Confined Space and Gas Detection Training

Training that helps people recognise hazards, respond to changing conditions, and work safely in confined spaces.

Worker in a hard hat with a headlamp operating a handheld device on a rope and pulley system.

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, PCBUs must ensure workers entering confined spaces are properly trained and competent. IMPAC's courses are designed to meet WorkSafe New Zealand's requirements for atmospheric monitoring, permit-to-work systems, and emergency preparedness.

Our Courses
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IMPAC Training

Category overview

Confined spaces — including tanks, silos, sumps, pits, sewers, tunnels, and ducts — present some of the most serious workplace hazards in New Zealand. Hazardous atmospheres (oxygen deficiency, toxic gases, flammable vapours), engulfment risks, and restricted access can quickly turn routine tasks into life-threatening situations.

Our training courses equip workers with the practical skills and theoretical knowledge needed to identify hazards before entry, use gas detection equipment correctly, follow permit-to-work procedures, and respond to emergencies.

Key Focus Areas

What this training covers

Hazardous atmospheres

Identify and assess atmospheric hazards including oxygen deficiency, toxic gases, and flammable vapours before and during confined space entry.

Gas detection equipment

Learn to operate, calibrate, and bump test portable gas monitors. Understand alarm set points, sensor limitations, and correct sampling techniques.

Permit-to-work systems

Understand and apply formal permit-to-work procedures including risk assessments, entry checklists, communication protocols, and sign-off requirements.

Rescue and emergency

Develop emergency response plans, practise rescue techniques, and understand the roles of standby persons, entrants, and supervisors during an incident.

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Available Courses

Our Confined Space and Gas Detection courses

View full course catalogue

Working with New Zealand’s legal framework

Applicable Safety Regulations in New Zealand

Confined space work in New Zealand is governed by a framework of legislation and guidance:

  • Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA) — The primary legislation requiring PCBUs to manage risks to health and safety.
  • General Risk and Workplace Management Regulations 2016 — Specific duties for managing workplace risks including confined spaces.
  • WorkSafe Guidance: Working in Confined Spaces — Practical guidance on risk assessments, controls, and emergency planning.
  • PCBU Duties — PCBUs must ensure workers are trained, competent, and equipped for confined space entry.

NZQA Unit Standards

Several courses within this category include NZQA unit standards, including:

  • US 3058 — Demonstrate knowledge of gas testing, and perform gas tests in an energy and chemical plant
  • US 17599 — Plan a confined space entry
  • US 18426 — Demonstrate knowledge of hazards associated with confined space
  • US 25510 — Operate an atmospheric testing device to determine a suitable atmosphere exists to work safely

Who Should Enrol

Industries and Roles

Construction

Workers entering excavations, shafts, tunnels, and partially completed structures where atmospheric hazards may exist.

Mining and Quarrying

Personnel working in underground environments, processing plants, and storage facilities with confined space risks.

Petrochemical and Manufacturing

Workers maintaining tanks, vessels, reactors, and pipelines in environments with flammable or toxic atmospheres.

Utilities and Water Treatment

Teams working in water treatment plants, pump stations, sewers, and other utility infrastructure with confined space entry requirements.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

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Yes. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA), PCBUs (Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking) must ensure that workers who enter or work in confined spaces are adequately trained and competent. WorkSafe New Zealand's guidelines reinforce that training must cover hazard identification, gas detection, emergency procedures, and the use of personal protective equipment. Failure to provide appropriate training can result in enforcement action.

A confined space is an enclosed or partially enclosed area that is not designed or intended for continuous human occupancy, has limited or restricted entry and exit, and may have a hazardous atmosphere, a risk of engulfment, or other conditions that could pose a health or safety risk. Common examples include tanks, silos, vats, pits, sewers, tunnels, shafts, and ducts.

Our courses cover a range of topics tailored to the specific unit standard or learning outcome, including:

  • Identifying confined space hazards and atmospheric risks
  • Safe use, calibration, and bump testing of gas detection equipment
  • Permit-to-work systems and entry/exit procedures
  • Rescue planning and emergency response
  • Roles and responsibilities of entrants, standby persons, and supervisors
  • Legal requirements under HSWA 2015 and relevant NZQA unit standards

These courses are designed for anyone who may enter, work in, or supervise work in confined spaces. This includes confined space entrants, standby persons, gas testers, site supervisors, health and safety officers, and managers responsible for confined space operations. Industries that commonly require this training include construction, mining, petrochemical, utilities, water treatment, and manufacturing.

WorkSafe New Zealand recommends that confined space training be refreshed regularly to maintain competency — typically every two to three years, or sooner if there are changes to legislation, workplace procedures, or equipment. Gas detection instruments should be calibrated according to the manufacturer's recommendations, and bump tested before each use to ensure accurate readings.

Confined spaces, such as tanks, silos, and cargo holds, pose significant risks to workers due to limited entry and exit points, poor ventilation, and the potential presence of hazardous substances.

Over the past five years, New Zealand has witnessed several confined space incidents, highlighting the critical need for stringent safety measures and awareness.

Notable Incidents:

  • Nelson, 2019 – 19 year old apprentice collapses in an engine bay; no permit, inadequate ventilation, no observer, no gas monitor. The apprentice was eventually pulled out of the space and suffered severe brain damage.
  • North Shore Auckland, 2020 – workers are found to have been acutely poisoned from Methyl Bromide; they were instructed to use Vaseline when using RPE.
  • Te Kuiti, 2021 - 3 metre trench collapsed in the Waikato where no shoring, benching, shields or stability testing had been used. Worker survived with a collapsed lung, a broken rib cage, a broken sternum, a broken collarbone and now lives with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
  • Downtown Auckland, 2022 – a barbecue gas bottle was left open when put into a ship container. Five workers went inside the container the following morning, smelt the gas, made a joke about lighting up and then did so. The air was ignited which turned into an explosion that left all five with severe burn injuries.
  • Wairau Valley Auckland, 2023 – two workers and three firefighters were hospitalised after collapsing inside a hopper.

These incidents and more highlight the ongoing need for vigilance and adherence to safety protocols in our confined spaces. By learning from past incidents and continuously improving safety measures, we can protect workers and prevent future tragedies.

Safety Measures and Recommendations

To mitigate the risks associated with confined spaces, it is essential to implement comprehensive safety protocols:

  • Risk Assessment: Conduct thorough risk assessments before entry to identify potential hazards.
  • Training: Ensure all workers are adequately trained in confined space entry and emergency procedures.
  • Ventilation: Provide proper ventilation to prevent the buildup of hazardous gases.
  • Monitoring: Use gas detectors and other monitoring equipment to continuously assess the environment.
  • Rescue Plans: Develop and practice emergency rescue plans to ensure quick and effective responses in case of an incident.

IMPAC has developed Confined Space Training that will help equip your team with the skills and behaviours needed to help keep themselves and those around them, safe at work.

References and additional information links:

  1. Search ‘confined space’ | WorkSafe
  2. Confined spaces: planning entry and working safely in a confined space | WorkSafe
  3. Explosion at mine site when pre-heating an inspection hatch on box section prior to welding | WorkSafe