Getting Started
What is EntryWatch?
EntryWatch is a mobile application built exclusively for Topmen (also known as Entry Controllers) overseeing confined space operations. It completely digitises the paper-based safety workflow — from pre-entry checks to logging entry times and generating final HSE-compliant PDF reports.
The app is built to work deep underground or in concrete structures where there is absolutely zero mobile signal. Every feature runs entirely on your device, ensuring you are never blocked by poor connectivity when managing a critical safety watch.
What you need
- An Android phone running Android 7.0 or higher, or an iPhone running iOS 15.0 or higher.
- That’s it. No account creation required, no mandatory internet connection, no complicated setup.
First launch walkthrough
When you open EntryWatch for the first time, you will be guided through a simple setup process:
- Welcome screen — A brief introduction to the app.
- Legal disclaimer — Acknowledgement that EntryWatch assists your judgement but does not replace your legal duties as a Topman.
- Your profile — Enter your name, role, C&G 6160 competency level, and certificate expiry date. This is saved and added to every shift report automatically.
- Company profile (Optional, Pro) — Add your company name, details, and logo for branded PDF reports.
- Theme selection — Choose Dark, Light, or High Contrast.
- Home screen — You arrive at the main dashboard.
Free vs Pro
| Feature | Free | Pro (£4.99/mo or £49.99/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| Technicians per shift | Up to 4 | Unlimited |
| Checklist items | Standard | Standard + Custom |
| Shift history | Last 5 | Unlimited |
| Spaces per shift | 1 | Up to 5 |
| PDF reports | Watermarked | Company branded |
Annual subscription includes a 7-day free trial.
Creating a Shift
What is a shift?
A shift represents a single confined space entry session — from the moment you begin pre-entry checks, through the live monitoring phase, right up to closing the space and generating the final PDF report.
Step by step: creating your first shift
Tap Start New Shift on the Home screen and fill out the Create Job form:
- Site name and client — Where the work is happening and who it’s for.
- Space ID / location code — The specific asset or chamber being entered.
- Risk level — Low, Medium, or High. Directly correlates with C&G 6160 training levels.
- Scheduled date — Default is right now. Change this to schedule a future job.
- Job description — A brief summary of the work being carried out.
- Adding technicians — Name, role, competency level, and rescue capable toggle.
Competency warnings
BA Entry Mode
Enable BA Entry Mode when the team is entering using Breathing Apparatus. This allows you to set an expected cylinder duration (in minutes) for each technician.
Using a previous job as template
Swipe on a past shift and select Use as Template. Site details, risk level, and team members are copied to a new shift. Update the date and PTW number before starting.
Scheduling future jobs
Jobs with a future date appear in the Upcoming Jobs section on the Home screen. An Add to Calendar button appears inline next to the Scheduled Date field and on the home screen job card — tap it to generate an .ics calendar file and share it to your phone’s calendar app.
Pre-Entry Checklist
Why the checklist exists
Under the UK Confined Spaces Regulations 1997, it is a legal requirement to verify safety conditions before any entry takes place. EntryWatch enforces this — you cannot start the live tracker or log any entries until the checklist is fully completed.
The 6 categories
- Space Identification — Confirming you are at the correct location as per the Permit.
- Atmospheric Testing — Logging pre-entry gas levels: O2 (19.5–23.5%), CO (<30ppm), H2S (<5ppm), LEL (<10%).
- Energy Isolation — Verifying Lock Out / Tag Out (LOTO) procedures are in place.
- Ventilation — Confirming mechanical or natural ventilation is active and effective.
- Rescue Readiness — Ensuring rescue equipment is rigged and rescue personnel are briefed.
- Permit to Work — Capturing the specific PTW details authorising the entry.
Permit to Work fields
Under the PTW category you will be prompted to enter the PTW Number, the name of the Authorised Person (AP) who issued it, and the exact Issue Time. Find this information on the physical permit paperwork signed on site.
Safe to Enter screen
Once all categories are confirmed, you reach the Safe to Enter summary screen.
The back button on the Safe to Enter screen returns you to the checklist — never directly to the tracker — so you can correct any values before committing to entry.
