressure we don’t rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training,” Connolley said, quoting a maxim often attributed to both Bruce Lee and the Navy SEALs. 

For Connolley, meaningful training is the first and most essential defense against that complacency. Too often, he notes, confined space courses become a “rubber stamp,” focused only on compliance. To prevent fatalities, training must engage learners, challenge them, and make hazards feel tangible. 

Refresher training is critical. “These are perishable skills,” Connolley says. Workers cannot be expected to recall procedures learned a decade earlier when faced with an emergency. 

Leadship is also key. Even the best-trained workers can be undermined by weak leadership. “There has to be a culture on site that provides the tools to those workers so they can protect themselves and their colleagues against the hazard,” Connolley emphasizes. That includes providing calibrated gas detectors, functioning ventilation systems, and properly maintained rescue equipment. Without those resources, safety knowledge cannot be put into practice. 

Leadership also shapes workplace culture. If supervisors model shortcuts or prioritize speed over safety, workers are more likely to follow suit. Connolley says safety professionals must evaluate not only their programs but also the behaviors being modeled on site. 

Rescue Planning: Beyond Calling 911 

One of Connolley’s strongest warnings was about rescue planning. Too often, facilities assume local emergency responders can handle a confined space rescue. “Calling 911 is not a viable rescue plan,” he says. Most fire departments, especially in industrial areas, lack the specialized training and equipment needed. 

Instead, employers must prepare site-specific rescue plans, with trained and equipped personnel ready to respond. Even simple measures—such as equipping entrants with harnesses and retrieval lines—can make a lifesaving difference. For more complex hazards, facilities may need high-angle rescue teams with specialized breathing apparatus and protective gear. 

Technology can also aid rescue. Connolley points to systems that provide real-time atmospheric data to responders before they enter a confined space. “Having the information about what the situation is inside the confined space available to those responders before they go inside can help immensely,” he says. 

Connolley cautiones safety managers against over-reliance on PPE. “That should be the last thing being used to control a hazard,” he explains. Instead, organizations should follow the hierarchy of controls — eliminating hazards where possible, substituting safer processes, and using engineering and administrative controls to minimize risks. PPE should only be a final layer of defense. 

Changing Hazards Over Time 

Confined space hazards are not static. Connolley urges safety professionals to consider how a space may have changed since the last entry, or even since the last shift. Chemical reactions, environmental conditions, or operational changes can transform a safe atmosphere into a deadly one within hours. 

“People assume that because they were inside that confined space before lunch, it will still be safe to breathe the air in that confined space after lunch,” he says. “That assumption can be fatal”. 

Also, Connolley highlights the importance of planning for emergency egress. If a worker is incapacitated, how will they be removed quickly and safely? He gave the example of a worker with a dislocated shoulder at the top of a 20-foot ladder. Without a plan for extraction, even a treatable injury can become life-threatening. 

Looking Ahead: The Role of Connected Safety 

While fundamentals like training, leadership, and rescue planning remain essential, Connolley notes that technology is reshaping confined space monitoring. Connected safety systems now allow “hole watch” personnel to oversee multiple entries at once, provide two-way communication, and continuously log atmospheric conditions. 

In North America, regulatory agencies have begun to formally recognize remote monitoring systems as equivalent to traditional methods, marking a shift that could expand adoption across industries. Case studies show that connected safety can reduce risk exposure hours by tens of thousands while cutting costs by more than 30 percent. 

Perhaps most importantly, these systems improve visibility. Safety teams can monitor atmospheric trends in real time, intervene before hazards escalate, and ensure that rescue teams are fully informed before entering dangerous environments. 

Resources and Fundamentals 

For safety professionals, Connolley’s insights reinforce that confined space safety requires more than compliance. It demands engaged training, proactive leadership, realistic rescue planning, and continuous evaluation of hazards. Technology can provide valuable tools, but the fundamentals, such as planning, culture, and vigilance, remain paramount. 

“The fatalities are a very real possibility unless the resources are there,” Connolley warns. 

As safety leaders continue to confront the challenges of confined space entry, the message is clear: complacency kills, but preparation saves lives. 

This article originally appeared in the October 2025 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.