Confined spaces demand more than standard industrial cleaning. They need certified operatives, pre-entry atmospheric testing, and documented safe systems of work before anyone goes in.
Every member of our confined space team holds as a minimum, the City & Guilds Level 2 Award in Working in Medium Risk Confined Spaces (6150-02). That covers manholes and inspection chambers, wet wells and pump stations, fuel, oil and chemical storage tanks, sewers, culverts, and silos. Whatever the space, we arrive equipped with gas monitoring, PPE and RPE, emergency rescue equipment, and full risk assessments and method statements prepared before work begins.
Waste recovered during the clean is loaded directly onto our tankers, removed from site, and disposed of at a licensed facility. We provide full documentation on completion, including waste transfer notes and a post-clean report.
Confined Spaces We Work In
We clean a wide range of confined environments across commercial, industrial, municipal and utilities settings throughout London and the South East.
Manhole & Inspection Chambers
We clean, flush and jet chambers to remove sediments, fats, oils and grease build-up, restoring capacity and keeping your infrastructure compliant.
Wet Wells & Pump Stations
Wet wells present atmospheric hazards including hydrogen sulphide and methane. We desilt and clean safely, working around pump operations to minimise downtime.
Storage Tanks – Fuel, oil & Chemical
We clean, drain and degass fuel tanks, oil interceptors sumps and chemical storage vessels ahead of inspection, repair or decommissioning.
Sewers & Culverts
Man-entry sewer cleaning for pre-survey preparation, post blockage clearance or routine maintenance programmes carried out by certified operatives.
Silos & Hoppers
We clean and decontaminate industrial silos and hoppers used in manufacturing, agricultural and waste processing settings, with a visual condition report on completion.
Not sure what you need?
Call our team and we’ll talk through the job, advise on what’s required and provide a clear quote.
City & Guilds Certified for Every Operative
Every member of our confined space team holds, as a minimum, the City & Guilds Level 2 Award in Working in Medium Risk Confined Spaces (6150-02) – the nationally recognised qualification for this category of work.
This ensures our personnel are trained and competent to carry out medium-risk confined space operations safely and in accordance with industry standards.
The 6150-02 Qualification Covers:
- Pre-entry atmospheric testing for oxygen, H₂S, CO, methane and space-specific gases
- Selection and use of PPE including respiratory protective equipment (RPE)
- Safe entry and exit procedures for medium-risk confined environments
- Team communication and top-man responsibilities
- Emergency response and casualty recovery protocols
- Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 and relevant legislation
How our confined space cleaning service works
Every job follows the same disciplined process. No shortcuts, regardless of the size of the task.
1. Job review & safety planning
Before work begins, we review the scope of the job, confirm access arrangements and identify any significant hazards. Our operatives work in accordance with our documented risk assessments, method statements and permit to work procedures where required, ensuring the correct equipment and personnel are allocated before entry.
2. Pre-entry atmospheric testing
We test for oxygen levels, H₂S, CO, methane and any gas relevant to the specific environment. Entry does not proceed until we are satisfied the atmosphere is safe or appropriate respiratory equipment is deployed.
3. Controlled entry & cleaning
A trained top-man operative remains at the entry point throughout, maintaining communication and ready to initiate emergency procedures. Cleaning uses specialist equipment matched to the space such as vacuum tankers high pressure water jetting and manual tools.
4. Waste removal & disposal
All material removed is handled as controlled waste, transported to a licensed facility and disposed of compliantly. We provide documentation confirming lawful disposal which is important to keep for your own compliance records.
5. Post-clean report
On completion, we provide a written summary of the work carried out. Any condition issues or defects identified during the clean are flagged to you for assessment and action.
Who uses our confined space cleaning services
Confined spaces exist across almost every built environment. If you are the duty holder, i.e. if you are the employer, building owner, site manager or local authority, the legal obligation to maintain them safely sits with you.
Facilities Managers
Routine maintenance of manholes, sumps, chambers and tanks across commercial or industrial estates, planned documented and on time.
Local Authorities
Highway drainage assets, surface water infrastructure and municipal wastewater systems for reactive and programmed maintenance.
Housing Associations
Foul sewer and inspection chamber cleaning and maintenance across managed residential sites.
