How to write a method statement for confined space entry

A method statement is a task-specific description of how work will be carried out safely. For confined space entry, it links identified hazards to a controlled sequence: isolate the plant, test the atmosphere, authorise entry, monitor conditions, manage the work and recover personnel if needed.

In Australia, the document should fit the legal framework and practical habits of the site. Industrial employers in Melbourne, Newcastle and Perth may work across manufacturing, ports, mining, utilities and energy facilities, where subcontractors, shift changes and variable plant conditions are common. Knowing how to write a method statement for confined space entry helps turn those realities into clear controls.

Set the legal and site framework

Safe Work Australia publishes the model Confined Spaces Code of Practice, while duties are enforced through the Work Health and Safety Act and regulations in each state or territory. Check the current requirements published by the relevant regulator, such as SafeWork NSW, Worksafe Queensland or WorkSafe Victoria, together with the employer’s WHS management system.

Confirm whether the task meets the applicable definition of a confined space. A space may qualify because entry is restricted, escape is difficult and serious hazards are present or likely. Tanks, vessels, pits, shafts, sewers and poorly ventilated chambers may fall within that definition, but restricted space alone does not automatically make every location a confined space.

Obtain the site’s drawings, process information, safety data sheets, isolation procedures and previous entry records. Identify who can approve the work, who controls adjacent operations and which emergency arrangements apply. A site-specific method statement must reflect the actual plant, access points, known deficiencies and conditions on the day of entry.

Identify hazards and choose controls

Begin with a risk assessment covering the entire task, from preparation and entry through testing, work, exit and restoration. Consider process residues, toxic gases, flammable atmospheres, oxygen deficiency, heat, noise, electrical energy, stored pressure, engulfment, manual handling, biological exposure and simultaneous work nearby.

Apply the hierarchy of control rather than relying on PPE alone. Eliminate the need for entry where practical, separate people from the hazard, reduce exposure through isolation, cleaning, purging or ventilation, and then introduce administrative controls such as permits, watchkeepers and time limits. PPE and respiratory protection should protect against residual risks that cannot be removed.

Record each significant risk, its likelihood and consequence, the control, the responsible person and the verification method. Cross-reference the job safety analysis, risk assessment and work permit instead of copying vague statements such as “wear suitable PPE”. The method statement should show exactly how controls will be applied during the work.

Plan isolation, testing and entry controls

Isolation is more than closing a valve. Identify every energy, process line, drain, vent and possible cross-connection. Physically isolate and lock out electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical and thermal sources; drain, purge, clean and blank or blind lines as required. Test the isolation and verify zero energy before entry begins.

Test the atmosphere before breaking seals where practicable, after opening or disturbing the space, and after any change that could affect conditions. Use suitable, calibrated and bump-tested detectors with current test gases. Compare results with site alarm settings and legal or workplace limits, which may include oxygen between 19.5% and 23.5%, flammability below detectable levels and contaminants below applicable exposure limits.

The permit should define who may enter, the maximum duration, the work scope, atmospheric limits, communications method and conditions that stop the task. Continuous monitoring may be needed where a hazardous atmosphere can develop. Ventilation must be engineered for the space, since an unsuitable fan can distribute contaminants or introduce oxygen into an oxygen-deficient atmosphere.

Make rescue arrangements credible

A rescue plan must reflect the space, access route, likely injuries and available equipment. A person who becomes incapacitated cannot be expected to climb out unaided. Depending on the risk, provide a retrieval tripod, winch, suitable harness and trained operators, or arrange specialist rescue support before entry is authorised.

The standby person must understand the hazards, keep the entrant in sight or contact, maintain communications and raise the alarm without entering to attempt an improvised rescue. Team members must know that they do not automatically become rescuers merely because a colleague is in difficulty. Use radios or another tested communication system where noise, distance or restricted visibility prevents reliable verbal contact.

Include fire, gas release, loss of ventilation, medical emergency, structural failure and rescue failure scenarios. Establish muster points, emergency services access and shutdown arrangements. Rehearse the response through toolbox talks or practical drills, and verify that the equipment is suitable for the confined space rather than assuming standard workshop gear will work.

Assign roles and confirm competence

A workable method statement identifies the person authorising entry, the entrant, the standby person, the person testing the atmosphere, the isolator and the rescue team. Use actual names and contact details for each shift. Clearly state who controls nearby work and who has authority to suspend or cancel the entry.

Australian worksites commonly use prestart toolbox talks, permit audits and immediate reporting of hazards or near misses. Include a briefing step that tests whether the team understands the method, isolation boundaries, alarm signals and emergency response. Shift handovers should explicitly confirm whether a permit remains valid, what changed and whether atmosphere testing must be repeated.

There is no single national confined-space entry licence, but employers still need suitable competence, supervision and site-specific training. Nationally recognised training units may support formal assessment, while practical exercises build confidence with equipment and rescue procedures. Useful confined space training resources can complement refresher familiarisation, but local procedures and current legal requirements remain central.

Complete and check the document

The finished method should be readable at the workface and capable of guiding the task from start to finish. It should contain enough detail for an authorised person to verify the controls, without relying on assumptions.

Core contents

• Scope, location, space identifier, work duration and personnel details
• Plant status, isolation points, process hazards and relevant drawings
• Risk controls, atmospheric criteria, monitoring arrangements and PPE
• Entry conditions, communications, rescue plan, permit reference and stop-work rules

State that the method must be reviewed if plant conditions, the crew, the task or the available rescue arrangements change. Require competent sign-off and keep the controlled copy with the permit. Avoid generic statements, unexplained acronyms and conditions that cannot be checked or measured.

Pre-entry verification

• Confirm isolation, drainage, purging, blanking and zero-energy verification
• Review detector calibration, test results, alarms, ventilation and access
• Brief entrants, standby person, adjacent workers and rescue team
• Establish the permit expiry, communication test and emergency muster arrangements

Complete a final walk-through with the team and the person responsible for nearby operations. The authorised entrant should be able to explain the hazards, controls and escape route. A clean permit is not enough if the physical conditions inside the space differ from those described in the method.

Put the method statement into practice

Hold a pre-entry briefing before the permit is issued. Read through the sequence, point out isolation valves and access restrictions, demonstrate the gas detector and communications system, and ask each participant to describe their role. This is more than a signature exercise; it exposes assumptions that a document review may miss.

Use the method statement as the control standard during the work. The standby person monitors conditions and communications, the entrant follows the agreed scope, and the permit issuer confirms that any pause or restart follows the required testing and authorisation process. Record changes and near misses so the method can be improved for future entries.

For practical capability, HCF CATCH provides hands-on process, engineering, electrical, safety and confined-space training in a live-process-plant environment, alongside apprenticeships, facility tours and room hire. Australian teams can use this practical model to benchmark their own preparation. Choose one upcoming entry, review its method statement with the entire crew, and schedule the required training and rescue rehearsal before the permit is issued.