Work Health and Safety (Confined Spaces) Code of Practice 2015 (Cth)

Work Health and Safety (Confined Spaces) Code of Practice 2015

made under the

Work Health and Safety Act 2011, section 274 (Approved Codes of Practice)

1 Name of instrument

This instrument is the Work Health and Safety (Confined Spaces) Code of Practice 2015.

2 Commencement

This instrument commences on the day after it is registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.

3 Code of Practice Approval

I approve the Confined Spaces Code of Practice. I am satisfied that this code of practice was developed by a process described in section 274(2) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.

Michaelia Cash Minister for Employment

18 March 2016

Date

CONFINED SPACES

Code of Practice TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 What is a confined space? 1.2 Who has health and safety duties in relation to a confined space? 1.3 What is required in managing risks? 1.4 How to determine whether a space is a confined space 2. ROLE OF DESIGNERS, MANUFACTURERS AND SUPPLIERS 2.1 Eliminating or minimising the need to enter a confined space 2.2 Entry and exit 3. HOW TO IDENTIFY THE HAZARDS 3.1 What hazards are associated with a confined space? 3.2 Other hazards 4. HOW TO ASSESS THE RISKS 5. HOW TO CONTROL THE RISKS 5.1 The hierarchy of control 5.2 Eliminate the need to enter a confined space 5.3 Minimise the risks..........................................................19 5.4 Entry permits 5.5 Isolation 5.6 Atmosphere 5.7 Communication and safety monitoring 5.8 Entry and exit procedures 5.9 Signs and barricades 5.10 Information, instruction and training 5.11 Maintenance of control measures 6. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES 7. HOW TO REVIEW CONTROL MEASURES APPENDIX A – CONFINED SPACE CRITERIA APPENDIX B – SAMPLE CONFINED SPACE ENTRY PERMIT LIST OF AMENDMENTS

FOREWORD This Code of Practice on how to manage the risks associated with confined spaces in workplaces is an approved code of practice under section 274 of the Work Health and Safety Act (WHS Act). An approved code of practice is a practical guide to achieving the standards of health, safety and welfare required under the WHS Act and the Work Health and Safety Regulations (the WHS Regulations). A code of practice applies to anyone who has a duty of care in the circumstances described in the code. In most cases, following an approved code of practice would achieve compliance with the health and safety duties in the WHS Act, in relation to the subject matter of the code. Like regulations, codes of practice deal with particular issues and do not cover all hazards or risks that may arise. The health and safety duties require duty holders to consider all risks associated with work, not only those for which regulations and codes of practice exist. Codes of practice are admissible in court proceedings under the WHS Act and Regulations. Courts may regard a code of practice as evidence of what is known about a hazard, risk or control and may rely on the code in determining what is reasonably practicable in the circumstances to which the code relates. Compliance with the WHS Act and Regulations may be achieved by following another method, such as a technical or an industry standard, if it provides an equivalent or higher standard of work health and safety than the code. An inspector may refer to an approved code of practice when issuing an improvement or prohibition notice.