Utilities & Water Companies
Pump station cleaning, wet well desilting and sewer maintenance programmes with full compliance documentation.
Industrial & Manufacturing
Tank and silo cleaning, interceptor maintenance and industrial drainage systems with hazardous waste handling capability.
Developers & Contractors
Pre-survey cleaning, pre-adoption cleaning and condition assessments ahead of handover or further works.
Confined space cleaning and the law
A confined space is any area that is substantially enclosed and presents reasonably foreseeable risk to the people working inside it, whether that’s restricted airflow, hazardous gases, the risk of flooding or dangerous substances.
Under the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997, entry into these environments must be planned, controlled and carried out by competent trained personnel. Confined space cleaning is not standard industrial cleaning. It requires pre-entry atmospheric testing, a formal safe system of work, appropriate PPE, a trained top-man operative at the entry point throughout and documented emergency rescue arrangements before work begins.
CountyClean Environmental Services carried out this work correctly every time. We are part of the Ipsum Group and have been delivering specialist liquid waste and environmental services across London and the South East since 2007.
Every operative certified - not just the team leader
Our entire confined space team holds the City & Guilds 6150-02, the nationally recognised qualification for medium-risk confined space work, covering most sewers, wet wells, tanks and complex chambers.
Covering London & the South East
Our primary coverage area for confined space cleaning is London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Surrey and Essex. We mobilise quickly across the South East for both planned and reactive work. Nationwide confined space cleaning is available for larger or more complex projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Confined space cleaning is the specialist cleaning of enclosed or partially enclosed environments that carry inherent risks to works including manholes, inspection chambers, storage tanks, wet wells, silos and sewers. Because these space restrict movement, access and ventilation, the work must be carried out by trained and fully certified operatives under a formal safe system of work in line with the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997.
Yes. Work in confined spaces is governed by the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 and the Health and Safety at work Act 1974. These place a legal duty on employers to ensure confined space entry is carried out safely by competent operatives, under a documented safe system of work, with adequate emergency arrangements in place. Failure to comply can result in HSE enforcement action and in the event of a serious incident, criminal prosecution.
Every operative in our confined space team holds the City & Guilds Level 2 Award in working in Medium Risk Confined Spaces (6150-02) a nationally recognised and accredited qualification aligned to National Occupational Standards. This is not just the team leader, it is every member of the team. The qualification covers atmospheric testing, PPE and RPE, safe entry and exit, team communication and emergency response.
The City & Guilds 6150 framework classifies confined spaces by risk level. Low risk spaces have limited atmospheric hazard and straightforward escape. Medium risk spaces covering most sewers, wet wells, tanks and complex chambers are those where atmospheric hazards are foreseeable and works cannot be permanently attached to a safety line. High risk spaces carry the most severe hazards and require the highest level of certification and emergency rescue capability. CountyClean’s team is certified to medium risk level (6150-02), which covers the vast majority of confined space cleaning in the environmental and utilities sector.
In most cases, yes. Under the Confined Space Regulations 1997, any entry where a specified risk is present must be conducted under a documented safe system of work, which in practise means a formal permit to work. CountyClean will work within your existing permit system or help you establish the documentation required before work begins.
Before any entry, we review the scope of the job, confirm acess arrangements and identify any significant hazards. This includes pre-entry atmospheric testing; provision of appropriate PPE and respiratory protective equipment; a trained, certified top-man operative at the entry point throughout; and emergency rescue arrangements formally in place before work starts. No entry proceeds until these controls are in place.
Yes. CountyClean is a licensed waste carrier with experience handling liquid waste, sludge, chemical residues and contaminated materials from confined environments. All waste is removed, transported and a disposal of in compliance with the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Hazardous Waste Regulations with full documentation provided.
Our primary coverage is London, Kent, East Sussex, Surrey and Essex. We work regularly across Eastbourne, Brighton, Maidstone, Canterbury, Tunbridge Wells, Crawley, Guildford and all London boroughs. Nationwide work is available for longer or more complex projects.
Cost depends on the type and complexity of the space, the volume of waste or residue to be removed, access constraints and any additional safety measures required. We provide clear, itemised quotes with no hidden charges. Contact our team for a site-specific assessment.