Product Overview

This Emergency Rescue From Confined Spaces SWMS is a detailed Safe Work Method Statement designed to help you plan, manage, and execute confined space emergency rescues safely and in line with WHS compliance requirements. It is a comprehensive document that covers the full lifecycle of confined space emergency rescue operations, from planning and entry through to incident response, recovery, and post-incident review.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Planning and authorisation of confined space rescue operations, including permits, rescue plans, and communication protocols
• Identification and assessment of confined space hazards such as toxic atmospheres, oxygen deficiency, engulfment, and mechanical risks
• Selection, inspection, and use of atmospheric monitoring equipment for pre-entry and continuous gas testing
• Use of respiratory protective equipment (RPE) and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) during rescue activities
• Safe use of tripod, winch, retrieval systems, and full body harnesses for vertical and horizontal extractions
• Establishing exclusion zones, signage, and barricades around confined space entry points during a rescue
• Roles and responsibilities of standby personnel, rescue team members, and supervisors during emergency response
• Communication methods between entrants, standby personnel, and external emergency services
• Emergency response procedures for unconscious or injured workers within a confined space
• First aid, stabilisation, and handover of rescued persons to paramedics or emergency services
• Lockout/tagout and isolation of services (electrical, mechanical, process lines) prior to and during rescue operations
• Decontamination procedures following rescue from spaces with hazardous substances or biological contaminants
• Post-incident debriefing, documentation, and review of rescue effectiveness to improve future responses

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for confined space rescue teams, industrial maintenance crews, utilities and infrastructure workers, emergency response personnel, and site supervisors responsible for managing confined space work.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Confined Spaces: Guidance on managing risks of working in and rescuing from confined spaces
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks: Framework for identifying, assessing, and controlling risks
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: First Aid in the Workplace: Requirements for first aid arrangements supporting rescue operations
• AS 2865 Confined Spaces: Requirements and guidance for safe working in confined spaces, including rescue considerations
• AS/NZS 1715 Selection, Use and Maintenance of Respiratory Protective Equipment: Guidance for SCBA and other RPE used during rescue
• AS/NZS 1891 Industrial Fall-Arrest Systems and Devices (relevant parts): Requirements for harnesses, anchorage, and retrieval systems
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017