Code of Practice for Confined Spaces in WA Explained

Every year, workers across Western Australia face serious risks in confined spaces, and yet many businesses still struggle to fully understand what the rules actually require. If you've found yourself scratching your head over the code of practice confined space requirements in WA, you're definitely not alone.

The good news is that once you break it down, it's far more manageable than it looks on paper. Western Australia's Code of Practice for Confined Spaces outlines clear guidelines to help employers and workers identify hazards, manage risks, and ensure everyone goes home safely at the end of the day.

In this tutorial, we'll walk you through the key elements of the code in plain English. You'll learn how confined spaces are defined under WA legislation, what your obligations are as an employer or worker, and how to put a practical compliance plan together. Whether you're refreshing your knowledge or getting across it for the first time, this guide will give you a solid foundation to work from. Let's get into it.

What Is the Code of Practice for Confined Spaces?

If you're working in or around confined spaces in Australia, the code of practice for confined spaces is the document you need to understand inside and out. The SafeWork Australia Model Code of Practice for Confined Spaces was updated in November 2024 and sits as the current authoritative national guidance for this type of high-risk work. It covers everything from hazard identification and risk assessment through to entry permits, atmospheric controls, and emergency procedures. In Western Australia, WorkSafe WA has published its own confined spaces code of practice that aligns with the national model while reflecting WA-specific regulatory requirements.

Here's something a lot of people get wrong: a code of practice is not just friendly advice you can take or leave. Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA), a code of practice is admissible as evidence in court proceedings of what is considered reasonably practicable. That means if something goes wrong and your confined space management system doesn't reflect the code, you'll need to demonstrate that your alternative approach was equally or more effective. That's a difficult position to defend, particularly when prosecutions related to confined space failures have resulted in penalties exceeding $600,000.

It's also worth being clear about where the code sits in the regulatory hierarchy. The code supports and works alongside the Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 (WA) but does not replace them. The regulations set the binding legal obligations, things like entry permit requirements, stand-by person duties, and record-keeping. The code explains how to meet those obligations in practice. Think of the regulations as the "what" and the code as the "how."

PCBUs (persons conducting a business or undertaking) carry the primary duty of care under this framework. If your business sends workers into confined spaces, that responsibility sits with you. You need to understand how the code applies to your specific workplace context, your industry, and your workforce.

One more critical point for 2026: transitional provisions under WA's WHS Act 2020 have now ended. Full compliance is expected, and WorkSafe WA is actively auditing confined space management systems across industries including mining, utilities, construction, and water infrastructure. There is no grace period remaining.

How WA Regulations and the National Code Work Together

If you're based in Western Australia, it's important to understand that the regulatory picture here is a little different from what you might read about in generic national guidance. WA operates under its own harmonised framework, specifically the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA) and the Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 (WA). These are the operative instruments in this state, not the national model regulations directly. While WA's framework closely mirrors the national model laws, there are state-specific features that matter when it comes to compliance on a WA worksite.

The Definition That Drives Everything

Under Regulation 5 of the WHS (General) Regulations 2022 (WA), a confined space is defined as an enclosed or partially enclosed space that is not designed or intended to be occupied by a person on an ongoing basis, is at normal atmospheric pressure while a person is in it, and presents a risk from a hazardous atmosphere, engulfment, or a similar hazard. Critically, this definition is not about physical size. A large tank and a small pit can both be confined spaces if the hazard conditions are present. WorkSafe WA inspectors frequently encounter misidentification of confined spaces as one of the most common compliance failures in the field, leading to workers entering without permits, atmospheric testing, or standby personnel in place.

The 'What' and the 'How'

Here's a practical way to think about how WA's regulatory system works. The WHS Act and Regulations tell you what you must do. The WA Code of Practice for Confined Spaces, approved under section 274 of the WHS Act 2020, tells you how to do it. The SafeWork Australia Model Code of Practice for Confined Spaces, updated in November 2024, provides additional practical benchmarks that WorkSafe WA inspectors use when assessing your confined space management systems. Aligning your documented processes with both the WA-specific code and the national model code puts you in the strongest possible compliance position.

