Confined Space Entry JSA Template
Covers the full entry cycle for tanks, vessels, pits, silos, wet wells and similar confined spaces — from planning and isolation through atmospheric testing, permit issue, work inside and permit closure. Written around AS 2865 and the confined space provisions of the model WHS Regulations, with permit-to-work interface fields, standby person duties and atmospheric acceptance criteria built in. Supplied as an editable Word document you adapt to your specific space, contaminants and equipment.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
This JSA breaks a complete confined space entry cycle into its working steps: pre-entry planning and rescue preparation, positive isolation of every line and energy source, purging and forced ventilation, pre-entry atmospheric testing, permit issue and entry-point setup, the work inside with a dedicated standby person, controlled exit with a full headcount, and permit closure and de-isolation. It is written around AS 2865 (Confined spaces) and the confined space duties in Part 4.3 of the model WHS Regulations, and includes fields to interface with your site's permit-to-work system. Confined space incidents are frequently multiple-fatality events because would-be rescuers enter an untested atmosphere — this template keeps the rescue plan, standby duties and no-entry-rescue rule in front of the crew at every step.
Work in or near a confined space carried out as construction work is high-risk construction work under regulation 291 of the model WHS Regulations, so a SWMS must be prepared before that work starts — this JSA supplements the SWMS and does not discharge that duty. Whether or not a SWMS applies, the confined space provisions of Part 4.3 of the WHS Regulations, including a written entry permit, apply to every entry. In Victoria the equivalent duties sit under the OHS Regulations 2017.
Hazards identified
16 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Arises at step: Plan the entry and complete the risk assessment. Initial risk HIGH, reduced to MEDIUM with the listed controls in place.
Arises at step: Plan the entry and complete the risk assessment. Initial risk HIGH, reduced to MEDIUM with the listed controls in place.
Arises at step: Isolate the space from all lines and energy sources. Initial risk HIGH, reduced to LOW with the listed controls in place.
Arises at step: Isolate the space from all lines and energy sources. Initial risk HIGH, reduced to LOW with the listed controls in place.
Arises at step: Purge and ventilate the space. Initial risk HIGH, reduced to MEDIUM with the listed controls in place.
Arises at step: Purge and ventilate the space. Initial risk MEDIUM, reduced to LOW with the listed controls in place.
Arises at step: Test the atmosphere before entry. Initial risk HIGH, reduced to MEDIUM with the listed controls in place.
Arises at step: Test the atmosphere before entry. Initial risk MEDIUM, reduced to LOW with the listed controls in place.
Arises at step: Issue the entry permit and set up the entry point. Initial risk HIGH, reduced to LOW with the listed controls in place.
Arises at step: Issue the entry permit and set up the entry point. Initial risk HIGH, reduced to MEDIUM with the listed controls in place.
Arises at step: Enter and carry out the work with the standby person in place. Initial risk HIGH, reduced to MEDIUM with the listed controls in place.
Arises at step: Enter and carry out the work with the standby person in place. Initial risk HIGH, reduced to LOW with the listed controls in place.
Arises at step: Enter and carry out the work with the standby person in place. Initial risk HIGH, reduced to LOW with the listed controls in place.
Arises at step: Exit the space and account for all personnel and equipment. Initial risk HIGH, reduced to LOW with the listed controls in place.
Arises at step: Close the permit, de-isolate and reinstate the plant. Initial risk MEDIUM, reduced to LOW with the listed controls in place.
Arises at step: Close the permit, de-isolate and reinstate the plant. Initial risk MEDIUM, reduced to LOW with the listed controls in place.
