Confined Space Entry Permit

A Word permit a competent person completes before anyone enters a confined space. It carries everything WHS Regulation s 67 requires, plus isolation, atmosphere testing, standby, emergency and re-validation records based on the Regulation and the Confined Spaces Code of Practice 2021.

When do you need a confined space entry permit?

In Queensland, a business must not direct a worker to enter a confined space to carry out work unless it has issued a confined space entry permit for that work (section 67 of the WHS Regulation 2011). The permit comes after the written confined space risk assessment: its control measures must be based on that assessment.

What the permit must contain

Under section 67, a confined space entry permit must be completed by a competent person, be in writing, and state:

• the confined space it relates to
• the names of the people permitted to enter
• the period of time the work will be carried out
• the measures to control the risks, including the controls for safe entry and the system of work (continuous communication and a standby person, section 69)

It must also have space for an acknowledgement that the work is complete and everyone has left the space. When the work is finished, the business must make sure all workers have left and the competent person completes that acknowledgement. Keep the permit until the work is finished, or for at least 2 years if a notifiable incident happens (section 77).

How to use the entry permit

1. Do the risk assessment first and decide whether the work can be done without entering the space.
2. Isolate connected plant and services, and lock and tag them.
3. Test the atmosphere before entry and record the readings, and keep monitoring while people are inside.
4. Brief the entrants and the standby person, check the rescue arrangements, and have the competent person issue the permit.
5. Record every entry and exit, re-validate the permit if anything changes, then close it out when everyone is out.

Confined space templates that work together

• Confined Space Risk Assessment
• Confined Space Emergency Rescue Plan
• All of them together in the Confined Spaces Bundle

What is included in our confined space entry permit?

• Permit details: the confined space, the work, the risk assessment reference and the competent person who completes the permit
• The period of work and the full names of every person permitted to enter
• Control measures before entry, ticked Yes, No or N/A, based on WHS Regulation ss 66 to 76
• Isolation record for connected plant and services, with locks and tags
• Atmosphere testing record: oxygen, flammable gas, carbon monoxide and other readings, with the limits that apply
• Equipment and protective equipment checklist and space for special conditions
• Emergency arrangements and the system of work: communication and standby person
• Issue of the permit and an entry and exit record for every person
• Re-validation record for changes of supervisor, breaks in work, new hazards and new controls
• The acknowledgement that the work is complete and everyone has left the space, plus record-keeping periods

What you get

• An editable Microsoft Word form (5 pages), A4 portrait, to fill in on screen or print
• Tick boxes and date pickers that work in Word
• Business details typed once and filled in on every page, plus a space for your logo
• Sign-off and document control

Review it and adjust it to suit your business, your sites and the way your team works, and talk it through with your workers.

Confined space entry permit: frequently asked questions

This is general information, not legal advice. Check the current law or talk to Workplace Health and Safety Queensland for your situation.