Confined Space Entry Safety

Mike Sondalini, PWW EAM System Consultant

with permission of BIN95 Business Industrial Network

Posted 2/6/2025

Confined space entry safety. A confined space is anywhere not normally meant for human habitation in which access maybe restricted and the conditions in the confinement may be inadequate to support life or could cause engulfment. Obvious places are tanks, vessels, silos and below ground pits. The less obvious ones are cold rooms, areas of plant sandwiched between machinery and equipment, tip truck trays and open pit mines.

WHAT IS THE DANGER OF A CONFINED SPACE?

Within a confined space the condition of the atmosphere may not be breathable. A lot of people have died because they entered a confined space like a tank or below ground inspection pit, without knowing if the atmosphere was safe to breathe or not.

Stories of two people dying in a pit because the second one went in to save the first and was also asphyxiated are common. As too are stories of people entering a vented tank and the atmosphere becoming deadly while they were inside.

maintenance worker getting ready for work outside a confined space - confined space entry safety — *Image courtesy chitsanupong’s Images via Canva*

REQUIREMENTS FOR CONFINED SPACE ENTRY SAFETY

Listed below are the key issues when conducting work in confined spaces but AS 2865 is the overriding requirement.

1. Request for work.

A request for work in a confined space must be documented and authorized by the ‘owner’ of the confined space.

2. Can work be done without entering confined space?

Can be done from outside the confined space? Consider modifications to remove the need to enter the confined space or to make exit and entry easier and safer.

3. Hazard Identification/Risk assessment.

Before entering a confined space, a documented hazard identification and risk assessment must be done by competent persons with employee involvement. A register of confined spaces on-site must be kept and be up to date.

All risks identified in the risk assessment are to be eliminated or reduced to acceptable levels by appropriate methods prior to entry into the confined space.

4. Isolate parts, materials and services.

Prior to entering a confined space all potentially hazardous services, including all process services, normally connected to the space are isolated to prevent:

introduction of any materials, contaminants, agents or conditions harmful to persons occupying the confined space
the activation or energizing in any way of equipment or services which may pose a risk to health or safety of persons

5. Cleaning and purging (if necessary)

Where appropriate the confined space is to be cleared of contaminants by use of a suitable purging agent. Gas mixtures with oxygen at greater than 21% by volume are not to be used for purging or ventilation.

welder working in confined space - confined space entry safety — *Image courtesy chitsanupong’s Images via Canva*

6. Evaluate atmosphere

Before entering the confined space, it must

contain a safe oxygen level
have atmospheric contaminants reduced to below the relevant MSDS exposure limits
be free from extremes of temperature
ensure the concentration of flammable contaminants in the atmosphere are below 5% of the LEL (Lower explosive limit on the Material Safety Data Sheet)

7. Is atmosphere safe for entry? e.g. safe oxygen level, no toxic gases.

No entry or work is allowed in the confined space or on the outside of the confined space if:

there is risk to health or safety of persons in the confined space or working upon its surface
a risk of fire or explosion exists

8. Ventilate (to maintain environment)

Ventilate the confined space by natural, forced or mechanical means. If mechanical means are used ensure their use does not introduce unforeseen hazards and risks (e.g. diesel fumes, additional power cables, etc.)

9. Issue personal protective clothing and safety equipment (PPE)

Where a safe oxygen level cannot be achieved, or the atmospheric contaminants cannot be reduced to safe levels no person enters the confined space unless equipped with suitable PPE including air supplied breathing equipment.

Equipment required to safely enter the confined space is to be appropriate for the confined space and be maintained in proper working order. All PPE and rescue equipment is to be fitted to suit the individual.

10. Authority to enter or work in confined space

Subject to the completion of a proper risk assessment, written approval in the form of an entry permit must be provided prior to entry.

No one can enter a confined space without a permit that:

includes any precautions or instructions necessary for safe entry and work execution
is provided to the person in direct control of the work in the confined space
records which persons enter the confined space
provides proof the persons involved in the work are advised of, understand and comply with the contents of the entry permit

Appropriate rescue and first aid procedures and provisions are to be planned, established and rehearsed.

maintenance worker working in confined space - confined space entry safety — *Image courtesy chitsanupong’s Images via Canva*

11. Entry to confined space

Prior to any person entering a confined space, and during occupancy of the confined space, appropriate signs and protective barriers are erected to prevent entry of persons not involved in the work.

Where a risk to health and safety is identified in the risk assessment, no person may enter a confined space unless a stand-by person(s) is present outside the confined space.

Suitable equipment identified during the hazard and risk assessment is to be provided, where necessary, for:

personal protection
rescue
first aid
fire suppression

Training is required for all persons working in or on the confined space and in all relevant activities related to entering and working in or on confined spaces.

The training shall cover at least the following:

the hazards of confined spaces
hazard assessment procedures
hazard control measures
emergency procedures
the selection, use, fit and maintenance of safety equipment

Training is to be provided to all persons who:

perform work in or on confined spaces
perform confined space assessments
issue entry permits
design and layout confined spaces
manage and/or supervise persons (employees and contractors) working in or near confined spaces
maintain equipment used for and during confined space entry
purchase, distribute, fit, wear and maintain personal protective equipment
are on stand-by
are involved in rescue and first aid procedures

12. Test/monitor atmosphere regularly

Where the hazard and risk assessment indicates a potential for the atmosphere within a confined space to change due to release or by introduction of contaminants, arrangements are to be made to continuously monitor, or at appropriate intervals, retest the atmosphere within.

An atmospheric condition test is to be conducted at the start of each shift prior to entry into the confined space.

13. Approve for return to service

Confirm and acknowledge in writing that work in the confined space has been completed and that all persons involved in the work have left the space before giving authorization to return the confined space to service.

Mike Sondalini

Mike Sondalini is a Senior Consultant at PWWEAM System-of-Reliability. BEng(Hons), MBA, CPEng. As a consultant and trainer, Mike was able to present his insights to his clients, suggesting innovative approaches to plant and equipment reliability. Their feedback was resoundingly positive. Efforts which earned him an international reputation for articulate, out-of-the-box articles on plant and equipment reliability, life-cycle EAM, maintenance management, work quality assurance, and team building. After decades of dedicated research, Mike authored “Industrial Manufacturing Wellness: The Complete Guide to Successful Enterprise Asset Management” a revolutionary approach on how maintenance and physical asset management systems should be run, the book detailed who, what, where, when, why, and how outstanding reliability could be achieved. Each step based in scientific and mathematical understanding to ensure repeatability of results and optimal outcomes.

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Confined Space Entry Safety