Breathing Apparatus Training Perth | MSMWHS216 | Safety Heights
Updated: Sep 26
Breathing Apparatus Training Perth | MSMWHS216 | Safety Heights
If you need MSMWHS216 Breathing Apparatus training in Perth, this page covers everything before you book — what the course covers, who needs it, how long it takes, and how to enrol.
Safety Heights and Rescue Training (RTO 52610), based in Naval Base, Perth, delivers MSMWHS216 Operate Breathing Apparatus as a face-to-face, hands-on course for workers across Perth's industrial south, the Southwest, the Goldfields, and the Murchison region.
Course Details
Group bookings and on-site delivery across WA are available. Call 08 9437 9108 or visit rescue-training.com.au to check upcoming dates.
What Is MSMWHS216?
MSMWHS216 Operate Breathing Apparatus is a nationally recognised unit of competency from the MSM Manufacturing and Process Industries Training Package. It qualifies workers to operate breathing apparatus (BA) — including Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) and supplied-air systems — in hazardous, oxygen-deficient, or irrespirable atmospheres.
Completing this course gives you a Statement of Attainment under the Australian Qualifications Framework, recognised by employers and site managers across every Australian state and territory.
MSMWHS216 is not a licence — it is a competency credential. Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA), the duty to ensure workers are competent to use BA sits with the PCBU.
Who Needs Breathing Apparatus Training in WA?
Any worker deployed into an atmosphere where respiratory protection is required needs demonstrated BA competency before they enter. In WA, this includes:
Confined space entrants where atmospheric hazards (oxygen deficiency, toxic gases) are present or possible
Confined space rescue team members — MSMWHS216 is a prerequisite or co-requisite for confined space rescue units
Standby and emergency response personnel on industrial shutdown and maintenance work
Mining and resources workers — Kwinana industrial strip, Goldfields, Pilbara
Ship and marine maintenance workers — Naval Base, Henderson shipyards, vessel tanks and void spaces
Water and wastewater utility workers — pump stations, wet wells, treatment vessels
Under AS/NZS 2865:2009 and the WorkSafe WA Confined Spaces Code of Practice, entry into an atmosphere below 19.5% oxygen or above confirmed toxic thresholds requires BA and a competent operator.
What the Course Covers
Types of Breathing Apparatus
Trainees are introduced to the three categories used in WA industry:
SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus) — compressed air cylinder on the back; fully independent; suited for IDLH (Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health) environments and entry rescue. Standard cylinders rated at 30 or 45 minutes under resting conditions — physical exertion significantly reduces duration.
Supplied-Air Respirator (SAR / Airline) — continuous air delivered through a hose from a remote cylinder bank or compressor. Suited for extended maintenance tasks; limited mobility due to the tether.
Open-circuit escape sets — designed for emergency egress only, not sustained work. Carry enough air to exit a hazardous space, not to operate within one.
Pre-Use Inspection and Fit Checks
Before every use, trainees perform a full pre-use inspection aligned with AS/NZS 1715 — Selection, Use and Maintenance of Respiratory Protective Equipment:
Cylinder pressure check
Regulator and demand valve function test
Face seal integrity verification
Warning alarm confirmation
Harness assembly check
A BA unit that fails pre-use inspection must be removed from service before anyone enters a hazardous atmosphere.
Donning and Doffing Procedures
Correct donning (putting on) and doffing (removing) sequences are practised under observation. SCBA with cylinder and harness assembly weighs 10–18 kg — trainees learn to fit the harness, connect the regulator, confirm pressure, and verify seal before entry.
Doffing sequence in a contaminated environment is equally critical — incorrect removal order can cause self-contamination after the work is done.
Face Fit Testing
Under AS/NZS 1715, any facial hair crossing the sealing surface of the facepiece breaks the seal and renders the BA unsafe. Trainees must be clean-shaven on the day of training. Workers who cannot achieve a compliant face seal cannot be cleared for BA entry — this is a compliance requirement, not a guideline.
