Confined Space Entry SWMS
Entry, work, and rescue procedures for permit-required confined spaces including tanks, pits, and voids.
SWMS variants reference your state's WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
This SWMS is dedicated to confined space entry — the activity with the highest fatality-per-entry ratio of any High Risk Construction Work category. It is written for any PCBU whose workers enter spaces meeting the AS 2865-2009 (Confined Spaces) definition: not designed or intended for human occupancy, limited or restricted means for entry or exit, a risk to health and safety from atmosphere, conditions, or substances, and restricted air movement. Typical spaces covered by this document include tanks, vessels, silos, pits, sewers, wet wells, sumps, stormwater chambers, grease arrestors, underground service pits, tunnels, boilers, pressure vessels during maintenance, ship holds, and internal cavities of large plant.
Confined space entry triggers HRCW Category 11 under Schedule 1 of the WHS Regulation 2025. It is unique among HRCW categories in that rescue — not the planned work — is the most common mechanism of fatality. More than half of all confined space deaths globally are would-be rescuers who entered without atmospheric monitoring or breathing apparatus. This SWMS is written on that foundation. Every line assumes the atmosphere is hostile until tested, the space is restricted for egress, and self-rescue is not guaranteed. Under r. 67-77 of the WHS Regulation 2025 an entry permit, atmospheric monitoring, and stand-by person are mandatory controls, and s. 26A of the WHS Act makes the Confined Spaces Code of Practice legally binding from 1 July 2026. This document is CIH-authored against the current regulatory baseline.
Hazards identified
12 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Rapid unconsciousness without warning at O2 below 16%; death at sustained exposure below 10%. Oxygen deficiency is the single largest killer in confined space work.
Explosive combustion of clothing, hair, and combustible fumes; severe full-thickness burns.
Olfactory fatigue at 100 ppm makes the characteristic rotten-egg odour unreliable; unconsciousness at 500 ppm; death within minutes above 700 ppm.
Odourless, colourless asphyxiant; impaired coordination at 150 ppm, unconsciousness at 1200 ppm, death at 2000 ppm.
Deflagration or explosion from an ignition source (welding arc, static, hot surface); fatal blast and burn injuries to entrants and stand-by person.
Suffocation by burial within seconds; engulfment-related fatalities in silos account for a disproportionate share of confined space deaths worldwide.
Entrapment and inability to self-extract; rescue becomes the dominant hazard pathway.
Entanglement and fatal crush injury on startup if isolation is bypassed or the isolation lockbox is compromised.
Electrocution or inrush of pressurised fluid/steam on bringing the space back into service; a leading cause of incidents during commissioning re-entries.
Emergency not detected or not understood; stand-by person enters in breach of the plan — second victim outcome.
Core temperature elevation, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke; a secondary trigger for the rescue-without-BA scenario as the entrant loses judgement before loss of consciousness.
Head or limb injury inside the space, converting a planned entry into an emergency retrieval.
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Elimination first: every entry is challenged at design and planning. Can the work be done from outside (remote inspection, borescope, robotic cleaning, chemical cleaning loop)? If yes, the entry is cancelled.
- 2Confined Space Risk Assessment per AS 2865-2009 (Confined Spaces) completed by a competent person for every distinct space; the risk assessment is re-done after any material change to the space or process.
- 3Entry Permit to Work issued for every entry — permit includes date, space identification, atmospheric test results, purpose, entrants, stand-by person, rescue plan, isolations verified, PPE/RPE required, duration, and signatures. Permits are single-shift only and re-issued if conditions change.
- 4Continuous atmospheric monitoring using a calibrated four-gas detector (O2, LEL, H2S, CO) with both the entrant and stand-by person carrying alarms set per AS 2865 thresholds; pre-entry test at entrance and at multiple depths; continuous monitoring throughout the entry.
- 5Ventilation: mechanical forced-air ventilation in every entry before and during work; blower intake positioned in clean air; airflow direction verified; 20 air changes as minimum pre-entry purge unless a smaller volume is justified by calculation.
- 6Isolation and lockout-tagout: all mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and gravitational energy isolated at source; double-block-and-bleed on pressurised lines; personal locks applied by every entrant and verified at the isolation point before entry.
- 7Stand-by person requirement: competent stand-by person remains at the entrance throughout the entry, maintains visual/voice/radio contact, is not distracted by other duties, and does NOT enter the space under any circumstance without BA and a second stand-by person taking their place.