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Elimination — Confirm whether the task can be done without entry at all — remote cleaning heads, cameras or external gauging eliminate the exposure entirely
- 2Administrative — Review the space's contents history, connected pipework (against the P&ID or drawings) and previous entry permits before writing the JSA
- 3Administrative — Complete this JSA with the entry crew and permit issuer present, walking the actual space and entry point
- 4Administrative — Prepare a written, space-specific rescue plan and verify rescue equipment and trained personnel are on site before entry is approved — do not rely on calling emergency services as the plan
- 5Isolation — Positively isolate every connected line by blanking, spading or physical disconnection — a single closed valve is not positive isolation
- 6Isolation — Lock and tag each isolation point; every entrant fits a personal lock to the isolation board or hasp
- 7Administrative — Verify each isolation against the drawing and record it on the entry permit
- 8Isolation — Isolate electrical supply at the switchboard with lock-out and tag-out, then physically verify zero energy with an attempted start before entry
- 9Engineering — Purge the space, then run continuous mechanical ventilation with blowers and ducting positioned so the full volume is swept — never rely on natural ventilation for tanks and vessels
- 10Administrative — Ventilate with fresh air only — never oxygen, which creates an enrichment fire risk
- 11Administrative — Allow adequate ventilation run-time before testing; disturbing sludge during work will re-release vapour, so ventilation stays on for the entire entry
- 12Engineering — Position blower intakes upwind and clear of plant exhausts, flues and other contaminant sources; check intake placement whenever plant moves nearby
- 13Engineering — Test with a calibrated, bump-tested multi-gas detector for oxygen, flammable gas and the specific contaminants expected (e.g. hydrogen sulphide, carbon monoxide)
- 14Administrative — Sample at the top, middle and bottom of the space from outside using a sampling pump and probe — gases stratify, and no one enters to take a reading
- 15Administrative — Permit entry only when oxygen is between 19.5% and 23.5%, flammable gas is below 5% of the LEL and contaminants are below their workplace exposure standards; record all readings on the permit
- 16Administrative — Bump test the detector before each day's use, confirm the calibration date is current, and quarantine any unit that fails or alarms erratically
- 17Administrative — Issue a written confined space entry permit before any entry; the permit issuer physically verifies isolations, gas readings and rescue equipment rather than signing on report
- 18Administrative — Erect signage and barricades at the entry point so no one outside the permit can enter
- 19Engineering — Rig a tripod or davit with a retrieval winch over vertical entries and connect the entrant's harness to the retrieval line where this does not create an entanglement hazard
- 20Administrative — Confirm the opening size and internal route allow retrieval of an unconscious person before the permit is approved — if they do not, revise the rescue plan first
- 21Substitution — Use water-based or low-solvent products inside the space wherever the job allows
- 22Engineering — Maintain continuous forced ventilation and continuous personal gas monitoring on every entrant for the whole entry
- 23Administrative — On any gas alarm, stop work and exit immediately; re-enter only after re-testing and permit re-validation
- 24Administrative — A dedicated standby person remains at the entry the entire time anyone is inside, maintains continuous communication (voice, radio or agreed line signals) and keeps the entry log — they are not given other duties
- 25Administrative — The standby person never enters the space; their role is to raise the alarm and start the rescue plan from outside
- 26Engineering — Use battery or extra-low-voltage tools inside conductive spaces; any 240 V supply runs through an RCD located outside the space with leads protected at the entry edge
- 27Administrative — Standby person keeps a written entry and exit log; the permit issuer verifies the headcount against the log and physically inspects the space before it is closed
- 28Administrative — Tally all tools, leads and lighting out of the space against the entry log
- 29Administrative — Close and cancel the entry permit before any isolation is removed; remove locks and blanks in a controlled sequence under the permit issuer's direction
- 30Administrative — Confirm all blanks are removed, manways are secured and the area is reinstated before returning the plant to service
- 31PPE — Wear chemical-resistant gloves (AS/NZS 2161) during clean-up and follow site decontamination and disposal procedures for removed sludge and single-use PPE
Applicable Codes of Practice
Entry permits, atmospheric testing, standby and rescue arrangements referenced step by step.
The Australian Standard for confined space entry procedures and equipment.
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
Work in or near a confined space carried out as construction work is high-risk construction work under regulation 291 of the model WHS Regulations, so a SWMS must be prepared before that work starts — this JSA supplements the SWMS and does not discharge that duty. Whether or not a SWMS applies, the confined space provisions of Part 4.3 of the WHS Regulations, including a written entry permit, apply to every entry. In Victoria the equivalent duties sit under the OHS Regulations 2017.