Atmospheric Hazard Recognition
Trainees learn to recognise the four primary hazards that require BA use:
Oxygen deficiency — below 19.5% (AS/NZS 2865:2009 safe entry minimum)
Oxygen enrichment — above 23.5% (increases fire and explosion risk dramatically)
Toxic gases — including H₂S (10 ppm TWA) and CO (20 ppm TWA) under current WA Workplace Exposure Limits
IDLH atmospheres — concentrations at which escape without serious harm is impossible within 30 minutes
This module integrates directly with MSMWHS217 Gas Test Atmospheres — workers who hold both units understand both sides of the atmospheric hazard picture.
Emergency Procedures
Low-pressure alarm response and controlled withdrawal
Buddy system operation — monitoring teammate air supply and condition
Evacuation under pressure
Assisting a distressed team member without creating a second casualty
Post-Use Decontamination, Maintenance and Records
Correct cleaning, inspection, storage, and fault reporting after every use. Under the WHS Act 2020 (WA) and associated regulations, post-use maintenance is a shared obligation — workers report defects, employers maintain service records and replacement schedules.
How MSMWHS216 Fits Into a Wider Competency Pathway
MSMWHS216 rarely sits alone. In WA's confined space and industrial rescue context, it forms part of a broader competency cluster:
For standby rescue team members, most WA mining, oil and gas, and industrial operators treat this full cluster as the minimum standard.
Safety Heights and Rescue Training delivers all four units from Naval Base, Perth, so your team can build the full pathway with a single local provider.
How Long Is MSMWHS216 Valid?
Your Statement of Attainment for MSMWHS216 has no printed expiry date. However, under the WHS Act 2020 (WA), PCBUs must demonstrate that workers maintain ongoing competency — not just that they were trained at some point.
Industry practice in WA:
Annual refresher for emergency response team members and rescue standby personnel
1–2 year refresher for workers regularly operating in hazardous atmospheres
Refresher triggered immediately after a near-miss, equipment change, extended break from the role, or role change
Most WA mine sites and major industrial operators embed refresher requirements directly into their site safety management systems — if a worker's BA competency is not current in the system, they cannot be assigned to a confined space or hazardous atmosphere task.
On-Site and Shutdown Delivery
Safety Heights and Rescue Training mobilises to client sites across WA for MSMWHS216 and bundled confined space packages, including shutdown-specific delivery where training is conducted on your facility's actual BA equipment and in your facility's actual confined space configurations. This builds contextual competency — workers are assessed in the conditions they'll actually face.
For shutdown coordinators planning turnaround windows on the Kwinana Industrial Strip, this is the most efficient way to ensure your crew holds current BA competency without pulling them off-site.
Construction Training Fund (CTF) Subsidies
Eligible WA construction workers may be able to access CTF subsidies to reduce the cost of this course. Check eligibility at ctf.wa.gov.au before enrolling and advise Safety Heights at the time of booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MSMWHS216 the same as SCBA training?
SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus) is one type of BA covered in the course. MSMWHS216 also covers supplied-air respirators and escape sets. If your site specifies SCBA competency, MSMWHS216 satisfies that requirement.
Can I complete this course online?
No. MSMWHS216 requires demonstrated practical competency — donning and doffing BA equipment, face seal verification, and emergency response procedures assessed under direct observation. An online-only course does not meet the assessment requirements for this unit.
Do I need confined space training first?
MSMWHS216 has no mandatory prerequisites. However, most workers completing this course are doing so as part of a confined space training pathway. Safety Heights recommends completing RIIWHS202E (confined space entry) alongside or prior to MSMWHS216 for workers who will be entering confined spaces.
Can you deliver on-site at our facility?
Yes. Safety Heights delivers on-site training using your facility's equipment and configurations. Contact us to discuss scheduling and group rates.
What if I have a beard?
Workers must be clean-shaven on the day of training. This is a safety requirement under AS/NZS 1715 — facial hair crossing the sealing surface breaks the face seal and renders the BA unsafe. Plan accordingly before your booking date.
Book Your Breathing Apparatus Training in Perth
Safety Heights and Rescue Training (RTO 52610) Unit 3, 1216 Rockingham Road, Naval Base WA 6165
Call: 08 9437 9108 Email: chris@rescue-training.com.au Web: rescue-training.com.au
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