RIIWHS202E Enter and work in confined spaces

Course Overview:

This course gives you the skills to review a risk assessment, enter a confined space in accordance with an issued permit to conduct work, and conduct gas testing.

This nationally recognised training course is designed for people who work in or around confined spaces. The course can be tailored to suit the practical scenarios relevant to your company’s confined space operations. While there is a standard set of learning outcomes for the course, we understand that the context and environment in which the learning is applied is varied. It is designed to teach participants how to:

• Identify confined space hazards
• Work safely within confined spaces according to an issued permit
• Operate various confined space safety equipment

What is a Confined Space?

According to the Safe Work Australia Code of Practice, a “confined space” means an enclosed or partially enclosed space that:

• is not designed or intended primarily to be occupied by a person; 
• is, or is designed or intended to be, at normal atmospheric pressure while any person is in the space; 
• is or is likely to be a risk to health and safety from:
  • an atmosphere that does not have a safe oxygen level, 
  • contaminants, including airborne gases, vapours and dusts, that may cause injury from fire or explosion, 
  • harmful concentrations of any airborne contaminants, 
  • engulfment.

Examples of confined spaces include (but are not limited to):

• Storage tanks
• Tank cars
• Process vessels
• Pressure vessels
• Boilers
• Silos and other tank-like compartments
• Pits and degreasers

• Pipes
• Sewers
• Sewer pump stations including wet and dry wells, shafts and ducts
• Shipboard spaces entered through small hatchways or access points, cargo tanks, cellular double bottom tanks, duct keels, ballast or oil tanks and void spaces

Course Content

• Identifying confined spaces
• WHS legislation, codes of practice and Australian Standards
• Roles and responsibilities
• Identification of hazards
• Risk assessment
• Hierarchy of controls
• Work site policy and procedures
• Completing confined space permit applications
• Working according to a confined space permit
• Isolation procedures
• Atmospheric monitoring
• Fall protection equipment
• Safety and emergency procedures
• Entry and exit procedures
• Practical entry into a range of confined spaces

Course Outcomes

This nationally recognised course covers theoretical and practical aspects of working in a confined space.

During the course we will assist you to develop safe work method statements and risk assessments for working in a confined space. All workers who conduct or supervise tasks whilst at working in a confined space will find this course beneficial to workplace safety. This course will enable you to comply with current WHS legislation.

Students who are deemed competent will receive a Statement of Attainment recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework. This certification is nationally recognised. 

Course Prerequisites

• Participants must be over 18 years of age;
• Must have GOOD English skills (be able to read, write, speak and understand technical concepts in English);
• Be able to understand mathematical equations; and
• Provide 100 points of Identification as per SafeWork NSW requirements. If a participant fails to bring 100 points of identification a re-booking fee of will be charged for assessment to be re-scheduled.

Course Details

These are a few details which will come in handy should you decide to proceed and enrol:

Training Location

To fulfill the in-person training requirements which require both practical demonstration and a written component, HRTA NSW has a purpose-built training ground in Ingleburn. This site offers all of the necessary venue requirements along with our qualified trainers and assessors.

Course Certification

On completion of the course, payment of fees, and when all requirements have been met, you will receive a Statement of Attainment issued by your registered training organisation.

Course Duration

This course can be completed in just one day – consisting of training and assessment