Pro: custom checklist items
Pro users can add, rename, or delete specific checks within any category, allowing you to tailor the checklist to your company’s specific RAMS.
The Live Tracker
The tracker screen explained
- Live clock — Large, easy-to-read real-time clock at the top of the screen.
- Safety check interval — Dropdown to choose reminder frequency (5, 10, 15, or 20 minutes).
- Technician cards — Name, current status, time inside, and entry/exit buttons.
- Add technician button — Add new personnel mid-shift at any time.
- Topman name — Pinned to the bottom, always visible.
- End Shift button — Closes the job once everyone is out.
Logging entries and exits
Tap the LOG ENTRY button on a technician’s card. The button flips to LOG EXIT. Tap it again when they leave.
Status indicators
Safety reminders
At your chosen interval, EntryWatch prompts you to perform a Radio, Gas, Visual, or Welfare check. Tap to acknowledge. If unacknowledged within 60 seconds, the app escalates to a full-screen alert with vibration.
Gas readings during reminders
When a Gas Reading reminder fires, the input screen pre-fills the values from your last logged reading to save time. You can confirm unchanged readings or update them — either way a new record is saved to the shift.
BA countdown (BA Entry Mode only)
- Turnaround (50%) — Timer turns amber. Alert fires: technician has reached turnaround pressure.
- 10% remaining — Timer turns red. Urgent full-screen alert: cylinder nearly empty.
Adding a technician mid-shift
Tap Add Technician on the tracker. As you type, the app auto-suggests names from your entire history of previous technicians, pulling role and competency level automatically when you select a suggestion.
Emergency lockdown
Tap the red EMERGENCY button. This instantly logs the incident time, changes all active statuses to red, and halts standard reminders. The emergency status persists permanently on the shift record.
Ending the shift
Tap End Shift & Sign. If anyone is still marked as Inside, the app throws a warning. You will also be asked to confirm the Permit to Work has been surrendered before the shift closes.
Shift Report
What the PDF contains
- Header — Company branding (Pro) or EntryWatch watermark (Free).
- Shift summary — Duration, location, risk level, total entries, personnel, safety checks.
- Permit to Work — PTW number, issuing AP, issue time, surrender status.
- Assigned personnel — Names, roles, C&G 6160 competency levels.
- Pre-entry checklist — Full audit trail with timestamps.
- Entry/exit log — Exact times in and out, total durations per person.
- Periodic monitoring — All safety reminders and response times.
- Gas atmosphere chart — Readings plotted against EH40 thresholds over time.
- Shift notes — All notes taken during the job.
- Topman signature — Digital sign-off.
Generating and sharing
The report generates instantly on your device. Use the Share button to send via email, WhatsApp, or save to local files. No internet connection required.
Understanding the gas chart
The chart plots readings over time with a dual Y-axis — percentages (O2/LEL) on the left, parts-per-million (CO/H2S) on the right. Dashed lines show the legal EH40 safe thresholds. Diamond markers indicate each logged reading.
Response time colour coding
| Colour | Response time |
|---|---|
| ■ Green | Under 60 seconds |
| ■ Amber | 60 to 120 seconds |
| ■ Red | Over 120 seconds |
Report reference numbers
Every shift generates a unique reference number (e.g. EW-VJ5U4B-2026-0007). This is unique per device and ensures your records can be tracked and filed reliably.
Settings & Profile
Your profile
Manage your name, role, C&G 6160 qualification, and certificate expiry in the Settings tab. If your certificate expires within 90 days, a warning banner appears on the home screen.
Company profile (Pro)
Pro users have access to 7 company fields (Name, Address, Registration Number, Phone, Email, Website, VAT Number) and a logo upload tool with an image cropper to size your branding correctly for PDF reports.
Theme
Switch between Dark (default), Light, or High Contrast depending on your working environment.
Data backup and restore
- JSON Export — Export your entire shift database as a .json file. Recommended as a regular manual backup.
- JSON Import — Restore all history from a backup file when switching to a new device.
Report a Bug / Suggest a Feature
Use the Feedback option in Settings to report issues or request features. The app automatically attaches anonymous diagnostic info (OS version, app version, database size) to help resolve issues faster.