Free Tool · Confined Space Entry
Confined Space Entry Checklist
Use this checklist alongside your organization’s formal permit-to-work system before any confined space entry. Never treat a checklist alone as sufficient authorization to enter – a valid permit and trained supervision are always required.
Before Entry: Planning and Permit
- Valid entry permit issued and signed by an authorized person.
- Isolation of mechanical, electrical and process hazards completed and verified.
- Space has been drained, purged, cleaned or ventilated as required.
- Entry, standby and supervisory roles clearly assigned by name.
- Emergency services notified where required by local procedure.
Atmospheric Testing
- Oxygen level tested and confirmed within safe range before entry.
- Flammable gas level tested and confirmed below action threshold.
- Toxic gas levels tested for all substances realistically expected to be present.
- Continuous monitoring equipment in place for the duration of entry, not just a single pre-entry check.
- Test equipment calibrated and in date.
Entry Equipment
- Correct respiratory protection selected and fit-tested for the specific atmosphere.
- Communication equipment tested and working between entrant and standby person.
- Rescue and retrieval equipment set up and ready before entry begins.
- Lighting suitable for the space and any explosive atmosphere rating required.
- PPE appropriate to all identified hazards, not just atmospheric ones.
During Entry: Monitoring and Communication
- Standby person remains at the entry point for the entire duration of entry.
- Regular communication checks maintained on an agreed schedule.
- Continuous atmospheric monitoring alarms are audible and monitored.
- Entry log maintained showing who is inside the space at all times.
Emergency and Rescue Arrangements
- Rescue plan specific to this space, not a generic site rescue plan.
- Rescue team or arrangement confirmed available and briefed before entry.
- Retrieval line and winch system tested and rated for this specific entry.
- Nearby emergency exit routes and assembly point confirmed.
How to Use This Tool
Work through each section before authorizing entry, and treat any unchecked item as a stop-work condition until it is resolved. This checklist is a memory aid to use alongside your organization’s formal confined space procedure and permit system, not a replacement for either.
Why Confined Space Work Requires Formal Training, Not Just a Checklist
Confined space entry is consistently one of the highest-consequence activities in workplace safety, and conditions can change rapidly and without warning. Anyone involved in planning, supervising or entering a confined space should hold specific, current training for that role, and a checklist should never be treated as a substitute for a properly authorized permit-to-work system.
Relevant standards:
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a confined space?
Broadly, any enclosed or partially enclosed space not designed for continuous occupancy, with limited entry and exit, where a reasonably foreseeable risk exists such as poor atmosphere, engulfment or entrapment.
Is atmospheric testing needed if the space “looks fine”?
Yes, always. Many confined space atmospheres cannot be detected by sight or smell, including oxygen deficiency and several toxic and flammable gases, which is why calibrated testing equipment is essential every time.
Can one person enter a confined space alone?
No. A trained standby person should remain at the entry point at all times, maintaining communication and ready to raise the alarm or initiate rescue if needed.
What is the difference between rescue and evacuation planning?
Evacuation covers the entrant leaving under their own power when conditions change; rescue covers retrieving an incapacitated entrant. Both must be planned and resourced specifically for the space in question before entry.
How often should atmospheric monitoring occur during entry?
Continuously for the duration of entry wherever practical, not just as a single pre-entry check, since atmospheric conditions inside a confined space can change without warning.
Explore the full EN Standards Library for every standard referenced above, or read real Field Stories showing what happens when procedures are skipped.