Product Overview

The Confined Space Management Plan is a comprehensive, ready-to-use safety document designed specifically for Australian businesses that undertake work in or around confined spaces. Whether your operations involve sewer manholes, stormwater pits, plant rooms, mine sumps, fire water tanks or valve chambers, this document provides a structured, practical framework to manage work health and safety (WHS) risks.

Fully aligned with Australian WHS legislation and Codes of Practice, this plan helps you identify confined spaces, assess risks, implement effective controls, and document safe systems of work. It is particularly suited to plumbing and gasfitting, civil construction and earthworks, air conditioning and refrigeration, mining and resources, and fire protection services.

Key Features

• Clear definition and identification of confined spaces, tailored to typical assets in construction, mining, mechanical services and fire systems.
• Step-by-step confined space risk assessment process, including practical checklists to ensure no critical hazards are overlooked.
• Detailed confined space entry permit framework, covering isolation, atmospheric testing, ventilation, PPE and emergency arrangements.
• Guidance on isolation and lock-out/tag-out procedures for pumps, valves, fans, compressors and process plant.
• Comprehensive coverage of atmospheric testing, gas detection, ventilation, purging and cleaning requirements.
• Defined roles and responsibilities for managers, supervisors, workers, contractors, standby persons and permit issuers.
• Robust emergency planning and rescue section, including rescue equipment, training and drill expectations.
• Templates and checklists for implementation, including a confined space register structure and implementation checklist.

Benefits

• Supports strong WHS compliance with a structured, legally informed approach to confined space work.
• Reduces the risk of serious incidents such as asphyxiation, toxic exposure, engulfment and entrapment.
• Saves time by providing a complete, professionally written safety document that can be quickly customised to your sites.
• Improves consistency across projects, crews and contractors with clear procedures and responsibilities.
• Strengthens your safety documentation, making audits, client pre-qualifications and regulator interactions easier to manage.
• Promotes safer planning for high-risk construction work, shutdowns, maintenance and inspection activities.

Who is this for?

This Confined Space Management Plan is ideal for:

• Plumbing and gasfitting contractors working on sewers, pump stations, valve pits and gas infrastructure.
• Civil construction and earthworks businesses managing stormwater systems, culverts, shafts and pipelines.
• Air conditioning and refrigeration companies with plant rooms, pits and ductwork access.
• Mining and resources operators with tanks, bins, hoppers, sumps and underground voids.
• Fire protection service providers working on fire water tanks, pump rooms and valve chambers.
• Principal contractors, facility managers and WHS professionals responsible for high-risk work approvals.

Legislation & References

This document has been developed with reference to key Australian work health and safety legislation and guidance, including:

• Model Work Health and Safety Act and Regulations (as adopted in relevant jurisdictions).
• Safe Work Australia Code of Practice: Confined Spaces.
• Other applicable WHS codes, standards and guidance for construction, mining and mechanical services.

By adopting this Confined Space Management Plan, you strengthen your WHS compliance, improve safety outcomes for your workers and contractors, and ensure your confined space safety documentation is professional, consistent and audit-ready.