It's also worth knowing that the WA code is admissible in court proceedings. If you're ever subject to enforcement action, a court can rely on the code to determine what was reasonably practicable in your circumstances.

What Other Jurisdictions Tell Us About Where WA Is Heading

Other states and territories operate under their own codes. Queensland has its Confined Spaces Code of Practice 2021, and the ACT enacted a new code commencing November 2025. These do not apply in WA, but they signal a clear national trend toward tighter regulatory scrutiny. WA is tracking that direction closely, and with the transitional provisions under the WHS Act 2020 now expired, WorkSafe WA is actively auditing confined space compliance across industries including mining, construction, utilities, and water infrastructure.

When a WorkSafe WA inspector walks onto your site, they will measure your confined space management against both the WA regulations and the practical standards set by the national code. Documented processes, completed entry permits, and evidence of atmospheric testing are not optional extras; they are the baseline expectation.

What Counts as a Confined Space (The Definition That Catches People Out)

Under Regulation 5 of the WHS (General) Regulations 2022 (WA), a confined space must tick four boxes simultaneously. It needs to be enclosed or partially enclosed, not designed or intended for ongoing human occupancy, maintained at normal atmospheric pressure while someone is inside, and present a risk from at least one specified hazard. Those hazards include a hazardous atmosphere, engulfment, or a free-flowing solid that could trap a person. That last element is the one that surprises most people, because it shifts the focus from the physical structure to the actual risk conditions present inside the space.

The Entry Trigger Most Workers Don't Know About

Here's the compliance detail that catches people out more than almost any other. Under the regulations, legal "entry" doesn't require a worker to be fully inside the space. The moment a person's head or upper body crosses the boundary of the space, entry has legally occurred and all permit and control obligations are immediately triggered. That means a worker leaning into a hatch to retrieve a tool, or sticking their head into a pit to inspect a valve, is already legally inside a confined space. WorkSafe WA encounters this misunderstanding regularly, and it's led to workers entering without permits, atmospheric testing, or a standby person in place.

Spaces People Get Wrong More Often Than You'd Think

Misidentifying a space as something that doesn't need confined space controls is one of the most common compliance failures seen across WA workplaces. Common examples include pits, trenches, tanks, silos, pipes, ducts, tunnels, sewers, and stormwater drains. Roof voids and ceiling spaces also frequently catch workers off guard, because they look and feel like open construction areas rather than regulated confined spaces. The key test isn't how big a space is or whether it feels cramped; it's whether the four-part regulatory definition is met.

It's also worth understanding that the work being performed can create a confined space, even in a location that wouldn't normally qualify. Welding, painting, or chemical cleaning inside a tank introduces fumes and vapours that can generate a hazardous atmosphere on the spot, meeting the definition under the regulations. Atmospheric hazards account for up to 82% of confined space fatalities in Australia, which is exactly why this dynamic reclassification principle matters so much in practice.

If you're ever genuinely uncertain whether a space meets the Regulation 5 definition, the safest and legally defensible approach is straightforward: treat it as a confined space and apply all associated controls until a competent person has formally assessed and documented otherwise. That means written entry permits, atmospheric testing, and a trained standby person outside the space, every time, without exception.

Key Obligations Under the Code for WA Workplaces

Now that you've got a solid understanding of what a confined space is and how the WA regulatory framework fits together, let's get into the practical stuff. Here are the key obligations your workplace needs to have locked down before anyone sets foot inside a confined space.

Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

Before a single person enters, you need a documented hazard identification and risk assessment completed. This isn't a mental checklist or a quick conversation on the tools. Under the WA Code, you're required to systematically work through every category of hazard that could be present: atmospheric hazards like oxygen deficiency or toxic gas build-up, engulfment risks from liquids or free-flowing solids, mechanical hazards such as agitators or fans, electrical hazards, and thermal risks from heat or cold. For each one, you assess the likelihood and consequence, then apply the hierarchy of controls to manage them. Your Job Hazard Analysis or Safe Work Method Statement needs to be completed before the work starts and kept on site throughout the job. Think of it as the foundation everything else sits on.

The Confined Space Entry Permit

Under Regulation 77 of the WHS (General) Regulations 2022 (WA), a written entry permit must be completed by a competent person before anyone enters. The permit needs to specify the exact space being entered, the names of all entrants, how long the work will take, the results of atmospheric testing, and every risk control in place. It's not a formality. It's a legally binding record that confirms the hazards have been assessed and the controls are active. If a notifiable incident occurs, that permit must be retained for at least two years. WorkSafe WA inspectors are actively auditing confined space compliance right now, and missing or incomplete permits are one of the fastest ways to end up with a prosecution on your hands.

Atmospheric Testing Thresholds

Atmospheric testing is non-negotiable before entry, and the accepted thresholds come directly from AS 2865-2009: Confined Spaces. Oxygen levels must sit between 19.5% and 23.5%. Anything outside that range is classified as a hazardous atmosphere. Flammable gases must be below 5% of the Lower Explosive Limit (LEL), and toxic contaminants must be below their relevant workplace exposure standards. Your gas monitor needs to be calibrated and bump-tested before use, in line with manufacturer specifications. Given that atmospheric hazards caused up to 82% of confined space fatalities in Australia between 2000 and 2012, skipping this step isn't just a regulatory breach. It's genuinely life-threatening.

The Stand-By Person Requirement

Regulation 76 of the WHS (General) Regulations 2022 (WA) requires a stand-by person to be stationed outside the confined space continuously for the entire duration of entry. They must maintain communication with everyone inside, monitor and control entry and exit, and be ready to initiate emergency response procedures without entering the space themselves. This last point matters a lot. Around 25% of confined space deaths in Australia involve would-be rescuers who entered without proper preparation. The stand-by person's role is to activate the rescue plan from outside, not to improvise a rescue.

Isolation and Lockout/Tagout

All energy sources, mechanical equipment, and supply lines must be isolated, locked out, and tagged before anyone enters. This includes opening and locking circuit breakers, removing fuses, disconnecting mechanical linkages, and physically blocking moving parts. The Code provides guidance on isolation methods matched to different types of hazardous energy, and each step needs to be verified before entry is authorised. No permit should be signed off until isolation is confirmed complete.

Emergency and Rescue Procedures

Your emergency and rescue procedures must be established, communicated to everyone involved, and regularly practised before the job begins. The Code is clear on this point: calling 000 and hoping for the best is not an adequate rescue plan for most confined space scenarios. External emergency services simply cannot respond fast enough in most situations. Your rescue plan needs to be site-specific, equipment needs to be selected based on the actual hazard profile, and everyone involved needs to know their role before entry begins. If you're looking for structured training that covers all of these obligations in a practical, hands-on format, this is exactly what courses like our Confined Space training at Safety Heights and Rescue Training are built around.

Training and Competency Requirements Under the Code

One of the most practically important aspects of the code of practice for confined spaces is what it actually requires of the people doing the work. It's not enough to have a permit on paper or a process on the wall. The code demands that confined space work be managed by a competent person, and that term has a specific legal meaning under the WHS (General) Regulations 2022 (WA).

A competent person is someone who has acquired, through training, qualifications, or experience, the knowledge and skills to carry out the task safely. In practical terms, this directly shapes who can sign off on entry permits, who can conduct atmospheric testing, and who can take on a supervisory role during confined space work. If the person performing any of those functions cannot demonstrate that competency, the entire entry is non-compliant, regardless of how well everything else has been documented.

