Confined spaces are among the deadliest work environments in Australia. Incidents have sometimes involved multiple deaths because workers enter to rescue a mate without realising the same invisible atmosphere is waiting for them (SafeWork NSW).
Here’s what counts as a confined space in WA, what the law requires, who needs training, and what the RIIWHS202E course involves.
Key Takeaways
- A confined space is defined by its hazards, not its size: an enclosed or partially enclosed space that isn’t meant for people to occupy.
- Confined space incidents have sometimes involved multiple deaths, often workers attempting a rescue (SafeWork NSW).
- RIIWHS202E Enter and Work in Confined Spaces runs as a half-day course at QPTS in Welshpool for $250.
- Tickets don’t legally expire, but most WA employers and mine sites require a refresher every two years.
What Counts as a Confined Space in WA?
A confined space is an enclosed or partially enclosed space that was never designed for people to occupy, where the atmosphere can turn dangerous: harmful contaminants, unsafe oxygen levels, or the risk of engulfment. WorkSafe WA’s Confined Spaces code of practice, published in July 2022, sets out the full definition and duties.
Think tanks, vats, silos, pits, pipes, sewers, shafts and ducts. Size is not the test; a space you can walk into can still be a confined space if the air inside can hurt you. That’s why entry is controlled, and why competency matters before anyone goes in.
“A confined space is defined by what can go wrong inside it, not by how small it is. If a space was never meant for people and its atmosphere can turn toxic, oxygen-deficient or engulfing, it needs to be treated as a confined space, whatever its dimensions.”
What Does WA Law Require?
Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020, in force in WA since March 2022, a competent person must complete a written risk assessment before confined space work starts (WorkSafe WA). Entry is managed with permits, atmospheric testing and controls set before anyone enters.
Two rules do the heavy lifting. A standby person must stay in the immediate vicinity outside the space at all times, and never enter it to attempt a rescue. And a rescue plan must exist before entry, with rescue team members trained in both rescue work and first aid.
“The standby person is one of the most important controls in confined space work: stationed outside the space, in contact with the workers inside, and under strict instruction never to climb in after them. That rule is what stops a single incident becoming a multiple-fatality one.”
Who Needs Confined Space Training?
Anyone who enters, works in, or supervises a confined space needs to be trained and competent first, and on most WA resources and construction sites, that expectation is treated as non-negotiable. Wondering where your site stands? See whether confined space training is mandatory in WA construction jobs.
| Role | Typical confined space work |
| Tank and vessel cleaning crews | Storage tanks, process vessels |
| Mine site maintenance and shutdown crews | Mills, chutes, bins and hoppers |
| Water and wastewater workers | Sewers, wet wells, pump stations |
| Civil and pipeline workers | Pipes, culverts, access chambers |
| Standby persons and supervisors | Entry control and emergency response |
What the RIIWHS202E Course Covers?
The nationally recognised unit is RIIWHS202E Enter and Work in Confined Spaces. At QPTS, the confined spaces course runs as a half-day (4-hour) session at our Welshpool facility for $250, and you leave with a Statement of Attainment and wallet card.
Training covers planning and preparation, entry permits and documentation, legislative requirements, tagging and lockout, atmospheric monitoring with electronic detectors, equipment inspection, and entry and exit protocols. Many WA sites also expect a gas test atmosphere ticket ($140) so you can test the air yourself before entry.
How Long Does Your Ticket Stay Current?
Your Statement of Attainment never legally expires, but most WA employers, contractors, and mine sites require refresher training every two years. We’ve covered the details of how long confined spaces training stays valid in Perth.
The confined spaces refresher accepts evidence up to five years old. If your heights ticket is due too, the heights and confined spaces refresher combo renews both units in one day.
Confined Spaces FAQs
An enclosed or partially enclosed space that isn’t designed or intended primarily for people, where the atmosphere may contain harmful contaminants, an unsafe oxygen level or a risk of engulfment. WorkSafe WA’s code of practice carries the full definition used on WA sites.
WHS duties require workers to be trained and competent before entering a confined space, and employers must verify it. In practice, WA construction, resources and utilities sites treat a current RIIWHS202E ticket as a firm entry requirement.
Half a day. The QPTS course runs for around 4 hours at Welshpool, covering theory plus practical entry, monitoring and permit work. The refresher is also half a day, and gas test atmospheres training can be added separately.
Book Confined Spaces Training in Perth
QPTS (RTO #40804) delivers RIIWHS202E at our purpose-built Welshpool facility, with standard, refresher and combo options. Book the Confined Spaces course, or contact us to arrange group training for your crew.
