Atmosphere, access and rescue — confined space safety beyond compliance

Working at Height Association CEO SCOTT BARBER explains the importance of a whole system of hazard management approach to confined space.

Confined space entry remains one of the most hazardous tasks across industries, whether in utilities, construction, manufacturing or heavy industry. Workers may need to enter tanks, silos, pipelines, culverts, pits or process vessels. These spaces are inherently dangerous, combining atmospheric risks with the challenges of restricted access, difficult rescue and potential for falls.

Among the hazards, airborne contaminants like dust, particulates, fumes and gases often receive justified attention. But in many cases, the greater immediate risks arise from falls, difficult entry/exit and the ability to remove a worker quickly in an emergency. True best practice means addressing both streams of risk together, treating confined space work as a whole system of hazard management, rather than isolating issues in silos.

Beyond minimum standards

Standards such as AS 2865 (Confined Spaces) and the model WHS Regulations set essential requirements, but too often incidents occur because organisations plan for compliance rather than for consequences.

Best practice requires integrating atmospheric monitoring, fall prevention, safe access and egress, and emergency rescue capability into one system. Permits and procedures should demonstrate not only that hazards have been controlled, but that workers can enter, work and, if needed, be rescued safely.

Confined spaces: dual hazards of atmosphere and access

Every confined space presents a two-part challenge:

• Atmospheric risks: oxygen deficiency, toxic gases and respirable dust.
• Physical risks: falls during vertical entry, slips in wet or uneven spaces, entrapment, or injury during rescue.
   

These risks amplify each other. For example, a fall in a space with poor air quality complicates rescue, while delayed retrieval exposes the injured worker to atmospheric hazards for longer.

A multi-layered control strategy

Best practice confined space management demands a holistic approach:

• Risk assessment and planning that considers atmosphere, access and rescue equally.
• Engineering controls such as dust suppression, fixed ladders, secure anchor points and retrieval systems.
• Continuous atmospheric monitoring for oxygen, dust and gases before and during entry.
• Fall protection and retrieval systems matched to the space and the task.
• Emergency planning that assumes retrieval will be necessary and designs for it from the start.

Safe access and egress

Planning for entry is not just about opening a hatch. It means ensuring the following:

• Vertical entries have suitable tripods, davit arms and man-rated winches.
• Horizontal or restricted entries are wide enough for a worker in PPE and RPE, and suitable for retrieval if an incident occurs.
• Fall arrest or restraint systems are in place where there is a risk of descent, climb or working near an edge during access.
• Systems and PPE are designed/selected to easily integrate with a rescue capability.
   

Without a safe way in and out, even the best ventilation and PPE offer little protection.

Respiratory protection in balance

Where particulates, fumes or vapours cannot be engineered out, respiratory protective equipment (RPE) is vital. But RPE must be matched to both the hazard and the work method:

• P2 or P3 filters for most dust hazards.
• Powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) for longer-duration tasks.
• Supplied air or SCBA for oxygen-deficient or unknown atmospheres.
   

However, RPE is only effective when supported by fit testing, training and program management. Importantly, RPE cannot become the sole focus; falls and rescue readiness must be given equal weight in the entry plan.

Rescue planning: the critical test

Rescue planning is often where confined space safety breaks down. Too many organisations rely on “call the fire brigade” without ensuring the following:

• Rescue can be initiated immediately by trained, equipped personnel on site.
• Rescuers are protected from the same hazards (atmospheric and fall-related) as the entrant.
• Equipment is appropriate: retrieval winches, breathing apparatus, stretchers and anchor systems must be in place and compatible with the entry method.
• Rescue drills are practised and validated under realistic conditions.
   

Permits and risk assessments should not be approved unless a credible, executable rescue plan is documented and validated.

Culture and competence

Confined space work should never be considered routine. Best practice is built on the following:

• Training that covers both respiratory and fall hazards.
• Supervisors empowered to delay or redesign work if access or rescue is unsafe.
• Investment in equipment that reduces risk without overcomplicating tasks.
• A safety culture that treats every entry as a unique event requiring thoughtful planning.

Leading a safer future

Managing confined space risk is more than meeting regulations; it is a measure of safety maturity. A best-practice approach balances respiratory protection with fall prevention, safe access and effective rescue capability.

By embedding these controls into work systems, industries across utilities, manufacturing, construction and heavy industry can build resilience, protect workers and strengthen operational performance.

Confined space management is not simply about entry; it is about ensuring workers can always come out safely.

Image credit: iStock.com/onuma Inthapong. Stock image used is for illustrative purposes only.