Confined Spaces SWMS

Suits contractors who enter tanks, pits, sewers, silos, ducts, vessels and similar enclosed spaces on construction or maintenance work. It follows the work from the risk assessment and permit through entry set-up, rescue planning, isolation, ventilation and atmosphere testing, work inside the space and close-out.

A SWMS is legally required under WHS Regulation s 299 where construction work is carried out in or near a confined space (s 291(f)); outside construction it works as the written system of work, and it does not replace the written risk assessment and entry permit that Part 4.3 of the WHS Regulation requires (ss 66 and 67).

New to SWMS? Read What is a safe work method statement?

What is covered in our confined spaces SWMS?

After the standard pre-start checks, the job steps run from “Risk assessment, entry permit and briefing” to “Exit, close out and pack up”. The hazards and controls include:

• Oxygen-deficient or oxygen-enriched air
• Toxic gases and vapours such as hydrogen sulphide and carbon monoxide
• Fire and explosion from flammable gas and ignition sources
• Engulfment by bulk material or liquids
• Connected plant and services starting or releasing contents
• Failed or delayed rescue of a collapsed worker
• Hot work, welding fume and arc radiation in the space
• Electric shock in wet, conductive spaces
• Heat stress, noise and cramped manual tasks
• Falls into openings and vehicle traffic at the entry
• Chemical residues and biological hazards
• A person left inside when the entry is closed

High risk construction work

These high risk construction work items (WHS Regulation 2011 (Qld) s 291) are already ticked because they are part of this work. Tick any others that apply to your job:

• Is carried out in or near a confined space
• Is carried out in an area that may have a contaminated or flammable atmosphere

Licences, training and competency

• Confined space entry training for every entrant, standby person and supervisor, covering the hazards, controls, PPE, entry permit and emergency procedures (training records kept for 2 years)
• Competent person to carry out the risk assessment, complete the entry permit and test the atmosphere
• Gas monitor user trained and competent in testing, calibration checks and reading the instrument
• Rescuers trained and fit, and competent in the rescue and respiratory equipment used
• First aid equipment, facilities and an adequate number of first aiders with a current first aid certificate (or access to them), as the first aid assessment shows the work needs (WHS Regulation s 42)
• General construction induction training card (white card) when the work is construction work
• Site induction

Legislation and codes of practice referenced

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld), Chapter 4 Part 4.3 (confined spaces)
• Confined Spaces Code of Practice 2021
• How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Welding Processes Code of Practice 2021
• Spray Painting and Powder Coating Code of Practice 2021 (painting or spraying in the space)
• Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice 2021
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2021
• Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice 2021
• Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice 2021 (openings and ladders)
• First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Traffic Management for Construction or Maintenance Work Code of Practice 2008 (entries on roads)
• Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld)
• Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 (Qld) (electrical equipment on construction work)
• Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: Managing the risks of biological hazards at work (guidance)
• AS 2865 Confined spaces (as named in the Confined Spaces code)
• AS/NZS 3012 Electrical installations – Construction and demolition sites (named in the Electrical Safety Regulation 2026)

What you get

• An editable Microsoft Word document (17 pages), laid out on A4 landscape pages. Type your business, client and job details once and they fill in on every page, with a space for your logo
• 11 job steps for this work, each with its hazards, controls, initial and residual risk scores and the person responsible
• PPE listed for this job: safety boots; long-sleeve, high-visibility clothing or overalls suited to the space; safety glasses; gloves suited to the task and any chemicals
• Emergency arrangements for: the standby person never enters the space to attempt a rescue
• Plus the parts every Work Safety QLD SWMS shares, from the s 291 checklist to the worker sign-on sheet (see the layout in our free SWMS template)

Adjust it for your site, plant and crew, and talk it through with your workers before work starts.

Checked against the Queensland laws and codes of practice listed above. Last reviewed October 2026.