AS/NZS 2865:2009
Confined spaces
This standard outlines the minimum requirements for establishing a safe system for entry and the conduct of tasks in or on a confined space. These requirements are consistent with industry best practice and are considered mandatory for reducing the risks associated with confined spaces and for establishing safe entry to them. Mandatory requirements of this standard are highlighted in bold type and contained in boxes.
The purpose of this standard is to provide safety requirements and procedures for persons entering and conducting tasks in a confined space. It is intended to ensure that confined spaces are made safe for those entering them, and to highlight the likely hazards associated with such spaces and the relevant risk control measures necessary to deal with these hazards.
This standard emphasizes responsibilities for safety and sets out steps that need to be taken to eliminate or control risks that may arise during confined space operations. It also requires that all persons involved in the entry of a confined space be trained, assessed as competent, and instructed on the nature of the hazards and the risk control measures to be followed.
In 2025, the P4827 Rejoining of Safety Standards committee was formed to consider this standard’s suitability (and the suitability of other Australian safety standards) for rejoining as Australian/New Zealand standards.
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AS/NZS 2865:2009
SA/SNZ - Cover page
Preface
1 Scope and general
1.1 Scope
1.2 Objective
1.3 Application
1.4 Referenced documents
1.5 Definitions
2 Planning
2.1 Planning to manage and control confined spaces
2.2 Legal and other requirements
2.3 Accountabilities and responsibilities
2.4 Design, manufacture, supply and modification considerations
2.4.1 Minimizing the risks associated with confined space
2.4.2 Entry to and exit from a confined space
2.4.3 Modification to a confined space
2.4.4 Safe design of a confined space
2.4.5 Manufacture of a structure or plant
2.4.6 Reclassification of a confined space
2.5 Consultation
2.5.1 Stakeholder consultation
2.5.2 Consultation mechanisms
2.6 Training and competency
2.6.1 Training and competency assessment
2.6.2 Records of training and competency
2.7 Risk management
2.8 Confined space emergencies
2.8.1 Confined space emergency response planning
2.8.2 Confined space emergency response
2.8.3 Confined space emergency procedures
2.9 Documentation
2.9.1 General
2.9.2 Document control
2.9.3 Record keeping
3 Implementation
3.1 Confined space hazards
3.1.1 Confined space hazard identification
3.1.2 Atmospheric hazards and engulfment hazards of confined spaces
3.1.3 Task-related hazards and other occupational hazards
3.2 Identification of a confined space
3.2.1 Identification principles
3.2.2 Security and signposting
3.3 Risk assessment
3.3.1 Conducting a risk assessment
3.3.2 Risk factors
3.3.3 Risk assessment process
3.3.4 Generic risk assessment
3.3.5 Review of risk assessment
3.3.6 Change in risk
3.4 Risk control measures
3.4.1 Risk control measures
3.4.2 Hierarchy of risk control measures
3.4.3 Combining risk control measures
3.4.4 Review of risk control measures
3.4.5 Isolation requirements
3.4.6 Isolation factors
3.4.7 Methods of isolation from hazardous services
3.4.8 Methods of isolation from moving parts
3.4.9 Removal of means of isolation
3.4.10 Establishing atmospheric pressure prior to entry
3.4.11 Purging a confined space
3.4.12 Purging operations
3.4.13 Cleaning of a confined space
3.4.14 Location of contaminants
3.4.15 Flammable contaminants
3.4.16 Static electricity
3.4.17 Ventilation
3.4.18 Combustion engines
3.4.19 Exhaust location
3.4.20 Control of mechanical ventilation equipment
3.4.21 Operations causing the generation of contaminants
3.4.22 Atmospheric testing or monitoring
3.4.23 Risk control measures for atmospheric testing within a confined space
3.4.24 Atmospheric tests required
3.4.25 Testing of remote regions of a confined space for flammable airborne contaminants
3.4.26 Retest or monitoring after entry
3.4.27 Explosive (flammable) atmospheric substance detectors
3.4.28 Exposure standards
3.4.29 Requirements for confined space entry
3.4.30 Confined Space entry monitoring
3.4.31 Safe atmosphere
3.4.32 Flammable airborne contaminants in the atmosphere
3.4.33 Use of respiratory protective devices
3.4.34 Provision of equipment
3.4.35 Cancellation of written authority
3.4.36 Completion of written authority
3.4.37 Issue of written authority
3.4.38 Display of written authority
3.4.39 Identification of persons entering a confined space
3.4.40 Communication
3.4.41 Alternating entry and stand-by persons
3.4.42 Respiratory protective devices
3.4.43 Safety harnesses lines and lifting equipment
3.4.44 Electrical equipment
3.4.45 Portable electrical equipment
3.4.46 Supply cable
3.4.47 Double-insulated tools
3.4.48 Ignition sources
3.4.49 Gas cylinders and hoses
3.4.50 Gas monitors
4 Review
4.1 Review process
4.2 Continuous improvement
Appendix A (informative) Summary of procedures for entry and conduct of tasks in a confined space
Appendix B (normative) List of referenced documents
Appendix C (informative) General design considerations
Appendix D (informative) Guidance for the provision of training and competency assessment
Appendix E (informative) Sample risk assessment form
Appendix F (informative) Additional recommendations for the conduct of hot work in confined spaces
