The Safe Work Australia Model Code of Practice for Confined Spaces never mentions training expiring. So, does it actually expire? This article separates fact from fiction when it comes to confined space training.

If you ask around the WHS industry, you will hear conflicting opinions. This article breaks down the facts, the fiction, and the legal reality of confined space training requirements and refresher frequencies in Australia.

What Do the Australian WHS Standards Say About Refresher Training?

If you are trying to find an official expiration timeframe, you won’t find one in the primary regulatory guidance. The following core documents provide no set timeframe for repeating training:

• Code of Practice: Confined Spaces
• Australian Standard AS 2865-2009: Safe Working in a Confined Space
• Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks
• Code of Practice: Construction Work

So, if legislation doesn’t set a hard rule—like a 2-year or 3-year expiration—how do you determine how often your workers need confined space refresher training?

Determining Training Frequency: A Risk-Based Approach

Under Australian Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws, training obligations for a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) are based on risk management, not arbitrary calendar dates.

Section 1.4 (Information, Training, Instruction and Supervision) of the Code of Practice for Confined Spaces states:

“The PCBU must ensure that information, training or instruction provided to a worker are suitable and adequate having regard to:

• The nature of the work carried out by the worker;
• The nature of the risks associated with the work at the time of the information, training and instruction; and
• The control measures implemented.”

How Risk and Controls Impact Training Needs

Training frequency should directly reflect your operational risk profile:

• Lower Risk & Basic Controls: Routine tasks with simple control measures require less frequent formal training, provided competence is maintained.
• Higher Risk & Complex Controls: High-risk entries requiring technical controls (like specialized breathing apparatus, atmospheric testing, or complex rescue setups) require frequent refresher training to maintain worker competency.

For example, a low-risk entry managed under direct senior supervision has vastly different training demands compared to remote workers managing high-risk entries on their own.

The Expiry Myth: Why Do People Think It Expires Every 2 Years?

If the law doesn’t specify an expiry date, where did the “2-year refresher” rule come from? Two main drivers perpetuate this belief:

1. Registered Training Organisations (RTOs): Commercial training providers frequently market 2-year or 3-year “expiry” dates to drive recurring business. While Statements of Attainment under the VET framework do not technically expire, RTOs often suggest otherwise – I can’t imagine why. Can you?
   
2. Tier 1 Contractors & Industry Mandates: Many Tier 1 construction companies, principal contractors, and site owners set their own strict internal rules which also are applied to its service providers. They may demand that anyone entering a site has completed a confined space course within the last 2 to 3 years regardless of what the general Code of Practice states.

Summary: Does Your Team Need Confined Space Refresher Training?

The short answer: Legally, confined space training does not expire, and there is no nationally prescribed frequency for refresher courses. However, you must be able to prove that workers remain competent to perform the work safely (as you should for all high-risk work).

How to Set Your Refresher Schedule:

1. Assess the Risk: Evaluate the complexity of your confined spaces and the controls required.
   
2. Define Your Internal Rules: Establish a clear internal policy and rules for when refresher training must occur, and stick to it.

Caution: Choosing not to conduct regular refresher training is only defensible if all of the following remain true:

• You actively monitor and document worker competency on an ongoing basis.
• The confined space work is routine, regular, and involves identical risks each time.
• Your organisation has zero confined space safety incidents or near-misses.
• There are no updates to relevant WHS legislation, standards, or industry best practice.
• Your clients, site owners, or principal contractors do not specify mandatory refresher cycles.

If any of those statements become false, providing immediate supplementary or refresher training is necessary to maintain compliance and keep your workers safe.