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Confined Space Entry and Rescue Risk Assessment

Confined Space Entry and Rescue Risk Assessment

  • • 100% Compliant with Australian WHS Acts & Regulations
  • • Fully Editable MS Word & PDF Formats Included
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  • • Includes 2 Years of Free Compliance Updates

Confined Space Entry and Rescue Risk Assessment

Product Overview

Identify and control organisational risks associated with Confined Space Entry and Rescue at a management level, with a structured focus on governance, planning, systems and emergency capability. This Confined Space Entry and Rescue Risk Assessment supports executive Due Diligence, aligns with WHS legislation, and helps protect your business from operational and legal liability.

Risk Categories & Hazards Covered

This document assesses risks and outlines management controls for:

  • WHS Governance, Legal Compliance and Consultation: Assessment of organisational responsibilities, officer due diligence, worker consultation mechanisms and alignment of confined space procedures with WHS legislation.
  • Confined Space Identification, Register and Labelling: Management of systematic identification of confined spaces, maintenance of a confined space register and consistent signage and labelling protocols across sites.
  • Confined Space Risk Assessment and Permit-to-Work System: Evaluation of formal risk assessment processes, permit-to-work controls, authorisation workflows and record-keeping to ensure controlled entry.
  • Isolation, Lockout and Energy Control Systems: Assessment of lockout/tagout procedures, isolation verification, stored energy controls and engineering measures to prevent inadvertent energisation.
  • Atmospheric Hazard Management and Ventilation Systems: Management of gas testing regimes, atmospheric monitoring, ventilation design, purging strategies and calibration of detection equipment.
  • Design, Access, Egress and Entrapment Prevention: Review of access ways, entry points, rescue clearances, structural design considerations and measures to minimise entrapment and engulfment risks.
  • Competency, Training and Authorisation: Assessment of competency standards, training programs, verification of skills, and authorisation processes for entrants, standby personnel and supervisors.
  • Confined Space Entry Planning and Integration with SWMS: Coordination of job planning, interface with task-specific SWMS, sequencing of work, and integration with broader site risk controls.
  • Supervision, Monitoring and Standby Arrangements: Management of supervision levels, communication systems, continuous monitoring of entrants and the role, competency and authority of standby personnel.
  • Emergency Preparedness, Rescue and Interface with External Services: Evaluation of rescue plans, rescue team capability, equipment selection, drills, and coordination with fire, ambulance and other external responders.
  • Plant, Equipment and PPE Management for Confined Spaces: Control of selection, inspection, maintenance and replacement of plant, breathing apparatus, retrieval systems and personal protective equipment.
  • Health Monitoring, Fitness for Work and Exposure Management: Assessment of medical screening, fitness-for-work criteria, exposure limits, health surveillance and fatigue and substance management.
  • Hygiene, Sanitation and Biological Hazard Management: Management of contamination, biological agents, decontamination processes, hygiene facilities and waste handling in and around confined spaces.
  • Contractor Management and Procurement Controls: Evaluation of contractor selection, pre-qualification, information sharing, induction and procurement of compliant confined space services and equipment.
  • Monitoring, Audit, Incident Management and Continuous Improvement: Systems for inspections, audits, incident reporting, investigation, corrective actions and ongoing improvement of confined space controls.

Who is this for?

This Risk Assessment is designed for Business Owners, Officers, Safety Managers and Project Managers responsible for planning, approving and overseeing Confined Space Entry and Rescue operations across their organisation.

