Health & Safety

Confined space permits with the gas readings on the permit

A confined space entry is one of the few jobs where the paperwork is the safety control. Gaffer records the atmosphere test — oxygen, CO, H2S and LEL — against the permit, with planned and actual entry and exit times, so you know who is in the space and when they came out.

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How confined space permits work in Gaffer

A permit per entry, authorised by a named person, with the atmosphere test recorded as numbers rather than a tick.

Real gas readings

Oxygen percentage, carbon monoxide in ppm, hydrogen sulphide in ppm and LEL percentage are stored as values on the permit, with an explicit atmosphere-safe decision — not a single 'tested' checkbox.

Planned vs. actual times

Record the planned entry and exit alongside the actual times. If someone is still in the space past the planned exit, that is visible rather than assumed.

Named entrants and authoriser

The permit lists who is entering and who authorised it, so accountability is on the document rather than in someone's memory.

What you get

Confined space permits are part of the same platform as your jobs, RAMS and rescue planning, so the permit is where the job is.

  • Permit reference, space description, space type and location
  • Atmosphere test with oxygen %, CO ppm, H2S ppm and LEL % recorded as values
  • Explicit atmosphere-safe decision before entry is authorised
  • Planned entry and exit times, plus actual entry and exit times
  • Named entrants and the person who authorised the permit
  • Hazards identified, control measures and required PPE
  • Linked to the job and the site, and completable offline on site

Common questions about confined space permits

Why record gas readings as numbers rather than a pass/fail?

Because the numbers are the evidence. An oxygen reading of 20.9% and one of 19.1% are both technically 'tested', but only one of them is a normal atmosphere. Storing the values means a reading that was borderline is still visible later, which matters if anything is ever investigated.

Does this replace a confined space rescue plan?

No. The permit records the hazards, controls, PPE and authorisation for a specific entry. Your rescue arrangements and trained rescue team still have to exist — the permit is where you record that they were in place before entry.

Can the permit be completed offline?

Yes. Confined spaces are exactly where signal disappears. The field app captures the permit and readings on the device and syncs when you are back in coverage.

Who can authorise a permit?

The permit records an authorising person against it. Combined with Gaffer's role permissions and qualification gates, you can keep permit authorisation with the people who are actually competent to give it.

Control confined space entries properly

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