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Confined Space Emergency Procedures: Communications

Effective emergency arrangements are essential for confined spaces. Plans depend on the risks identified for each space. At minimum, employers must have a plan for non-entry rescue using an attendant, communications to alert emergency services, and retrieval equipment. Entry rescue requires more sophisticated training and plans reflecting the hazards. Emergency procedures must include communications for alerting help, rescue and resuscitation equipment suitable for the risks, properly trained rescuers and equipment for rescue, potentially shutting down adjacent equipment, first aid availability, and informing local emergency services about hazards and coordinating response capabilities.

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201 views2 pages

Confined Space Emergency Procedures: Communications

Effective emergency arrangements are essential for confined spaces. Plans depend on the risks identified for each space. At minimum, employers must have a plan for non-entry rescue using an attendant, communications to alert emergency services, and retrieval equipment. Entry rescue requires more sophisticated training and plans reflecting the hazards. Emergency procedures must include communications for alerting help, rescue and resuscitation equipment suitable for the risks, properly trained rescuers and equipment for rescue, potentially shutting down adjacent equipment, first aid availability, and informing local emergency services about hazards and coordinating response capabilities.

Uploaded by

Dynar Anjani
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Confined Space Emergency Procedures

When things go wrong, people may be exposed to serious and immediate danger. Effective
arrangements for raising the alarm and carrying out rescue operations in an emergency are
essential. Contingency plans will depend on the nature of the confined space, the risks
identified and consequently the likely nature of an emergency rescue.

Confined Space Rescue can be broken down into 2 categories:

Non Entry Rescue - At a minimum, employers must have a plan and response
capabilities for non entry rescue. The Attendant, communications (alert 911, EMS) and
non entry retrieval equipment will form the backbone of this type of response plan.

Entry Rescue - Entry rescue requires sophisticated training and response plans. Your
response capabilities must reflect the level of risk/hazard associated with the task(s).
The Department of Environment and Labour may assist you in determining the
reasonable steps you should consider.

Emergency arrangements will depend on the risks. Your procedure shall include:

Communications
How can an emergency be communicated from inside the confined space to people outside so
that rescue procedures can start? Don’t forget night and shift work, weekends and times when
the premises are closed, eg holidays. Also, consider what might happen and how the alarm can
be raised. The Confined Space Attendant must have communications tools at his/her disposal to
contact emergency services i.e. cell phone, 2 way radio, land line.

Rescue and resuscitation equipment


Provision of suitable rescue and resuscitation equipment will depend on the likely emergencies
identified. Where such equipment is provided for use by rescuers, training in correct operation
is essential.

Capabilities of rescuers
There need to be properly trained people, sufficiently fit to carry out their task, ready at hand,
and capable of using any equipment provided for rescue, eg winches, retrevial devices,
breathing apparatus, lifelines and firefighting equipment. Rescuers also need to be protected
against the cause of the emergency.

Shut down
It may be necessary to shut down adjacent plant before attempting emergency rescue.

First-aid procedures
Trained first aiders need to be available to make proper use of any necessary first-aid
equipment provided. The Confined Space attendant must hold a valid current first aid training
certificate.

Local emergency services


How are the local emergency services (eg, fire department) made aware of an incident? What
information about the particular dangers in the confined space is given to them on their arrival?
If you are relying on the 911 service, what are the rescue capabilities in the work area. Urban
centres often have response capabilities however this may not be true in smaller communities.
It is wise to discuss response capabilities with the authority in advance of the work activity.

Remember....... a rescue procedure must be specific to the work environment and hazards
associated with the entry.

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