Confined space entry permit template Australia: what to put on the form

Q: Is a confined space entry permit legally required in Australia?

Yes under the model WHS Regulations. A PCBU must not direct a worker to enter a confined space unless a written confined space entry permit has been issued for the work (regulation 67). The permit must be completed by a competent person.

Q: What oxygen and LEL readings are treated as safe?

Safe Work Australia's Confined Spaces Code of Practice treats oxygen of 19.5% to 23.5% by volume as a safe range. Flammable gas, vapour or mist should be kept below 5% of its LEL so far as reasonably practicable. Between 5% and 10% LEL, continuous monitoring with a calibrated detector is required and workers leave if it reaches or exceeds 10% LEL.

Q: Does a confined space entry permit replace a SWMS or a hot work permit?

No. The entry permit authorises who may enter that space for that job and what controls apply. A SWMS covers high-risk construction work method. Hot work inside a confined space still needs its own hot work controls and often a separate hot work permit.

Q: How long must you keep the permit and risk assessment?

Keep a copy at least until the work is completed. If a notifiable incident occurs in connection with the work, keep the permit and the risk assessment for at least two years after the work is completed (regulation 77).

Last reviewed 31 October 2026 · Sources linked below · Written by Jay at Andwat Co, an Australian boilermaker/fabricator (Cert III Engineering, 12+ years in the trade). About

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What a confined space entry permit template must cover under Australian WHS rules: the written permit fields, gas test limits, standby person, signage and close-out. Built from the model WHS Regulations Part 4.3, the Confined Spaces Code of Practice and AS/NZS 2865 practice.

Tanks, pits, vessels, silos and ducts that meet the confined space definition are not a paperwork exercise. Under Part 4.3 of the model WHS Regulations, a PCBU must not send anyone in without a written confined space entry permit issued by a competent person. This page is the template walkthrough: every field the regs expect, the atmosphere numbers from the Code of Practice, and how the permit sits with a hot work permit and a welding SWMS.

The short answer

Issue one written entry permit per confined space and per entry job. Name every entrant, the valid times, and the controls from the risk assessment (reg 67).
Complete a competent-person risk assessment first (reg 66). Keep the assessment and the permit until work finishes, or for at least two years after a notifiable incident (reg 77).
Test the atmosphere before entry and as the job needs: oxygen in the 19.5–23.5% band, flammable gas below 5% LEL where practicable, continuous monitoring and exit rules between 5% and 10% LEL.
A standby person stays outside with continuous communication (reg 69). Erect permit signage at each entry (reg 68). Close the permit only when everyone is out and the acknowledgement is signed.

What counts as a confined space

Under the model WHS Regulations, a confined space is an enclosed or partially enclosed space that is not designed or intended primarily to be occupied by a person, is designed or intended to be, or is likely to be, at normal atmospheric pressure while a person is in the space, and is or is likely to be a risk because of one or more of: an atmosphere that does not have a safe oxygen level; contaminants (including gases, vapours, dusts and fumes) that may cause injury; harmful concentrations of airborne contaminants; or engulfment. AS/NZS 2865:2009 (Confined spaces) sets the same practical system of work for entry: written risk assessment, written authority (the entry permit), trained competent people, and a competent standby.

Template fields checklist

Permit number, date, and the exact confined space (plant ID, tank, pit, vessel, duct)
Names of every person permitted to enter, plus the standby person
Period of time the work will be carried out (start and expiry)
Description of the work and why entry is needed
Risk controls from the written risk assessment: isolation of services, purge/ventilation, atmospheric testing, PPE/RPE, rescue gear
Communication method between inside and outside, and how the standby will monitor
Hot work / ignition controls and any linked hot work permit reference
Pre-entry gas readings (O2 %, LEL %, and relevant toxics such as H2S and CO) with detector ID
Sign-on / sign-off of each entrant while the permit is open
Close-out acknowledgement: work complete, all persons left the space, signed by the competent person

Worked example – grinding a bracket inside a process tank

Permit CS-014 · Tank T-12 · 06:30–10:30. Risk assessment already on file for T-12 (engulfment and residual vapour). Isolations locked out on inlet and outlet valves; forced ventilation running 20 minutes before entry. Pre-entry gas test: O2 20.8%, LEL 0%, H2S <1 ppm, CO 2 ppm on detector GD-03 (bump-tested that morning). Entrants: Jay and Sam. Standby: Alex at the manway with radio and tripod. Hot work permit HW-047 also issued for grinding. Permit closed 09:55 when both entrants signed out, tools removed, and the competent person acknowledged the space clear.

Atmosphere numbers the Code expects you to log

Oxygen: 19.5% to 23.5% by volume is treated as the safe range. Below 19.5%, air-supplied respiratory equipment is required if entry still proceeds. Above 23.5% raises fire and explosion risk.
Flammable gas / vapour / mist: keep below 5% of LEL so far as reasonably practicable. From 5% to below 10% LEL, continuous monitoring with a calibrated detector is required and the Code expects workers to leave if it reaches or exceeds 10% LEL.
Toxic contaminants: compare readings to the relevant workplace exposure standard. Log the detector used and keep bump-test / calibration records with the permit pack.

Useful gear (affiliate – we may earn a commission): a endoscope inspection camera for looking into voids before entry, and a rechargeable LED work light kept with the permit pack at the entry point.

Standby, signage, rescue and records

Standby (reg 69): continuous communication from outside, and a standby person in the vicinity who monitors conditions and, where practicable, observes the work. The standby does not enter to rescue – rescue is planned from outside.
Signage (reg 68): signs next to each entry that identify the space and say entry is only with a permit, up while work is prepared, underway and being completed.
Emergency procedures (regs 74–75): practised first aid and rescue procedures initiated from outside, openings large enough and unobstructed, and suitable PPE (including air-supplied RPE where the atmosphere is unsafe).
Training (reg 76): suitable information, training and instruction for relevant workers; keep training records for two years.
Retention (reg 77): keep the entry permit at least until work is finished; keep the permit and risk assessment for at least two years after a notifiable incident linked to the work.

Quick answers

Is a confined space entry permit legally required in Australia?

Yes under the model WHS Regulations. A PCBU must not direct a worker to enter a confined space unless a written confined space entry permit has been issued for the work (regulation 67). The permit must be completed by a competent person.

What oxygen and LEL readings are treated as safe?

Safe Work Australia's Confined Spaces Code of Practice treats oxygen of 19.5% to 23.5% by volume as a safe range. Flammable gas, vapour or mist should be kept below 5% of its LEL so far as reasonably practicable. Between 5% and 10% LEL, continuous monitoring with a calibrated detector is required and workers leave if it reaches or exceeds 10% LEL.

Does a confined space entry permit replace a SWMS or a hot work permit?

No. The entry permit authorises who may enter that space for that job and what controls apply. A SWMS covers high-risk construction work method. Hot work inside a confined space still needs its own hot work controls and often a separate hot work permit – see our hot work permit template and mobile welder SWMS guides.

How long must you keep the permit and risk assessment?

Keep a copy at least until the work is completed. If a notifiable incident occurs in connection with the work, keep the permit and the risk assessment for at least two years after the work is completed (regulation 77).

Sources

Related guides

General information only, summarised from the official sources above as at the review date. It isn't legal, WHS or engineering advice. Rules change and your situation may differ, so check the source or ask a professional. A template does not decide whether a space is safe to enter.