Hazards & Risks Covered

Hazard Risk Description
1. WHS Governance, Legal Compliance and Consultation
  • • Confined space management system not aligned with WHS Act 2011, WHS Regulations and relevant Codes of Practice
  • • Lack of clear organisational policy for confined space entry and rescue across all sites (tanks, basements, maintenance tunnels, manholes, cargo holds, floor voids, excavations, fuel storage tanks, sewer pits, gullies and risers)
  • • Inadequate consultation with workers and Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) on confined space risks and procedures
  • • Inconsistent application of confined space definition, leading to some areas (e.g. basements, cellars, floor voids, service ducts, cargo compartments, gullies, burrows and dens) being excluded from the confined space register when they should be included
  • • No formal process to review changes in work activities (e.g. new tank cleaning operations, sewer pump station pit lid repair, drilling into pits, working in low-ventilation excavations) against confined space requirements
  • • Failure to review and update systems following incidents, near misses or regulatory changes
2. Confined Space Identification, Register and Labelling
  • • Failure to identify all confined spaces across operations, including non-obvious spaces such as basements, cellars, floor voids, service ducts, cargo compartments, excavations, gullies, burrows and dens
  • • Outdated or incomplete confined space register not reflecting current plant, tanks and vessels, sewer pump station pits, fuel storage tanks, risers and maintenance tunnels
  • • Inconsistent or missing signage and labelling of confined spaces at access points (e.g. manholes, pit lids, tank hatches)
  • • No formal process to re-assess spaces where ventilation, access methods or operating conditions change (e.g. installation of new pipework, temporary covers, ventilation systems)
  • • Workers and contractors unaware that certain work areas are classified as permit-controlled confined spaces
3. Confined Space Risk Assessment and Permit-to-Work System
  • • Absence of a formal, documented risk assessment process specific to confined space tasks (e.g. tank cleaning operations, welding in tanks, working in maintenance tunnels, drilling into pits, work in risers, sewer pump station repairs)
  • • Permit-to-work system not implemented, poorly designed or inconsistently applied across sites
  • • Superficial or tick-box style risk assessments that fail to identify atmospheric hazards (e.g. sewer gases, fuel vapours, oxygen deficiency), engulfment, entrapment or access issues in tight spaces
  • • Permits issued by untrained or unauthorised personnel without authority or competency
  • • Inadequate linkage between risk assessment outcomes and specific control requirements (ventilation rates, isolation points, standby personnel, rescue capability)
  • • Permits not specifying clear time limits, scope of work or conditions under which work must stop
  • • Poor retention, review and auditing of permits, limiting organisational learning
4. Isolation, Lockout and Energy Control Systems
  • • Inadequate isolation procedures for mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, process and stored energy sources connected to tanks, pits, manholes, tunnels and risers
  • • Reliance on informal isolation (e.g. ‘switch off only’) rather than verified lockout and tagout systems
  • • Failure to isolate inflows/outflows to fuel storage tanks, sewers, cargo compartments or tunnels resulting in engulfment, flooding, or introduction of toxic gases during entry
  • • Poorly maintained or undocumented isolation points on legacy plant and equipment linked to confined spaces
  • • No systematic verification or testing that isolations are effective before issuing permits
  • • Unauthorised removal of locks or tags due to weak administrative controls
5. Atmospheric Hazard Management and Ventilation Systems
  • • Inadequate systems to identify, monitor and control sewer gases, fuel vapours, welding fumes, dusts and oxygen-deficient/enriched atmospheres in confined spaces
  • • Improper or insufficient ventilation in basements, cellars, floor voids, service ducts, cargo compartments, excavations, tanks and risers
  • • Lack of standardised atmospheric testing procedures or reliance on uncalibrated gas detectors
  • • Failure to recognise that some tight or compressed spaces with poor air flow (e.g. gullies, manholes, burrows and dens) can accumulate hazardous gases
  • • No requirement for continuous or periodic atmospheric monitoring during high-risk activities such as confined space welding, tank cleaning with solvents, or entry into sewers
  • • Inadequate maintenance and calibration regime for ventilation equipment and gas monitoring devices
6. Design, Access, Egress and Entrapment Prevention
  • • Confined spaces, including tanks, pits, risers, maintenance tunnels, basements, floor voids, cargo compartments and service ducts, designed or modified without consideration for safe access and egress
  • • Restricted access openings that impede rescue or cause entrapment when manoeuvring through tight or compressed spaces
  • • Poorly designed or unguarded pit covers, hatches or lids leading to crush, shear or entrapment injuries during pit cover raising and pit operations
  • • Lack of fixed ladders, platforms, guardrails or anchor points, increasing fall and entrapment risks during entry and exit
  • • No systematic process to review new projects or modifications for confined space entry and rescue requirements
7. Competency, Training and Authorisation
  • • Workers, supervisors and standby personnel participating in confined space entry without formal competency or refresher training
  • • Inadequate training for specialised tasks such as confined space welding, sewer gas management, tank cleaning, pit operations and work in fuel storage tanks
  • • Contractors assuming prior experience equates to competency under the organisation’s systems and Australian legislation
  • • Insufficient training for permit issuers, atmospheric testers and rescue team members
  • • No competency matrix or authorisation process covering all roles involved in confined space entry and rescue
8. Confined Space Entry Planning and Integration with SWMS
  • • Fragmented planning where confined space risks are considered separately from other high-risk activities (e.g. drilling, hot work, lifting, excavation, work at height)
  • • SWMS and job plans developed without reference to the confined space risk assessment and permit requirements
  • • Inadequate coordination between multiple contractors working on interconnected confined spaces, pits, tanks and tunnels
  • • Lack of pre-job planning for complex tasks such as sewer pump station pit lid repair, tank cleaning operations, or entry into multiple pits in one shift
  • • Failure to consider interaction between adjacent confined spaces or nearby plant operations (e.g. fuel transfer, sewer pumping, ventilation discharges)
9. Supervision, Monitoring and Standby Arrangements
  • • Inadequate supervision of confined space work, leading to deviation from permits and procedures
  • • Standby/attendant roles not clearly defined or treated as secondary duties, reducing capacity to monitor entrants effectively
