Confined space skill set (one day)

Most incidents and deaths in confined spaces are due to exposure to gas or poor air quality. Therefore, many employers want workers to have the skills required to carry out gas testing prior to entering a confined space.

At Height Safety Engineers, our nationally accredited, One Day Confined Space course includes the MSMWHS217 gas test atmospheres unit. This allows workers to get trained in all the basics of working safely in confined spaces and also how to use electronic gas testing equipment in the one convenient course.

Many other course providers don’t include the MSMWHS217 gas test atmospheres unit in a comparable confined space course and require the unit to be completed separately or as part of a longer course.

With our course, workers can get trained quickly and efficiently on how to use an electronic gas testing equipment which is an important tool used when working in a confined space.

Additionally, our instructors are among the best in the industry. They bring decades of combined experience in industry to every course they teach. We re-train all our instructors on a regular basis to ensure consistency and that they are continually improving.

According to Safe Work Australia, a confined space is determined by the hazards associated with the specific situation—not just because work is performed in a small space.

A confined space means an enclosed or partially enclosed space that:

• Is not designed or intended to be occupied by a person.
• Is at normal atmospheric pressure—or is designed or intended to be at normal atmospheric pressure—while a person is in the space.
• Is a risk to health and safety from:
  • an atmosphere that doesn’t have a safe oxygen level
  • contaminants like airborne gases, vapours and dusts that may cause injury from fire or explosion.
• Has harmful concentrations of any airborne contaminants.
• Is at risk of engulfment.

Confined spaces are commonly found in vats, tanks, pits, pipes, ducts, flues, chimneys, silos, containers, pressure vessels, underground sewers, wet or dry wells, shafts, trenches, tunnels or other similar enclosed or partially enclosed structures, according to model WHS regulations.

A space may become a confined one if work carried out in it could generate harmful concentrations of airborne contaminants.

This course is suitable for anyone who is required to perform any work or task where there is a need to enter and work in a confined space. This includes workers from entry level to senior management.

Some of the most common industries which require workers to complete this course include:

• Water and sewerage
• Oil and gas
• Construction, including electricians, builders and plumbers
• Mining
• Transport and storage

Our confined space training course has no designated ‘expiry date’ once a statement of attainment has been received. However, refresher courses are encouraged or sometimes required by individual employers.

Different employers will have different stipulations on how often confined space refresher courses are required. For example, a local council may require employees to complete a refresher course once a year, whereas a construction company may require it every three years.

For workers:

• Ability to readily identify risks and hazards for working in confined spaces and respond appropriately.
• Ability to swiftly, and competently, handle emergency situations.
• Receive skills which are transferable to many other industries and jobs.

For employers:

• Increase the skill set of your employees, thereby adding value to your business.
• Peace of mind that you are meeting legal obligations to keep employees safe under workplace health and safety regulations.
• You’ll save money in the long run by avoiding worse case scenarios.