Product Overview

Summary: This Hyperbaric Chamber Usage Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, step-by-step framework for safely operating clinical and industrial hyperbaric chambers in Australia. It helps organisations manage high-risk pressurised environments, protect workers and patients, and demonstrate compliance with WHS duties and relevant standards.

Operating a hyperbaric chamber involves managing elevated pressures, enriched oxygen atmospheres and confined spaces – a combination of hazards that can quickly become life-threatening if not tightly controlled. This Safe Operating Procedure sets out a practical, defensible method for planning, conducting and closing out hyperbaric treatments and pressure exposures in line with Australian WHS expectations. It guides users through pre-use checks, pressurisation and depressurisation profiles, patient and occupant monitoring, communication protocols, and emergency response actions.

The document is designed for both clinical hyperbaric units and industrial or diving support facilities that utilise hyperbaric chambers for decompression, treatment or testing. It addresses common pain points such as inconsistent operator practices, inadequate documentation, and uncertainty about how to manage medical incidents or equipment faults under pressure. By implementing this SOP, organisations can standardise training, reduce the risk of oxygen fires and barotrauma, and provide clear evidence that they have identified and controlled foreseeable risks associated with hyperbaric operations under Australian WHS law.

Key Benefits

• Ensure consistent, safe operation of hyperbaric chambers across all shifts and locations.
• Reduce the risk of oxygen fires, barotrauma and decompression-related incidents.
• Demonstrate compliance with Australian WHS legislation and relevant standards for pressure equipment and healthcare environments.
• Standardise operator training and competency assessment with clear, documented procedures.
• Improve incident preparedness with defined emergency scenarios, response steps and communication protocols.

Who is this for?

• Hyperbaric Chamber Operators
• Hyperbaric Technicians
• Hyperbaric Physicians
• Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine Nurses
• WHS Managers
• Clinical Risk Managers
• Biomedical Engineers
• Facility Managers
• Emergency Response Coordinators
• Diving and Marine Operations Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Oxygen-enriched atmosphere and fire/explosion risk
• Barotrauma to ears, sinuses, lungs and other air-filled cavities
• Decompression sickness and inadequate decompression profiles
• Sudden loss of pressure or uncontrolled depressurisation
• Equipment failure of pressure systems, valves, seals and monitoring devices
• Entrapment and psychological distress in confined spaces
• Electrical ignition sources and incompatible materials in oxygen-rich environments
• Manual handling of patients and equipment in restricted spaces
• Medical emergencies occurring under pressure (cardiac events, seizures, respiratory distress)

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Guidelines
• 5.0 Hyperbaric Chamber Types and System Overview
• 6.0 Pre-Use Inspections and Safety Checks
• 7.0 Patient and Occupant Assessment, Screening and Consent
• 8.0 Required PPE, Medical Equipment and Materials Control (Fire Load Management)
• 9.0 Pre-Treatment Briefing and Communication Protocols
• 10.0 Safe Operating Procedure – Pressurisation Phase
• 11.0 Safe Operating Procedure – Treatment/Exposure Phase
• 12.0 Safe Operating Procedure – Decompression and Depressurisation
• 13.0 Monitoring, Documentation and Record Keeping Requirements
• 14.0 Hazard Identification and Risk Control Measures
• 15.0 Emergency Procedures (Fire, Power Failure, Medical Emergency, Rapid Decompression)
• 16.0 Maintenance, Calibration and Engineering Controls
• 17.0 Cleaning, Infection Prevention and Post-Use Procedures
• 18.0 Training, Competency Assessment and Refresher Requirements
• 19.0 Incident Reporting, Investigation and Corrective Actions
• 20.0 Review, Audit and Continuous Improvement

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and corresponding state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) – Pressure equipment, hazardous atmospheres and emergency plans
• AS 4774.1: Work in compressed air and hyperbaric oxygen facilities – Operational practice
• AS 4774.2: Work in compressed air and hyperbaric oxygen facilities – Occupational health and safety requirements
• AS/NZS 1200: Pressure equipment
• AS/NZS 60079 series: Explosive atmospheres (for electrical equipment in oxygen-enriched environments, as applicable)
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing risks of plant in the workplace
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Confined spaces
• National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards (for clinical hyperbaric facilities)