Role-Specific Competency: One Size Does Not Fit All

Here's something that catches a lot of workplaces out. The code does not apply a single blanket training requirement across everyone involved in a confined space operation. Each role carries its own distinct obligations.

Workers entering the space need to understand hazard identification, how to use PPE correctly, permit compliance, atmospheric monitoring, and what to do in an emergency. Standby persons, who are required under Regulation 76 to remain outside the space continuously, must be capable of maintaining communication and initiating emergency procedures if something goes wrong. Gas testers have a separate and more specific requirement: they need the skills and knowledge associated with that function specifically, not just a general confined space entry unit.

This distinction matters enormously in practice. A worker who holds a confined space entry unit but has not completed specific gas testing training is not competent to conduct atmospheric testing, full stop.

The Training Units That Underpin Competency in WA

The two nationally recognised units that form the foundation of demonstrated competency for confined space work in WA are RIIWHS202E (Enter and Work in Confined Spaces) and MSMWHS217 (Gas Test Atmospheres). You can check the current details of RIIWHS202E on the National Training Register, where it sits within the RII Resources and Infrastructure Industry Training Package.

Completing these units through a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) is the most defensible evidence of competency a PCBU can hold when WorkSafe WA comes knocking. It creates a verifiable, nationally recognised record that directly aligns with the code's requirements.

How Often Does Training Need to Be Refreshed?

There is no single prescribed refresher interval written directly into the WA regulations, and it's important to be upfront about that. However, the code's obligation to maintain competency is ongoing, not a one-time tick-box exercise. Industry practice and safety professional guidance consistently point to a two-year refresher benchmark as a reasonable standard, particularly where workers have not been regularly performing confined space entries in the intervening period. If in doubt, checking directly with WorkSafe WA is always the right call.

At Safety Heights and Rescue Training, based in Naval Base, Perth, the team delivers nationally recognised confined space training including RIIWHS202E, MSMWHS217 for gas testing, and breathing apparatus courses. All of these are directly aligned with the competency requirements set out in the code and WA regulations, making it a practical option for WA businesses looking to get their workforce properly credentialled and audit-ready.

The Rescuer Risk: Why Emergency Response Training Cannot Be Skipped

Here's a number that should stop you in your tracks: approximately 25% of confined space fatalities in Australia involve would-be rescuers. Not the original injured worker. The person who saw a colleague go down and went in to help. That instinct, the completely human urge to act immediately when someone you work with is in trouble, is exactly what the code of practice for confined spaces is specifically designed to manage before it turns one tragedy into two.

Some sources, including rescue-specific training material, put this figure even higher, closer to 60%. The difference likely reflects varying data sets and timeframes, but both figures are pointing at the same underlying problem. When someone enters a confined space without training, pre-planned emergency procedures, and the right equipment, they are not executing a rescue. They are entering an uncontrolled hazard.

Why Atmospheric Hazards Make This So Dangerous

The reason rescuers become victims so consistently comes down to the nature of the hazard itself. Between 2000 and 2012, atmospheric hazards caused up to 82% of confined space fatalities in Australia. Oxygen deficiency, toxic gas accumulation, flammable atmospheres; none of these can be seen, smelled, or sensed without calibrated atmospheric testing equipment. A space that looks completely normal can incapacitate a person in seconds. When an untrained rescuer enters without gas detection equipment, they walk into the same atmosphere that overcame the first worker, and the outcome is predictable.

What the Code Actually Requires

This is why the SafeWork Australia Model Code of Practice for Confined Spaces is explicit: emergency procedures must be established before entry commences, not improvised at the moment of crisis. Under the Code and AS/NZS 2865:2009, that means designating specific rescue roles, ensuring rescue equipment is on-site and ready, and confirming that personnel who may need to perform or support a rescue are actually trained to do so. The standby person's role is specifically defined as remaining outside the space; their job is to initiate the emergency response, not become part of the problem.

