RISK ASSESSMENT TEMPLATE
Confined Space Risk Assessment
This confined space risk assessment template provides a structured methodology for assessing the risks of confined space entry. It covers atmospheric hazards, engulfment and entrapment risks, energy isolation, access and egress limitations, and rescue requirements. The template is compliant with WHS Regulation 2025 Part 4.3 and references AS 2865.
What Is It?
A confined space risk assessment is a mandatory prerequisite to any confined space entry. It evaluates the specific hazards present in and around the confined space, the likelihood of harm, and the control measures required to make entry safe. Confined space incidents have a disproportionately high fatality rate because the hazards are often invisible and rescue failures frequently result in additional casualties.
This template addresses the full range of confined space hazards including atmospheric hazards (oxygen deficiency, oxygen enrichment, toxic gases, flammable atmospheres), physical hazards (engulfment in stored materials, entrapment in converging geometries, drowning), energy isolation requirements (mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, thermal), and access limitations that constrain rescue operations.
The assessment methodology evaluates each hazard against the entry conditions and determines whether the hazard can be eliminated before entry, controlled during entry, or whether entry should not proceed. It integrates with the confined space entry permit system to ensure that the assessment findings are translated into specific permit conditions.
When Is It Required?
A confined space risk assessment is required under WHS Regulation 2025 Part 4.3 before any person enters a confined space. The assessment must be conducted for each entry occasion unless the confined space conditions are verified to be unchanged from a previous assessment.
The risk assessment must consider the nature of the work to be performed in the confined space, the atmospheric conditions, the contents or previous contents of the space, the potential for changes in atmospheric conditions during entry, and the emergency and rescue arrangements. The findings of the risk assessment must be documented in the entry permit.
The assessment must be reviewed if the conditions in the confined space change, if the scope of work changes, if an emergency situation occurs, or if continuous atmospheric monitoring indicates a deterioration in conditions.
What's Included
How This Is Different
This confined space risk assessment template is authored by occupational hygiene professionals who conduct atmospheric monitoring and confined space risk assessments. The template includes specific atmospheric acceptance criteria, gas detection instrument requirements, and ventilation calculations that are absent from generic confined space checklists. The template addresses the technical aspects of confined space hazard assessment including how to interpret atmospheric monitoring results, what gas combinations indicate specific hazard sources, and how to determine whether ventilation is adequate for the space volume and the work being performed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a new risk assessment for each confined space entry?
The risk assessment must be conducted for each entry occasion unless the PCBU can verify that conditions in the confined space are unchanged from a previous assessment. In practice, atmospheric conditions can change between entries, so pre-entry atmospheric testing is required each time. The risk assessment should be reviewed and confirmed as current before each entry.
What atmospheric testing is required?
As a minimum, the atmosphere must be tested for oxygen concentration, flammable gases and vapours, and any toxic contaminants identified in the risk assessment. Testing must be conducted at multiple levels within the space using calibrated direct-reading instruments. Results must be within acceptable ranges before entry is permitted.
How do I assess rescue capability?
The rescue assessment must consider the type and size of the confined space entry point, the distance from the entry to the work location within the space, the rescue equipment available, the training and competency of rescue personnel, and the response time for rescue. Self-rescue should be the first consideration, followed by non-entry rescue using retrieval systems, and entry rescue as a last resort.
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