A major waste management and energy recovery facility required an efficient way to manage multiple confined space activities during a planned maintenance outage. With several entries taking place simultaneously, the client needed a solution that would maintain high safety standards while reducing the resource requirements typically associated with confined space monitoring.

Breathe Safety deployed the Entry Sentry digital confined space monitoring system to provide continuous oversight of multiple active confined spaces throughout the project. The system delivered 24/7 monitoring across nine confined spaces, overseen by a small team of dedicated controllers who worked closely with the site's permit management team to maintain safe and compliant operations.

In addition to tracking confined space entries, the system provided continuous gas monitoring and real-time visibility of site activities. This allowed potential issues to be identified quickly and enabled faster decision-making when site conditions changed.

A key benefit for the client was the ability to manage multiple confined spaces from a central location rather than deploying personnel to each individual entry point. Remotely operated barriers provided controlled access to work areas, while live monitoring technology delivered a level of oversight that would be difficult to achieve through periodic inspections alone.

The system also generated detailed operational data throughout the outage, helping the client better understand workforce utilisation and identify opportunities to improve efficiency during future maintenance events. Designated muster locations were incorporated into the monitoring process, further strengthening accountability and emergency preparedness across the site.

The project delivered benefits beyond the outage itself. Elements of the infrastructure remained in place after completion of the works, reducing mobilisation requirements and helping lower implementation costs for future shutdown activities.

During the outage, the monitoring team demonstrated the value of continuous oversight by identifying safety concerns, including instances of PPE non-compliance. Early intervention helped maintain site standards and reinforced the client's confidence in the effectiveness of the system.

Outcomes

• Continuous digital monitoring of multiple confined spaces throughout a planned outage.
• Real-time gas monitoring and immediate alerts to support safer working conditions.
• Centralised management of confined space activities, reducing resource requirements.
• Remotely controlled access management improving site security and control.
• Enhanced visibility of workforce activity through continuous monitoring.
• Detailed reporting used to identify future efficiency and cost-saving opportunities.
• Improved emergency preparedness through monitored muster arrangements.
• Infrastructure retained on site to reduce setup time and costs for future outages.
• Proactive identification of safety concerns through continuous oversight.

The Breathe Difference

Technology delivers the greatest value when it improves both safety and the way work gets done.

For this project, Breathe Safety combined digital monitoring, real-time visibility and experienced operational support to create a solution that balanced safety, efficiency and practicality. By helping the client manage multiple confined spaces from a central location and identify issues before they escalated, we reduced complexity while maintaining robust control of high-risk activities.

The result was a smarter approach to confined space management that improved oversight, supported productivity and delivered lasting value beyond the outage itself.