Product Overview

Summary: This Confined Spaces Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, step-by-step framework for planning, entering, working in, and exiting confined spaces safely in line with Australian WHS laws. It helps your business control life‑threatening risks such as atmospheric hazards, engulfment and restricted access, while giving supervisors and workers a practical, defensible process they can follow every time.

Work in confined spaces is among the highest-risk activities undertaken in Australian workplaces, with incidents often resulting in multiple fatalities within minutes. This Confined Spaces Safe Operating Procedure sets out a robust, repeatable process for identifying confined spaces, assessing risks, issuing and managing entry permits, and controlling hazards such as oxygen deficiency, toxic atmospheres, flammable gases, engulfment and restricted access or egress. It turns complex legislative and technical requirements into practical instructions that supervisors, permit issuers and workers can consistently apply on site.

The SOP is designed for organisations across construction, utilities, water and wastewater, mining, manufacturing, facilities management and local government. It helps you close gaps between policy and practice by defining who does what, when and how—from pre-entry atmospheric testing and isolation of services, through to continuous monitoring, communication, rescue preparedness and post-entry review. By implementing this procedure, your business can demonstrate due diligence under WHS legislation, reduce the likelihood of catastrophic incidents, and provide workers with the confidence that confined space work is being planned and controlled to recognised Australian best-practice standards.

Key Benefits

• Ensure compliance with Australian WHS legislation and confined space Codes of Practice across all sites.
• Reduce the risk of fatalities and serious injuries from atmospheric hazards, engulfment and entrapment.
• Standardise confined space entry permits, roles and communication so every team follows the same safe process.
• Strengthen due diligence and incident defensibility through clear documentation and record-keeping requirements.
• Improve worker confidence and competence with a practical, training-ready procedure that supports toolbox talks and inductions.

Who is this for?

• Site Supervisors
• WHS Managers
• Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)
• Confined Space Entry Workers
• Confined Space Standby Personnel
• Maintenance Technicians
• Plant and Operations Managers
• Project Managers (Construction and Infrastructure)
• Facilities and Asset Managers
• Emergency Response Team Leaders

Hazards Addressed

• Oxygen-deficient or oxygen-enriched atmospheres
• Toxic or hazardous airborne contaminants (e.g. hydrogen sulphide, carbon monoxide, solvents)
• Flammable or explosive atmospheres
• Engulfment in liquids, slurries, grain or other free-flowing materials
• Physical entrapment due to restricted access and egress
• Mechanical hazards from moving parts, agitators, conveyors or valves
• Unexpected activation of plant, pumps or services connected to the confined space
• Noise, heat stress and thermal extremes within enclosed environments
• Poor visibility and slip, trip or fall hazards inside the space
• Psychological stress, claustrophobia and impaired decision-making in confined environments

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Legal Context (including WHS and Confined Space definitions)
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (PCBU, Supervisor, Permit Issuer, Standby, Worker, Rescuer)
• 4.0 Identification and Classification of Confined Spaces
• 5.0 Risk Assessment and Hazard Identification Process
• 6.0 Confined Space Entry Permit Requirements and Controls
• 7.0 Isolation, Lockout/Tagout and Energy Control Procedures
• 8.0 Atmospheric Testing, Monitoring and Ventilation Requirements
• 9.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Safety Equipment
• 10.0 Entry, Work and Exit Procedures for Confined Spaces
• 11.0 Communication and Standby Person Duties
• 12.0 Emergency Response and Rescue Planning (including non-entry and entry rescue)
• 13.0 Training, Competency and Authorisation Requirements
• 14.0 Contractor Management and Visitor Control for Confined Space Work
• 15.0 Documentation, Records and Permit Retention
• 16.0 Inspection, Review and Continuous Improvement of Confined Space Practices

Legislation & References

• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Confined Spaces
• Model Work Health and Safety Regulations – Part 4.3 Confined Spaces
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and corresponding state and territory WHS Acts
• AS 2865: Confined spaces
• AS/NZS 1715: Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment
• AS/NZS 1716: Respiratory protective devices
• AS/NZS 60079.10.1: Explosive atmospheres – Classification of areas
• AS/NZS 2299.3: Occupational diving operations – Diving in contaminated water (where relevant to wet wells and similar spaces)