How to Write a Method Statement for Confined Space Work

Why confined space method statements need more than a generic template

Confined space work is one of the highest-risk activities on any construction or maintenance site. Yet the method statements produced for it are often copied from a previous job, filled with vague language, and missing the site-specific detail that actually keeps people safe — and keeps you legally covered.

If you're a site supervisor, engineer or foreman who needs to produce a method statement for confined space entry, this guide walks you through every section you need, in plain English, with practical examples.

What counts as a confined space?

Before you write a single word, make sure you're clear on what you're documenting. Under the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997, a confined space is any place that is substantially enclosed and where there is a reasonably foreseeable risk of serious injury from hazardous substances, lack of oxygen, or free-flowing solids.

Common examples on construction sites include:

• Manholes and sewers
• Underground tanks and vaults
• Excavations deeper than 1.2 metres with restricted access
• Roof voids and ceiling spaces
• Large pipes and culverts
• Boilers and pressure vessels

If there's any doubt, treat it as a confined space and document it accordingly.

The key sections every confined space method statement must include

1. Project and location details

Start with the basics: project name, site address, the specific location of the confined space (e.g. "manhole MH-07 on the eastern boundary"), and the date range the method statement covers. This sounds obvious, but generic statements that omit site-specific references will fail an audit immediately.

2. Description of the confined space

Describe the space in enough detail that someone unfamiliar with the site understands what they're dealing with. Include:

• Dimensions and shape
• Access and egress points (number of entry hatches, ladder provision, etc.)
• What the space is used for or contains (e.g. stormwater, residual chemicals)
• Why it is classified as a confined space

3. Scope of works

Be specific about what the operatives will actually be doing inside the space. "Inspection and cleaning of sump" is far better than "works within confined space." Vague scopes make it impossible to assess whether the controls you've listed are appropriate for the task.

4. Hazard identification and risk assessment

This section is where most generic method statements fall short. List the actual hazards associated with this specific confined space, not just a boilerplate list. Typical hazards to consider include:

• Oxygen deficiency or enrichment
• Toxic gases (hydrogen sulphide, carbon monoxide, methane)
• Flammable vapours
• Flooding or ingress of liquids
• Engulfment in free-flowing material
• Excessive heat
• Restricted movement limiting self-rescue

For each hazard, state the likelihood and severity, then list the controls that reduce the risk. This doesn't need to be a separate standalone document — it can sit within the method statement itself as a risk table.

5. Atmospheric testing procedure

This section is non-negotiable. State clearly:

• What gases you are testing for and the acceptable limits (e.g. oxygen: 19.5%–23.5%, LEL: below 10%, H₂S: below 10 ppm)
• The type of multi-gas monitor being used and its calibration status
• Who carries out the test and when (before entry, continuously during occupation, or at defined intervals)
• What happens if a reading exceeds the threshold — who makes the call, and what is the immediate action

6. Isolation and permit to work

Describe how the space has been isolated from services — electrical, hydraulic, gas, mechanical — prior to entry. Reference any lock-out/tag-out procedures. If your company or client requires a confined space entry permit, state that no entry commences without a signed permit in place and name who has authority to issue it.

7. Control measures and PPE

List the specific controls in place, not just "PPE will be worn." For confined space work this typically includes:

• Continuous forced ventilation (type and flow rate)
• Full body harness with rescue line attached
• Multi-gas personal monitor worn by each entrant
• Communication system between entrant and standby person
• Intrinsically safe lighting and tools where flammable atmospheres are possible
• Appropriate RPE if atmospheric risks cannot be fully controlled

8. Roles and responsibilities

Name the roles, even if not the individuals at the time of writing:

• Authorised entrant(s): trained, medically fit, holding a valid confined space entry certificate
• Standby person: remains outside at all times, maintains communication, initiates rescue
• Supervisor: signs off the permit, monitors conditions, can suspend the work

State the competency requirements for each role. The Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 require that anyone involved in confined space work is competent — define what that means for your site.

9. Emergency and rescue procedure

This is often the most neglected section, and the most important. Your rescue plan must be practical and pre-arranged — not "call 999 and wait." Include:

• The primary rescue method (e.g. tripod and winch, rescue team on standby)
• Equipment location
• Who is trained in rescue and their contact details
• The sequence of actions the standby person takes if an entrant becomes unresponsive
• Nearest hospital with emergency department and its address
• Muster point and head count procedure

Non-entry rescue should always be the first option. If the rescue cannot be performed without entering the space, that must be explicitly acknowledged and additional precautions put in place.

10. Review and sign-off

Every method statement should be reviewed by a competent person before work starts, signed and dated. Include space for the supervisor's signature, the client or principal contractor's acceptance if required, and a revision history if the document is updated mid-project.

Common mistakes that get method statements rejected

• Copy-pasting from a previous job without updating the space description or hazards
• Listing PPE without specifying the standard it must meet (e.g. EN 397 for helmets)
• No rescue plan, or a rescue plan that assumes emergency services will carry out the rescue
• Atmospheric testing mentioned but no action thresholds stated
• Roles listed without competency requirements

A faster way to produce site-specific method statements

Writing a thorough confined space method statement from scratch takes time — time you often don't have between permit sign-off and works commencing. If you're producing method statements regularly across multiple sites, Safety Parrot lets you generate structured, site-specific method statements and risk assessments quickly from site photos and simple inputs, so the document reflects the actual conditions rather than a generic template.

The bottom line

A confined space method statement is only useful if it describes the actual space, the actual hazards, and the actual rescue plan. The moment it becomes a cut-and-paste exercise, it stops protecting your workers and starts protecting no one — including you. Take the time to make it specific, get it signed off, and brief your team on it before anyone goes near the access hatch.