An undocumented, untrained response is not a rescue plan. Regulators and the courts treat it exactly that way.

For WA workplaces, particularly those in mining, utilities, and resources, confined space rescue training is the practical tool that closes the gap between a procedure written on paper and an outcome that is actually safe. Safety Heights and Rescue Training also provides shutdown emergency response services for planned maintenance windows across WA's resources and utilities sectors, where confined space entries tend to concentrate. That combination of trained personnel and pre-deployed rescue capability is what the code is asking for, and it is what protects both your workers and your organisation when it matters most.

WA Industries With the Highest Confined Space Exposure

Western Australia's industrial landscape creates confined space exposure across a surprisingly broad range of sectors, and understanding where the highest-risk environments cluster is genuinely useful for anyone responsible for managing compliance at their facility.

Mining and Resources

If there's one sector in WA that represents the full complexity of confined space hazards, it's mining and resources. Underground workings, ore passes, storage tanks, vessels, and processing equipment can all meet the Regulation 5 definition, often simultaneously. What makes this sector particularly demanding is the atmospheric picture. Methane accumulation, carbon monoxide from diesel equipment, and oxygen-deficient environments in enclosed underground spaces create layered hazards that require systematic atmospheric testing before every entry. The scale of WA's resources industry means this isn't a niche concern; confined space exposure is effectively systemic across the sector, from lithium processing facilities in the Goldfields to nickel and coal operations throughout the state.

Oil, Gas, and Utilities

Pipelines, storage tanks, pump stations, and switchgear pits all feature regularly in maintenance and inspection schedules for WA's oil, gas, and utilities operators. The complicating factor here is timing. Many of these operations occur during planned shutdowns, where multiple confined spaces are accessed by large numbers of workers within compressed timeframes. That concentration of activity significantly amplifies both the risk profile and the demand for qualified standby emergency response capability. PCBUs operating in this space need more than just permits; they need a coordinated, ready-to-respond rescue capacity on site.

Water and Wastewater Infrastructure

Manholes, wet wells, pump chambers, and treatment vessels are scattered across WA's local government and utilities networks, and the atmospheric hazards here are genuinely deceptive. Hydrogen sulphide generated by organic decomposition can reach fatal concentrations without obvious warning signs, making these spaces particularly dangerous for workers who aren't specifically trained in wastewater environments. The WorkSafe WA guidance on managing confined space risks is a useful reference point for contractors working in this space.

Construction and Civil Works

Construction activity routinely generates temporary confined spaces through trenching, formwork, service pits, and enclosed structural elements. Workers whose backgrounds are primarily in open construction environments may genuinely not recognise these spaces as confined spaces under the Regulation 5 definition, which is exactly the kind of misidentification WorkSafe WA flags as a leading compliance failure.

Safety Heights and Rescue Training provides shutdown emergency response services specifically for WA's resources and utilities sectors, giving PCBUs a qualified, standby rescue capability during high-risk confined space operations at their facilities.

Paper Versus Digital Permit-to-Work Systems

Digital permit-to-work platforms are becoming a common sight across WA's resources and utilities sectors, and it's easy to see why. Features like real-time atmospheric data integration, immutable audit timestamps, and direct linkage to asset maintenance histories offer a level of traceability that a paper form simply cannot match. If conditions change mid-task, a well-configured digital system can flag the issue in real time. If an incident occurs, the audit trail is locked and timestamped, with no risk of backdating. For large-scale operations running simultaneous work activities across multiple zones, these platforms can also detect permit conflicts that a paper-based system would miss entirely.

That said, it's worth being clear about what the law actually requires. The WHS (General) Regulations 2022 (WA) do not prescribe a specific format for confined space entry permits. A compliant paper permit, completed correctly by a competent person, is fully legally valid. Many smaller WA workplaces continue to run effective, compliant confined space programs using paper-based systems, and there is nothing in the regulations that requires them to change.

