One of the most lethal jobs there is — where the rescue plan matters as much as the entry
A confined space is an enclosed or partly enclosed space not designed for people to occupy, where the air can harm or kill — tanks, silos, pits, sewers and the like. There are no NZ-specific confined-space regulations, but the HSWA applies and WorkSafe accepts the AS/NZS 2865 standard as good practice. First try not to enter at all; if you must, use an entry permit, test the air, post a stand-by person, and have a tested rescue plan.
It's about the conditions, not just the shape: a space not designed for occupancy, where the atmosphere or other hazards can harm you.
Under the recognised definition, a confined space is an enclosed or partially enclosed space not intended or designed primarily for people to work in, where there's a risk from a harmful atmosphere, oxygen deficiency or excess, engulfment, or other hazards. Examples include storage tanks, process vessels, boilers, silos, pits, pipes, sewers, ducts, shafts and manholes. Deep excavations can present the same hazards and should be treated with the same caution.
There are no NZ-specific confined-space regulations, but the duty to manage the risk is just as real.
Confined-space work falls under the general HSWA duties — eliminate or minimise the risk so far as is reasonably practicable, and coordinate where duties overlap. WorkSafe accepts AS/NZS 2865 Confined spaces as reflecting the current state of knowledge, so following it is the practical way to show you're meeting your duties. Anyone doing this work needs to be familiar with the standard and have specialist training.
If you can't avoid entering, a handful of controls keep people alive.
| Control | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Avoid entry | First eliminate the need — can the work be done from outside the space? |
| Entry permit | A written authority confirming the checks are done before anyone goes in. |
| Atmospheric testing | Test oxygen and contaminants before entry and continuously during, using calibrated detectors and trained testers. |
| Ventilation / RPE | Ventilate the space; where it can't be made safe, use supplied-air breathing apparatus. |
| Stand-by person | A trained person stays outside, monitors the entrant and keeps reliable communication. |
| Rescue plan | A site-specific, tested rescue plan and equipment for every confined-space job. |
The deadliest mistake in confined spaces is rushing in to help — and becoming the next casualty.
A frighteningly large share of confined-space deaths are would-be rescuers who entered without breathing apparatus to help a collapsed colleague, and were overcome by the same atmosphere. That's why the rescue plan isn't an afterthought: it must be worked out before entry, use the right equipment, and be tested realistically — because extracting an unconscious person in a harness through a small opening is genuinely hard. Plan the rescue before the entry, every time.
Permits, testing records and rescue plans in one place. Book a demo and we'll show you how it works — free 30-day trial included.
An enclosed or partially enclosed space not designed primarily for people to work in, where there's a risk from a harmful atmosphere, lack or excess of oxygen, engulfment or other hazards. Tanks, silos, pits, sewers, pipes, ducts and manholes are typical examples.
There are no NZ-specific confined-space regulations, but the general HSWA duties apply, and WorkSafe accepts AS/NZS 2865 Confined spaces as good practice. Following the standard is the practical way to show you are managing the risk.
Yes. The standard expects a written confined-space entry permit — effectively a safety checklist confirming the atmosphere has been tested, controls are in place, a stand-by person is posted and a rescue plan is ready — before anyone enters.
Because the air in a confined space can be deadly and can change quickly. You must test for oxygen and contaminants before entry and continuously throughout, using calibrated detectors operated by trained people. An invisible, odourless atmosphere can render someone unconscious in moments.
Because many confined-space deaths are would-be rescuers who entered without breathing apparatus and were overcome. A rescue plan must be prepared before entry, use the right equipment, and be tested realistically — getting an unconscious person out of a confined space is far harder than it looks.
