Confined space tickets

What it is

Qualifications showing someone can enter, work in, control entry to, supervise or manage work in a confined space at a given level of risk: low, medium or high. A confined space is an enclosed place with a foreseeable danger, such as fumes, too little oxygen, flooding or fire. They're assessed by a written test and a practical demonstration.

City & Guilds 6160 replaced 6150 at the end of 2021, so older certificates still show 6150. CABWI, NOCN, Energy & Environment Awards and Qualifications Scotland offer equivalents. In the utilities they're usually registered with EUSR, and water industry courses match the NC1 to NC4 classifications.

Who needs it

Anyone who enters a confined space, acts as top person or entry controller, takes part in a rescue, or manages the work. The Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 and HSE's code of practice (L101) require workers to have adequate training and experience for the particular work.

How long it lasts

On the EUSR scheme, a confined spaces registration is valid for three years, after which people requalify. That's a scheme rule, not the law.

The law sets no fixed period. HSE's code of practice says refresher training depends on how long since the work was last done and whether methods, procedures or equipment have changed, and suggests rescue teams refresh regularly, for example every year. The certificate itself may show no expiry date at all.

Renewing

Take the qualification again at an approved centre before the three years are up, and the centre registers it with EUSR again. EUSR doesn't publish a grace period, and most clients won't accept a lapsed registration on site.

Checking a card is genuine

Use the EUSR register search with any two of EUSR ID, surname and date of birth, or scan the card with the free Checarda app. A certificate that isn't registered with EUSR has no public lookup, so ask the training centre to confirm it.