Here is the point that gets missed in conversations about going digital: software automates paperwork, it does not replace people or legal obligations. Regulation 76 still requires a trained standby person stationed outside the space continuously. Atmospheric testing must still be carried out by a competent operator. The entry permit must still be signed by someone holding the relevant competency. No platform changes any of that.

If your workplace is transitioning to a digital permit system, check that the platform's fields align with Regulation 77 requirements, and confirm that every user authorised to issue permits digitally holds the same competency standards expected of a paper-based issuer. Digital access is not a substitute for training.

One obligation applies equally to both formats: where a notifiable incident has occurred, permit records must be retained for a minimum of two years. Make sure your system, whether a filing cabinet or a cloud platform, actively supports that retention requirement.

What WorkSafe WA Is Looking for in 2026

Let's be clear: as of 2026, the transitional provisions under WA's Work Health and Safety Act 2020 have fully expired. There is no longer a grace period, no "we're still adjusting" argument, and no lenient treatment for PCBUs who haven't brought their confined space systems up to the current regulatory framework. WorkSafe WA inspectors are actively auditing workplaces across the state, and confined space compliance is firmly in their sights.

The financial consequences of getting this wrong are significant. Prosecutions related to confined space entry failures have exceeded $600,000 in penalty amounts, and these are not minor administrative slaps on the wrist. Courts treat preventable fatalities and serious injuries in confined spaces with real severity, because the risks are well understood and the controls are clearly defined. Beyond civil penalties, the WHS Act 2020 introduced industrial manslaughter as a criminal offence, with penalties reaching up to $10 million for a body corporate. That changes the conversation entirely.

What Inspectors Are Actually Finding

The common audit findings coming through from WorkSafe WA paint a consistent picture of where organisations are falling short. Misidentification of confined spaces sits at the top of the list, where workers enter a space without a permit, without atmospheric testing, and without a standby person, simply because no one correctly classified the space in the first place. Inspectors are also finding incomplete or unsigned entry permits, atmospheric testing carried out by personnel who lack the relevant competency units, and workplaces with no documented emergency procedures or standby person arrangements in place under Regulation 76.

What a Compliant System Looks Like

What WorkSafe WA wants to see is evidence of a systematic approach. That means documented risk assessments, completed and properly retained entry permits, training records for every person involved in confined space work, and clear evidence that emergency procedures have been communicated and actually practised, not just filed away.

If an inspector walks into your workplace and you cannot produce training certificates, competency evidence, and a current confined space procedure on the spot, your liability exposure is real. Proactive compliance and well-maintained documentation are your strongest defence. Check the WorkSafe QLD confined spaces guidance for additional context on national expectations, and refer to the 2026 WA compliance guide for current permit requirements in detail.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Confined Space Code of Practice in WA

Does WA have its own confined space code of practice, or does it use the national model code?

This one comes up a lot, and the short answer is: both. WA's legally binding obligations sit within the Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 (WA), which is the state's own legislative instrument. The practical guidance layer comes from the SafeWork Australia Model Code of Practice for Confined Spaces (November 2024), which provides nationally consistent, evidence-based guidance that WA workplaces are expected to follow. WorkSafe WA also maintains its own confined spaces code of practice publication, so if you haven't checked the WorkSafe WA publications page recently, that's worth doing.

How often should confined space training be refreshed in WA?

Here's something that surprises a lot of people: the WA regulations do not set a fixed refresher interval. There is no regulation that says "retrain every two years." What the framework does require is that workers maintain genuine competency as an ongoing obligation. In practice, a two-year refresher cycle is widely regarded as a reasonable benchmark by safety professionals across WA, and it aligns with observed industry practice in high-risk sectors like utilities and resources. Treat it as a professional standard, not a legislated deadline, but don't use the absence of a hard rule as an excuse to let training lapse.

Who needs confined space training in a WA workplace?