- 8Rescue plan documented and rehearsed before entry: mechanical retrieval system (tripod, winch, full-body harness with D-ring) for any vertical entry; rescue team identified with response-time commitment; emergency services notified if rescue is beyond site capability.
- 9Retrieval equipment in use: full-body harness to AS/NZS 1891.1 with dorsal or sternal attachment, rescue line to winch on tripod; lowering and raising tested before entry; line re-routed clear of obstructions.
- 10Respiratory protection: supplied-air breathing apparatus (SABA) or self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) for any entry where atmosphere cannot be made and maintained safe by ventilation — air-purifying respirators are NOT acceptable for IDLH atmospheres.
- 11Competency and training: every entrant, stand-by person, and supervisor holds nationally recognised training in confined space entry (e.g. RIIWHS202E Enter and work in confined spaces) with currency and in-date gas-detector training; training records verified at permit issue.
- 12Communication: two-way radio or hard-wired intercom between entrant and stand-by person; verbal check-in at pre-agreed intervals (typically every 5 minutes); loss of communication initiates immediate retrieval.
- 13Emergency response: rescue plan rehearsed annually as a minimum and specifically for the permitted space when the space is entered for the first time; rescue equipment inspected to manufacturer schedule and each entry.
- 14Hot work inside confined spaces: separate hot work permit in addition to confined space entry permit; LEL monitored continuously; fire watch with extinguisher inside the space; purging of all flammable residuals verified by gas test before ignition sources introduced.
- 15Heat management: entry scheduled for cooler periods where feasible; cooling vests; rest-work cycles monitored by stand-by person; water available at the entry; entrant withdrawn at early signs of heat stress regardless of work progress.
- 16PPE and clothing: clothing appropriate to task and atmosphere (flame-resistant for hot work, chemical-resistant for residue exposure); head protection; eye protection; safety footwear; all PPE compatible with harness and BA.
Applicable Codes of Practice
Binding from 1 July 2026 under s. 26A. Defines the risk-assessment, permit-to-work, atmospheric-testing, ventilation, stand-by person, and rescue requirements that every confined space entry must satisfy.
The Australian Standard referenced throughout the Code of Practice; defines confined space, sets testing and ventilation technical requirements, and specifies competency and rescue arrangements.
Sets first-aid and rescue response requirements integrated with the confined space rescue plan.
Provides the hierarchy-of-control framework applied in the risk assessment for each entry.
Governs the selection of SABA/SCBA and the RPE fit-testing regime for confined space entrants.
Specifies the full-body harness and connection-point requirements for retrieval from vertical confined spaces.
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
Every entry into a space meeting the AS 2865 definition is, by itself, Category 11 HRCW. A SWMS under r. 298 is mandatory for every entry regardless of duration.
Performing confined space entry without a compliant SWMS, entry permit, or rescue plan is an offence under r. 300 of the WHS Regulation 2025 and breaches r. 67-77 (confined spaces). Maximum penalty for a body corporate under the SWMS provisions is $30,000 per offence and for an individual $6,000. Confined space incidents almost always trigger Category 1 prosecution under s. 31 of the WHS Act (reckless conduct) where rescue or atmospheric-test controls were absent, with penalties up to $3.993 million for a body corporate, $798,000 and 5 years' imprisonment for an individual officer, and $200,000 and 5 years for a worker. WorkCover and Comcare have both secured Category 1 convictions for confined space fatalities where the deceased was a would-be rescuer.
Who this is for
- →PCBUs whose workers enter tanks, vessels, pits, sewers, or any space meeting the AS 2865 confined space definition.
- →Civil and drainage contractors entering wet wells, manholes, stormwater chambers, and service pits.
- →Plant maintenance contractors performing internal inspections, cleaning, and repair of tanks and vessels.
- →Confined space standby and rescue teams, whether in-house or third-party contracted.
- →Site supervisors and WHS leads authorising entry permits under a site permit-to-work system.
What you receive
- ✓Editable Microsoft Word document (.docx) with confined space specific fields and permit integration points.
- ✓Title page with PCBU name, ABN, site address, permit authoriser, and revision date fields.
- ✓Hazard register with the 12 confined space specific hazards — each with consequence, inherent risk, controls, and residual risk on a 5x5 matrix.
- ✓Pre-entry atmospheric test record template covering O2, LEL, H2S, CO with permit-referenced thresholds.
- ✓Rescue plan template with retrieval equipment list, rescue team contacts, and emergency services notification template.
- ✓Competency verification table for entrant, stand-by person, and permit authoriser.
- ✓Consultation record for capturing HSR sign-off and worker input per s. 47 of the WHS Act.
