Working in Confined Spaces

Course Overview

The Working in Confined Spaces course provides essential training for anyone who may need to enter or work in a confined space, or who supervises and manages such activities. This CPD-accredited online course covers the hazards associated with confined spaces, the legal requirements under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007, and the control measures needed to work safely.

Confined spaces present some of the most serious risks in any workplace. Fatalities and serious injuries can result from toxic atmospheres, oxygen depletion, engulfment, or fire and explosion. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) emphasises that confined space work must only be undertaken by competent persons following a thorough risk assessment and the implementation of a safe system of work.

The course is fully online and can be completed at your own pace. Upon achieving the minimum pass mark of 70%, a CPD-accredited certificate is issued immediately.

About This Course

The Working in Confined Spaces course provides a thorough understanding of the dangers associated with confined space entry and the precautions that must be taken. A confined space is defined as any enclosed or partially enclosed space that is not designed or intended for continuous human occupancy and where there is a foreseeable risk of serious injury from hazardous substances or conditions within the space or nearby.

Examples of confined spaces include storage tanks, silos, sewers, manholes, pits, tunnels, and certain types of vessels and chambers. The course explains the specific hazards that can arise — including toxic or flammable gas accumulation, oxygen enrichment or depletion, engulfment by liquids or solids, and excessive heat — and how to identify and control these risks.

Learners will study the requirements for developing a safe system of work for confined space entry, including permit-to-work systems, atmospheric testing and monitoring, ventilation, the use of personal protective equipment, communication procedures, and emergency rescue arrangements. The course emphasises that no one should ever enter a confined space to attempt a rescue without proper training and equipment.

Who Is This Course For?

This course is suitable for anyone who may be required to enter or work in a confined space, including construction workers, utility workers, water treatment operatives, maintenance engineers, and those working in agriculture, food processing, or manufacturing. It is also relevant for supervisors, safety officers, and managers responsible for planning and overseeing confined space operations.