Confined space SWMS: base template and example

When confined space work needs a SWMS

• Safe Work Australia lists construction work in or near a confined space as high risk construction work. A SWMS must be prepared before that work starts.
• Under the model WHS Regulations, nobody can enter a confined space until an entry permit has been issued in writing by a competent person. See Safe Work Australia's confined spaces code of practice.
• Rules vary by state and territory. Queensland has its own Confined spaces Code of Practice 2021, Western Australia has its own code, and Victoria's rules sit under its OHS laws and a compliance code for confined spaces. Check your own regulator, and your principal contractor may have extra requirements.

Not sure whether your job needs a SWMS? Read what a SWMS is and when it's required.

Need to record an incident instead? Get the free incident report template.

Controls to think about

• Safe Work Australia's confined spaces code starts with asking whether the work can be done without anyone going in, then isolating anything that could flow in or start up.
• Before entry, the code describes testing the air from outside with a calibrated gas detector: oxygen between 19.5% and 23.5%, flammable gas below 5% of its lower explosive limit, and contaminants below their exposure limits. Never judge the air by sight or smell.
• Ventilate the space, keep a standby person outside in constant contact, and plan rescue from outside. The standby person should never go in to attempt a rescue. Your SWMS should show which controls you'll use for each work step.

What goes on the entry permit

No permit, no entry. The permit is completed in writing by a competent person and records five things: the confined space, who can enter, the work period, the risk controls (such as atmospheric testing, isolation, ventilation, PPE and rescue equipment), and sign-off confirming the work is done and everyone is out.

Keep it current: re-validate it if the person in control changes, there's a break in the work, or new hazards or controls come up. Display it where it can be signed and cleared, and keep it at least until the work is complete, or for at least 2 years if there's a notifiable incident.

Already have a permit form you trust? Keep it. We can turn your own permit into a digital version that looks the same, is filled in at the job and is filed the moment it's closed.

What to include in a confined space SWMS

• The confined space, and why entry can't be avoided
• Who issues the entry permit, and who can enter
• How inflows, plant and services are isolated
• How the air is tested, ventilated and monitored
• The standby person, communication and rescue equipment
• What to do in an emergency, and sign-off from everyone on the job

Filled-in confined space SWMS example

Example only, not for use as your own SWMS. This is the base template filled in for a fictional job: repairing a cracked pipe inside a 2.5 metre deep stormwater pit, under an entry permit. Click a page to enlarge it.

This example includes risk scores. They aren't legally required, and WorkSafe Victoria advises leaving risk matrices and scores out of a SWMS, so check what your regulator expects. Your own SWMS must be specific to your job and site, and prepared in consultation with the workers doing the work.

How to fill one in for confined space work

1. Fill in the project details, including the confined space and why entry is needed.
2. Tick the high risk construction work boxes for a confined space and a contaminated or flammable atmosphere if it applies, and every hazard that applies.
3. List your plant and equipment, such as the gas detector, ventilation fan, tripod and winch.
4. Write the job steps in order, from issuing the permit to closing it out, with the controls for each step and who is responsible.
5. Talk it through with the crew, have everyone sign it before work starts, and review it whenever the job or conditions change.

Build your confined space SWMS online, or get it into the app

The Shadow Forms SWMS builder is a tool on our website that guides you step by step through creating a SWMS for your job, including confined space work. It's a draft only, so have a competent person review it before use. Enter your email address and you can download it as a PDF.

The PDF is a copy only. To complete it digitally, upload it and we can add it to the app, Shadow Forms branded. If you have your own uniquely branded SWMS, or want this example adjusted to your business, we can do that too. Upload a form, or get in touch.

Need a JSA instead? Try the free JSA template.

Just need a quick check before you start? Get the free Take 5 template.