- ✓Legislation schedule pre-populated for NSW with state-variance table for VIC, QLD, SA, WA, TAS, NT, ACT.
- ✓Review-and-update log for tracking revisions between entries.
- ✓Emergency contacts and evacuation-procedure template with confined space rescue-specific callout list.
Worked example
A mechanical services contractor is engaged to carry out internal inspection and minor repair to a 25,000 L underground stormwater detention tank beneath a commercial carpark in Chatswood, NSW. The tank has a single 600 mm top hatch, 3.8 m depth, and residual slurry of 200 mm. The crew is three: one entrant, one stand-by person at the hatch, one supervisor on site coordinating. Before entry this SWMS is reviewed and a permit issued. Pre-entry ventilation runs for 40 minutes; four-gas test at the hatch, mid-depth, and bottom returns O2 20.8%, LEL 0%, H2S 0 ppm, CO 0 ppm. The entrant is fitted with a full-body harness connected to a tripod-mounted rescue winch. Continuous four-gas monitoring is carried during the 90-minute entry; radio check every 5 minutes. A rescue plan identifies the local fire and rescue service as the secondary responder with an 8-minute response time from Chatswood Fire Station. The permit is closed at exit; all records are filed against the site permit log.
Related legislation
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) — s. 19 primary duty of care; s. 26A codes of practice legally binding from 1 July 2026; s. 31 Category 1 reckless conduct offence; s. 47 consultation with workers.
- WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW) — r. 67-77 (confined spaces), r. 298-300 (SWMS for HRCW), r. 44 (first-aid), r. 50 (airborne contaminants), Schedule 1 Category 11 (confined space work).
- AS 2865-2009 Confined spaces — referenced into regulation via r. 73.
- Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) — where confined space work is part of regulated building or infrastructure work.
- Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) — discharge and waste controls for tank and vessel cleaning.
- Electricity Supply (Safety and Network Management) Regulation 2014 (NSW) — where confined spaces are within electrical network assets.
Frequently asked questions
Is a stormwater pit always a confined space?
Yes, almost always. A stormwater pit typically satisfies all four elements of the AS 2865 definition: not designed for human occupancy, restricted egress (usually one access), atmospheric risk (H2S from decomposition, CO from road runoff, O2 depletion), and restricted air movement. Treat every pit as a confined space unless a competent person has documented a written determination that it does not meet the definition for that specific entry.
Can an air-purifying respirator (P3 or full-face APR) be used for confined space entry?
No. Air-purifying respirators are not acceptable for confined space atmospheres where conditions are unknown or potentially Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH). Confined space entries requiring respiratory protection must use supplied-air breathing apparatus (SABA) or self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). APRs are only appropriate where atmospheric conditions are known and controlled within APR limits — which is rare for confined space work.
Does a confined space entry permit replace the SWMS?
No. The SWMS sets out the generic hazards, controls, and competency requirements for confined space entries the PCBU performs. The entry permit authorises a specific entry on a specific day under those controls. Both documents are required. The permit is single-shift and space-specific; the SWMS covers the broader work method.
How often should confined space training be refreshed?
There is no nationally prescribed refresh interval, but best practice (and most insurer requirements) is every two years for the full qualification plus annual practical rescue drills. Gas-detector training and rescue drills should be refreshed annually at minimum. Document all training currency in the SWMS competency matrix.
Is it compliant for the supervisor to act as the stand-by person?
The stand-by person must be dedicated to that role for the duration of the entry — not distracted by supervising other work. In practice a supervisor can be the stand-by person for a small job where they have no other duties during the entry, but the moment they need to coordinate with other trades, take phone calls, or leave the entrance, a separate stand-by is required. AS 2865 is clear: the stand-by must remain at the entrance and maintain continuous contact with the entrant.
Does the SWMS cover gas purging and inerting of flammable atmospheres?
Yes, at the level of setting out the control strategy and competency requirements. Purging and inerting of flammable atmospheres (for example, with nitrogen) introduces additional hazards — asphyxiation risk rises, combustible gas testing becomes unreliable in low-O2 atmospheres, and specialised equipment is required. Where purge-and-inert is the chosen control, the SWMS directs the user to a purge-specific procedure and, where appropriate, a separate purge SWMS. For complex chemical-industry purging, contact us for a specialised variant.
Document details
Other SWMS Templates
Need something custom?
Build a site-specific SWMS from scratch using the SWMS Builder. Select your trade, add your site details, and generate a compliant document in minutes.
Open SWMS Builder →