Who this is for
- →Tank, vessel and silo cleaning contractors
- →Water and wastewater utility crews working in pits, wet wells and manholes
- →Plant shutdown and turnaround maintenance teams
- →Civil and construction contractors entering pits, shafts and pipelines (where a SWMS is also required — see note)
- →Facilities and asset managers who issue confined space entry permits
What you receive
- ✓Editable Microsoft Word (DOCX) JSA template — one-off purchase, yours to reuse across jobs
- ✓Pre-filled eight-step confined space entry breakdown with concrete hazards and controls
- ✓Before-and-after risk ratings with every control tagged to the hierarchy of control
- ✓Permit-to-work interface fields: permit number, issuer, validity window and recorded gas readings
- ✓PPE, training and emergency response sections aligned to AS 2865, plus atmospheric acceptance criteria
- ✓Worker sign-off table and review/revision record
Worked example
This JSA breaks a complete confined space entry cycle into its working steps: pre-entry planning and rescue preparation, positive isolation of every line and energy source, purging and forced ventilation, pre-entry atmospheric testing, permit issue and entry-point setup, the work inside with a dedicated standby person, controlled exit with a full headcount, and permit closure and de-isolation. It is written around AS 2865 (Confined spaces) and the confined space duties in Part 4.3 of the model WHS Regulations, and includes fields to interface with your site's permit-to-work system. Confined space incidents are frequently multiple-fatality events because would-be rescuers enter an untested atmosphere — this template keeps the rescue plan, standby duties and no-entry-rescue rule in front of the crew at every step.
Related legislation
- Work Health and Safety Act and Regulations of your state or territory (in Victoria, the OHS Act 2004 and OHS Regulations 2017)
- How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice
- Where the task is high-risk construction work: the SWMS provisions of your jurisdiction (a JSA supplements, and does not replace, a required SWMS)
Frequently asked questions
Do I still need a SWMS for confined space work?
If the work is construction work, yes. Work in or near a confined space is high-risk construction work under regulation 291 of the model WHS Regulations, so a SWMS must be prepared before work starts — this JSA supplements the SWMS, it does not replace it. Outside construction (for example routine tank cleaning inside a factory), a SWMS is not required, but the confined space duties in Part 4.3 of the WHS Regulations, including a written entry permit, still apply in full. In Victoria the equivalent duties sit under the OHS Regulations 2017.
Is this JSA the same as a confined space entry permit?
No. The entry permit is a specific written authorisation required by the WHS Regulations before anyone enters a confined space, issued for each entry and cancelled afterwards. The JSA is the task risk analysis that sits behind the permit. This template includes permit interface fields (permit number, issuer, validity, gas readings) so the two documents cross-reference, but you still issue your organisation's entry permit for every entry.
What atmospheric readings allow entry?
The generally accepted criteria, reflected in AS 2865 and the WHS Regulations, are oxygen between 19.5% and 23.5%, flammable gas below 5% of the lower explosive limit, and airborne contaminants below their workplace exposure standards. Readings must be taken from outside the space at multiple levels before entry, recorded on the permit, and monitored continuously during the work because conditions can change once sludge is disturbed or hot work starts.
Is there a licence for confined space entry?
No — there is no high risk work licence class for confined spaces in Australia. Instead, everyone entering, standing by or issuing permits must be trained and competent. In practice that means nationally recognised units such as RIIWHS202E (Enter and work in confined spaces) and MSMWHS217 (Gas test atmospheres), plus training in your site's permit system and rescue plan. Keep training records with the JSA and permit.
Can I adapt the template to my specific tank or pit?
Yes — that is the point of it. It is an editable Microsoft Word document: adjust the steps, hazards, contaminants, gas criteria and rescue arrangements to match your specific space, then review it with the entry crew and your permit issuer. A JSA only protects people when it describes the actual space being entered, so treat the pre-filled content as a rigorous starting point, not a finished document.