Product Overview

This Confined Space Policy template is a comprehensive, ready-to-use work health and safety document designed specifically for Australian businesses operating in plumbing and gasfitting, civil construction and earthworks, air conditioning and refrigeration, and mining and resources. It provides a clear, practical framework to manage confined space risks, helping you protect workers, meet WHS compliance obligations and demonstrate due diligence to regulators, clients and principal contractors.

Confined spaces such as sewer manholes, pits, culverts, tanks, ductwork and underground mining voids present serious hazards, including toxic atmospheres, oxygen deficiency, engulfment and entrapment. This professionally written policy sets out the systems, roles and controls needed to manage those risks in a structured, defensible way.

Key Features

• Fully developed confined space policy aligned with Australian work health and safety legislation and the Confined Spaces Code of Practice.
• Clear allocation of responsibilities for officers, managers, supervisors, workers, contractors and stand-by personnel.
• Detailed guidance on confined space identification, risk assessment and the use of a permit-to-work system.
• Coverage of isolation, atmospheric testing, ventilation, PPE, communication and supervision requirements.
• Industry-relevant examples for plumbing, civil construction, HVAC, and mining and resources environments.
• Structured sections ready to integrate with existing safety documentation and WHS management systems.

Benefits

• Supports strong WHS compliance by aligning your confined space practices with legal and regulatory expectations.
• Reduces the likelihood of serious incidents, injuries and fatalities in high-risk confined space work.
• Saves time and internal effort with a complete, professionally drafted policy you can quickly tailor to your operations.
• Improves consistency across projects, sites and subcontractors through clear procedures and permit requirements.
• Demonstrates due diligence to clients, auditors and regulators through robust, documented confined space controls.

Who is this for?

• Plumbing and gasfitting contractors working on sewer systems, pump stations, meter pits and large pipework.
• Civil construction and earthworks businesses managing pits, culverts, shafts, tunnels and deep excavations.
• Air conditioning and refrigeration companies accessing plant rooms, ductwork, voids and chiller pits.
• Mining and resources operators with underground workings, tanks, bins, process vessels and sumps.
• Safety managers, project managers, supervisors and HR or compliance staff responsible for safety documentation and systems.

Legislation & References

This Confined Space Policy has been developed with reference to Australian work health and safety legislation, including the WHS Act and WHS Regulations (jurisdiction-specific), and the Safe Work Australia Code of Practice for Confined Spaces. It is suitable for use in most Australian jurisdictions and can be easily adapted to site-specific or client requirements, making it a strong foundation for your confined space risk management and WHS compliance program.