Confined Space
A confined space is an enclosed or partially enclosed area not designed for continuous occupancy that has limited entry and exit and may contain hazardous atmospheres, requiring permits and controls before entry.
A confined space is an enclosed or partially enclosed area that is not designed or intended for continuous human occupancy, has limited entry and exit points, and may pose a risk to health and safety from atmospheric hazards (oxygen deficiency, toxic gases, flammable vapours), engulfment, entrapment, or other dangers. Australian WHS Regulations define specific criteria for classification. Common examples include tanks, silos, pits, sewers, tunnels, and roof voids.
Why it matters
Confined space incidents have a disproportionately high fatality rate, often killing not only the initial entrant but also would-be rescuers who enter without proper protection. Australian WHS Regulations require a risk assessment, a documented entry permit, atmospheric monitoring, trained personnel, and a rescue plan before any confined space entry. Failure to follow these requirements is a serious breach that can result in prosecution.
How MapTrack helps
MapTrack manages confined space entry workflows through digital permits, atmospheric monitoring logs, and rescue plan checklists linked to the specific asset or location, ensuring every entry is authorised, documented, and retrievable for audit.
Related guides
Stay ahead of every inspection deadline
Automated reminders, digital checklists and audit-ready records in MapTrack.
- No credit card required
- 30 days free trial
- Cancel anytime
Frequently asked questions
What makes a space a confined space under Australian WHS law?
Under the model WHS Regulations, a confined space is an enclosed or partially enclosed space that is not designed or intended primarily for human occupancy, is or is designed or intended to be at normal atmospheric pressure while any person is in the space, and is or is likely to be a risk to health and safety from an atmosphere that does not have a safe oxygen level, contaminants, engulfment, or entrapment. All three criteria must be met for the space to be classified as a confined space.
What is required before entering a confined space?
Before entry, the PCBU must conduct a risk assessment specific to the confined space, issue a written entry permit specifying the controls required, ensure atmospheric testing is performed and results are within safe limits, verify that emergency and rescue procedures are in place, and confirm that all entrants and standby persons have been trained. The permit must be available at the entry point for the duration of the work.
Why are confined space rescues so dangerous?
A large proportion of confined space fatalities involve would-be rescuers who enter without respiratory protection or a rescue plan. The same atmospheric hazard that incapacitated the first entrant affects the rescuer within seconds. Effective rescue requires pre-planned procedures, trained rescue personnel, appropriate respiratory equipment, and retrieval systems that allow extraction without entering the space. Spontaneous, unplanned rescue attempts are the single largest cause of multiple fatalities in confined space incidents.
Related terms
Permit to work software
Permit to work software is a digital system for managing high-risk work permits such as hot work, confined space entry, working at heights, electrical isolation and excavation. It replaces paper-based permit books with electronic permits that are created, approved, issued and closed out within a single auditable platform.
Risk Assessment
A risk assessment is a systematic process of identifying hazards, evaluating the likelihood and severity of harm, and determining appropriate control measures to reduce risk to an acceptable level. It follows the hierarchy of controls (elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, PPE) and produces a documented record of identified risks and the measures taken to manage them.
Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)
Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) is a safety procedure used to ensure that equipment is properly shut down, isolated from all energy sources, and cannot be restarted until maintenance or repair work is completed. Lockout involves physically locking energy isolation devices (such as circuit breakers or valves) in the off position, while tagout involves attaching a warning tag to the isolation point. LOTO protects workers from the unexpected release of hazardous energy during servicing.
See how MapTrack handles confined space
Ready to track every asset?
Join construction, mining and field service teams across Australia.
4.8 on G2 · 4.9 on Capterra
- No credit card required
- 30 days free trial
- Cancel anytime