  • • No system for real-time monitoring of workers navigating tight or complex confined spaces such as maintenance tunnels, risers, cargo compartments or extensive ducting
  • • Supervisors lacking authority or confidence to stop unsafe confined space work
  • • Failure to ensure continuous communication between entrants and standby personnel, particularly in noisy environments or extensive underground networks
10. Emergency Preparedness, Rescue and Interface with External Services
  • • Reliance on public emergency services alone for confined space rescue without considering response time, capability or access constraints
  • • No documented, site-specific confined space rescue plans for different scenarios (vertical entries into pits and tanks, horizontal tunnel entries, complex basements or cargo compartments)
  • • Rescue equipment (tripods, winches, breathing apparatus, stretchers) not maintained, standardised or readily accessible
  • • Rescue team members inadequately trained or not regularly drilled, leading to delays and unsafe self-rescue attempts by co-workers
  • • Failure to consider rescue implications when modifying pits, tunnels, risers, tanks or floor voids (e.g. reduced access diameter, awkward bends)
  • • Lack of coordination protocols with fire services or specialist rescue providers, including site familiarisation for high-risk facilities
11. Plant, Equipment and PPE Management for Confined Spaces
  • • Inadequate selection, maintenance and inspection systems for plant and equipment used in confined spaces (e.g. intrinsically safe tools, ventilation blowers, gas detectors, communication devices, retrieval systems)
  • • Use of unsuitable or non-intrinsically safe equipment in flammable atmospheres such as fuel storage tanks or sewer gas environments
  • • Poor management of respiratory protective equipment (RPE), harnesses and PPE, leading to failure or misuse in confined spaces with poor ventilation
  • • No systematic process to pre-approve equipment for confined space use, including electrical equipment in wet pits or tunnels
  • • Inadequate decontamination and storage arrangements for equipment used in sewer work, tank cleaning and other contaminated environments
12. Health Monitoring, Fitness for Work and Exposure Management
  • • Lack of systematic assessment of workers’ medical fitness for confined space work, including work in compressed or tight spaces and low-ventilation environments
  • • No health monitoring program for exposure to sewer gases, welding fumes, fuel vapours or cleaning chemicals used in tank operations
  • • Inadequate management of fatigue for workers undertaking extended or night-time confined space work (e.g. tunnel maintenance, sewer pump station repairs, tank shutdowns)
  • • Failure to consider psychological impacts of working in confined or underground locations (e.g. claustrophobia, anxiety) when allocating tasks
  • • No process to manage workers who report symptoms related to confined space work, such as dizziness, headaches or respiratory irritation
13. Hygiene, Sanitation and Biological Hazard Management
  • • Inadequate management of sanitation in confined spaces such as sewers, pump stations, gullies, burrows and dens, leading to exposure to biological hazards and infectious agents
  • • No procedures for decontamination of workers and equipment following sewer work, tank cleaning or work in contaminated pits and manholes
  • • Poor housekeeping in basements, cellars and service ducts, increasing slip, trip and contact with contaminated materials
  • • Insufficient provision of washing facilities, change rooms and waste disposal systems for confined space crews working with sewage or hazardous residues
  • • Lack of vaccination and health advice for workers routinely exposed to sewage and biological contaminants
14. Contractor Management and Procurement Controls
  • • Engagement of contractors for confined space entry and rescue tasks without adequate verification of their systems, training and equipment
  • • Inconsistent expectations between principal contractor and subcontractors regarding permit systems, isolation processes, rescue arrangements and sanitation standards
  • • Procurement of tanks, pits, risers, cargo compartments or cleaning services without specification of confined space safety requirements
  • • Limited oversight of contractor compliance with organisational confined space procedures, particularly on remote or short-duration projects
  • • Subcontractors adopting informal practices from previous workplaces that conflict with Australian WHS legislation and site procedures
15. Monitoring, Audit, Incident Management and Continuous Improvement
  • • Lack of systematic monitoring and auditing of confined space entry and rescue systems, leading to unnoticed procedural drift and non-compliance
  • • Under-reporting or poor investigation of near misses and incidents within confined spaces, including minor gas alarms, equipment failures or difficulties evacuating tight spaces
  • • No structured process to review lessons learned from incidents, audits or industry alerts and update confined space procedures accordingly
  • • Inadequate performance indicators for confined space safety, leaving management unable to assess control effectiveness
  • • Failure to capture worker feedback about practical challenges in navigating confined spaces, accessing pits or implementing rescue plans

Need to add specific hazards for your workplace?

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Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2011
  • Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017
  • Safe Work Australia – Confined Spaces Code of Practice: Guidance on managing health and safety risks associated with work in confined spaces.
  • Safe Work Australia – How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice: Framework for identifying hazards, assessing and controlling risks.
  • AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018: Risk management — Guidelines
  • AS 2865 – Confined Spaces: Requirements and guidance for safe working in confined spaces, including entry, monitoring and rescue.
  • AS/NZS 2299.1: Occupational diving operations – Standard operational practice (where diving interfaces with confined spaces).
  • AS/NZS 1715: Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment.
  • AS/NZS 1716: Respiratory protective devices – Performance and testing requirements.
  • AS/NZS 1891 series: Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices for work at height and retrieval associated with confined space entry.
  • AS 3745: Planning for emergencies in facilities.
Standard Risk Assessment Features (Click to Expand)
  • Comprehensive hazard identification for all activities
  • Risk rating matrix with likelihood and consequence analysis
  • Existing control measures evaluation
  • Residual risk assessment after controls
  • Hierarchy of controls recommendations
  • Action priority rankings
  • Review and monitoring requirements
  • Consultation and communication records
  • Legal compliance references
  • Sign-off and approval sections

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