Confined space training in NSW: who needs it and how often
What legally counts as a confined space, who must be trained (not just the person going in), what the training covers, and refresher expectations in NSW.
Updated 2026-09-29
What counts as a confined space
Under the NSW Work Health and Safety Regulation, a confined space is an enclosed or partially enclosed space that:
- is not designed or intended to be occupied by a person,
- is at normal atmospheric pressure while someone is in it, and
- is, or is likely to be, a risk from an unsafe oxygen level, flammable or harmful airborne contaminants, or engulfment.
SafeWork NSW’s code of practice stresses that a confined space is defined by its hazards, not by being small. Typical examples: tanks, vats, pits, pipes, ducts, silos, sewers, wells, shafts, trenches and tunnels — when they meet that definition. You have entered it once your head or upper body is inside.
Who needs training
Not just the person going in. The regulation (clause 76) covers any relevant worker:
- anyone who could enter or work in the space, and
- anyone who does the risk assessment, implements controls, completes entry permits, acts as the standby person, monitors conditions, buys equipment for the work, or designs a work area that includes a confined space — and their supervisors.
Training must cover the hazards of the space, the risk controls, the PPE (selection, fit, use, testing and maintenance), the contents of the entry permit, and emergency procedures. Nobody may be directed to enter without an entry permit.
The unit
Entry training is RIIWHS202 Enter and work in confined spaces, which replaced RIIWHS202E — older listings may still show the E code. It is a statement of attainment, not a licence. Providers also run standby-person, rescue and gas testing courses, often combined with entry.
Refreshers
There is no legislated expiry. The code says refresher training should suit the workplace, with the frequency depending on how often workers do confined space tasks. The business must keep training records for two years. Employers and sites can set their own interval, so check before booking.
Cost and duration
Providers listed on this site advertise a median of about $300, with the middle half between $200 and $359; most courses run one day. See the confined space price analysis.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a confined space?
- An enclosed or partly enclosed space that is not designed to be occupied, is at normal atmospheric pressure while someone is in it, and poses a risk from unsafe oxygen levels, flammable or harmful airborne contaminants, or engulfment. It is defined by those hazards, not by being small.
- Who needs confined space training?
- Anyone who could enter or work in the space, plus workers in related roles: doing the risk assessment, implementing controls, completing entry permits, acting as standby person, monitoring conditions, buying equipment or designing the work area — and their supervisors.
- How often do I need a confined space refresher?
- There is no fixed legal interval. SafeWork NSW’s code of practice says refresher training should suit the workplace, and its frequency should depend on how often workers do confined space tasks. Employers and sites can set their own, so check before booking.
- How much does a confined space course cost in NSW?
- Providers listed here advertise a median of about $300, with the middle half between $200 and $359. Most courses run one day.