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Do you have confined spaces at your workplace?

Typically, potential confined spaces include vats, tanks, pits, pipes, ducts, flues, ovens, chimneys, silos, reaction vessels, underground sewers or wells, shafts, trenches and tunnels.

You will have a confined space if it is any such space that is:

• likely or intended  to be entered, and
• has limited/restricted means of entry/exit, and
• at atmospheric pressure, has a lack of oxygen or contains atmospheric contaminants (including gases, vapours and dust or flammable contaminants) or stored substance (except liquid) that could cause engulfment.

Do the confined spaces at your workplace also have these hazards?

• mechanical hazards from plant
• ignition hazards (e.g. open flames, welding, hot riveting, electronic equipment and grinding)
• electrical hazards (e.g. electrocution, shocks or burns from a range of electrical sources including electrically powered plant)
• noise (e.g. from the use of plant and the work method or process such as grinding, hammering and riveting)
• manual handling
• radiation hazards (e.g. from lasers, welding flash, radio frequency and microwaves)
• environmental hazards (e.g. heat, cold, wet, damp or slippery conditions)
• biological hazards (e.g. fungi, mites, viruses and bacteria, insects, snakes and vermin)
• traffic hazards (e.g. exiting the space onto walkways and roads)
• falls into the space.

For more practical ways to identify and assess risks associated with confined spaces, refer to the Confined spaces Code of Practice.