Confined Space Entry

This Product is designed for personnel across the energy sector with an existing theoretical understanding and awareness of Confined Spaces*, associated hazards and guidance and require the corresponding practical skills necessary for entry into a confined space.

*Confined Space Definition:

Any space of an enclosed nature where there is a risk of death or serious injury from hazardous substances or dangerous conditions within the space or nearby.

A space that is large enough and so configured that a person can bodily enter and perform assigned work and has limited or restricted means for entry or exit and is not designed for continuous human occupancy.

Note: Where regional legislative differences occur, information, including definitions should be pertinent to the region in which the training is being delivered.

This Product covers knowledge of how confined spaces are defined and recognised, the specific regulations and guidelines, hazards, control measures, roles and responsibilities and testing and to instruct and assess delegates on the practical skills necessary for confined space entry including testing/use of appropriate PPE and emergency escape equipment.

The objectives of the Confined Space Entry standard are that learners will be able to perform:

a) Atmospheric testing through correct operation of monitoring equipment

b) Hazard identification and dynamic risk assessment

c) Pre use PPE and Equipment checks

d) Don and use of full SCBA

e) Donning & operating (including checks) an escape breathing apparatus (EBA) with a mask and hood prior to egress from a confined space.

f) Using a pressurised cascade breathing system with an activated EBA.

g) Establish and check lines of communication

h) Entry and Egress to and from a confined space

i) Egress from a confined space in an emergency situation

Learners must hold a valid OPITO Approved Confined Space Awareness certificate.

Medical entry requirements

Training activities contained within this Product may include physically demanding and potentially stressful elements. All personnel who participate in such activities must be capable of participating fully.

OPITO-approved Centres are therefore required, as a minimum, to ensure that prior to participating in practical exercises the learner provides written confirmation that they deem themselves capable of undertaking all aspects of the training. Centres must also make the learner aware that they must immediately inform the Centre staff if this capability changes – at any time prior to, or during the programme.

Learners must be advised that they are required to declare any current or pre-existing medical conditions which may be exacerbated by, or impair their ability to complete, the training programme. Should this be the case, the individual may be required to provide an authentic medical certificate issued since any identified medical condition was diagnosed.

The OPITO-approved Centre shall keep a record of the learner’s declaration of fitness in accordance with their document control policy(s) or procedures.

This information, along with summary details of the type of physical activities the learner will be asked to perform, will be given to learners by the OPITO-approved Centre and, if applicable, to their sponsoring company as part of the joining instructions. The responsibility for declaring any known current or pre-existing medical conditions that could have adverse effects to the individual’s state of health while undertaking the training activities lies with the learner and/or company sponsoring the learner.

Where doubt exists regarding the fitness of any learner, the OPITO-approved Centre should direct the individual to consult a medical officer familiar with the nature and extent of the training.

Note: Practical exercises must be designed and delivered solely to meet this Product, and must not place on the learner any demands other than those required to meet the Product.

To complete the Confined Space Entry Standard the mandatory unit must be achieved..

7 hours

The Confined Space Entry certificate has a three-year validity.

Please note: If the expiry date on the learners previous certificate is within 3 months prior of the course enrolment date then the date of the new certificate should correspond with the expiry date of the existing/previous certificate unless stated otherwise by the Duty Holder or Asset Owner or Operator.