Appendix G (informative) Additional recommendations for the cleaning of confined spaces
Appendix H (informative) Sample written authority
Appendix I (informative) Additional recommendations for atmospheric testing and monitoring
Appendix J (informative) Additional recommendations for provision and use of personal protective and safety equipment
Amendment control sheet
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AS/NZS 2865:2009
SA/SNZ - Cover page
Preface
1 Scope and general
1.1 Scope
1.2 Objective
1.3 Application
1.4 Referenced documents
1.5 Definitions
2 Planning
2.1 Planning to manage and control confined spaces
2.2 Legal and other requirements
2.3 Accountabilities and responsibilities
2.4 Design, manufacture, supply and modification considerations
2.4.1 Minimizing the risks associated with confined space
2.4.2 Entry to and exit from a confined space
2.4.3 Modification to a confined space
2.4.4 Safe design of a confined space
2.4.5 Manufacture of a structure or plant
2.4.6 Reclassification of a confined space
2.5 Consultation
2.5.1 Stakeholder consultation
2.5.2 Consultation mechanisms
2.6 Training and competency
2.6.1 Training and competency assessment
2.6.2 Records of training and competency
2.7 Risk management
2.8 Confined space emergencies
2.8.1 Confined space emergency response planning
2.8.2 Confined space emergency response
2.8.3 Confined space emergency procedures
2.9 Documentation
2.9.1 General
2.9.2 Document control
2.9.3 Record keeping
3 Implementation
3.1 Confined space hazards
3.1.1 Confined space hazard identification
3.1.2 Atmospheric hazards and engulfment hazards of confined spaces
3.1.3 Task-related hazards and other occupational hazards
3.2 Identification of a confined space
3.2.1 Identification principles
3.2.2 Security and signposting
3.3 Risk assessment
3.3.1 Conducting a risk assessment
3.3.2 Risk factors
3.3.3 Risk assessment process
3.3.4 Generic risk assessment
3.3.5 Review of risk assessment
3.3.6 Change in risk
3.4 Risk control measures
3.4.1 Risk control measures
3.4.2 Hierarchy of risk control measures
3.4.3 Combining risk control measures
3.4.4 Review of risk control measures
3.4.5 Isolation requirements
3.4.6 Isolation factors
3.4.7 Methods of isolation from hazardous services
3.4.8 Methods of isolation from moving parts
3.4.9 Removal of means of isolation
3.4.10 Establishing atmospheric pressure prior to entry
3.4.11 Purging a confined space
3.4.12 Purging operations
3.4.13 Cleaning of a confined space
3.4.14 Location of contaminants
3.4.15 Flammable contaminants
3.4.16 Static electricity
3.4.17 Ventilation
3.4.18 Combustion engines
3.4.19 Exhaust location
3.4.20 Control of mechanical ventilation equipment
3.4.21 Operations causing the generation of contaminants
3.4.22 Atmospheric testing or monitoring
3.4.23 Risk control measures for atmospheric testing within a confined space
3.4.24 Atmospheric tests required
3.4.25 Testing of remote regions of a confined space for flammable airborne contaminants
3.4.26 Retest or monitoring after entry
3.4.27 Explosive (flammable) atmospheric substance detectors
3.4.28 Exposure standards
3.4.29 Requirements for confined space entry
3.4.30 Confined Space entry monitoring
3.4.31 Safe atmosphere
3.4.32 Flammable airborne contaminants in the atmosphere
3.4.33 Use of respiratory protective devices
3.4.34 Provision of equipment
3.4.35 Cancellation of written authority
3.4.36 Completion of written authority
3.4.37 Issue of written authority
3.4.38 Display of written authority
3.4.39 Identification of persons entering a confined space
3.4.40 Communication
3.4.41 Alternating entry and stand-by persons
3.4.42 Respiratory protective devices
3.4.43 Safety harnesses lines and lifting equipment
3.4.44 Electrical equipment
3.4.45 Portable electrical equipment
3.4.46 Supply cable
3.4.47 Double-insulated tools
3.4.48 Ignition sources
3.4.49 Gas cylinders and hoses
3.4.50 Gas monitors
4 Review
4.1 Review process
4.2 Continuous improvement
Appendix A (informative) Summary of procedures for entry and conduct of tasks in a confined space
Appendix B (normative) List of referenced documents
Appendix C (informative) General design considerations
Appendix D (informative) Guidance for the provision of training and competency assessment
Appendix E (informative) Sample risk assessment form
Appendix F (informative) Additional recommendations for the conduct of hot work in confined spaces
Appendix G (informative) Additional recommendations for the cleaning of confined spaces
Appendix H (informative) Sample written authority
Appendix I (informative) Additional recommendations for atmospheric testing and monitoring
Appendix J (informative) Additional recommendations for provision and use of personal protective and safety equipment
Amendment control sheet
AS/NZS 2865:2009
Online Library subscription information
Online library subscriptions provide a cost-effective solution for organisations of any size to access the latest standards, offering 24/7 access to a personalised catalogue. The service ensures subscribers have have the most up-to-date version of selected standards, incluing automatic updates for any amendments or versions. Pricing is dependent on the chosen standards and the number of concurrent users, with discounts applied from the standards PDF price. For customised subscriptions or further inquiries, contact the Online Library team.