The short answer is: more people than most workplaces realise. Training requirements attach to workers who enter the space, standby persons positioned outside, anyone conducting atmospheric testing, and supervisors managing confined space entry operations. Each role requires specific competency units relevant to that function. It's also worth remembering that under WA regulations, entry is legally triggered the moment a person's head or upper body crosses the boundary. You don't need to be fully inside for the rules to apply, which catches a lot of workers and supervisors off guard.

What must a confined space entry permit include in WA?

Under Regulation 77 of the WHS (General) Regulations 2022 (WA), the permit must identify the confined space, name all authorised entrants, specify the duration of the work, document atmospheric testing results and the controls applied, and list all other risk controls in place. The permit must be completed by a competent person before any entry occurs. Misidentifying a space and skipping this step is consistently listed among the most common compliance failures WorkSafe WA inspectors encounter on site.

Can I use a digital permit system to meet WA permit requirements?

Yes, you can. The regulations do not specify that permits must be on paper. What matters is that the system captures all the information required under Regulation 77, that the permit is completed by a competent person prior to entry, and that records are retained in line with WA record-keeping obligations. Digital platforms that meet these criteria are perfectly acceptable, and their use is growing steadily across WA's resources and infrastructure sectors.

What happens if a worker enters a confined space without a permit in WA?

This is a serious compliance failure with real consequences. Unpermitted entry is a direct contravention of the WHS (General) Regulations 2022 (WA), and it can expose a PCBU to significant financial penalties. Nationally, prosecutions linked to confined space entry failures have exceeded $600,000. Beyond the legal exposure, the safety stakes are severe: atmospheric hazards have caused up to 82% of confined space fatalities in Australia, and around 25% of confined space deaths involve would-be rescuers entering without proper training or equipment. Unpermitted entry doesn't just put the entrant at risk; it can trigger a cascade of harm that claims additional lives.

The Bottom Line on Confined Space Compliance in WA

If there's one takeaway from everything covered in this guide, it's this: confined space compliance in WA is not something you can wing. The obligations are clear, the enforcement is active, and the consequences of getting it wrong range from serious injury to prosecution penalties that have exceeded $600,000 in Australian cases.

Your core obligations under the WHS (General) Regulations 2022 (WA) come down to six non-negotiables: a documented risk assessment before entry, a completed entry permit under Regulation 77, atmospheric testing that meets the thresholds set out in AS 2865-2009 (oxygen between 19.5% and 23.5%, flammable gases below 5% LEL), a standby person stationed outside the space under Regulation 76, full isolation of energy sources, and documented emergency procedures that workers actually know how to execute.

The SafeWork Australia Model Code of Practice for Confined Spaces (November 2024) is the practical benchmark your workplace should be working from, sitting alongside those WA regulations as the day-to-day operational guide.

Training ties all of this together. A PCBU that cannot demonstrate that its workers are competent, its supervisors are qualified, and its emergency response team is trained is a PCBU that is exposed, both to incidents and to regulator scrutiny.

Safety Heights and Rescue Training, based in Naval Base, Perth, delivers nationally recognised confined space training, gas testing, emergency response, and shutdown services tailored to WA workplaces. Get in touch with the team at rescue-training.com.au to find the right training solution for your specific obligations.

Conclusion

Understanding the code of practice for confined spaces in WA does not have to be overwhelming. Here are the key takeaways to carry forward:

• Confined spaces carry serious, life-threatening risks that require structured identification and hazard management

• WA legislation places clear obligations on both employers and workers

• A practical compliance plan makes meeting those obligations far more achievable

• Consistent training and documentation are the backbone of any safe confined space program

Now it is time to put this knowledge into action. Review your current workplace procedures, identify any gaps against the WA Code of Practice, and take steps to close them before the next job begins.

Safety in confined spaces is not just a legal requirement; it is a commitment to every worker who enters those environments. Start building a stronger compliance culture in your workplace today.