Permit-Required Confined Space Rescue

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Permit-Required Confined Space Rescue

• For Supervisors

Image Credit Danville, VA Fire Dept.
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Session Objectives

• You will be able to
• Recognize confined space hazards
• Plan for rescues
• Evaluate rescue services
• Differentiate among types of rescues
• Train and equip a rescue team
• Identify the phases of a rescue operation

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What You Need to Know

• OSHA rescue requirements
• Why rescues may be necessary
• How to prevent rescue fatalities
• How to plan for successful rescues
• How to develop and manage a rescue team
• How to conduct an effective rescue operation

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OSHA Rescue Requirements

• If your employees perform rescue duties, you
  must
• Train them in rescue duties
• Train them in CPR and first aid
• Provide appropriate PPE
• Provide necessary rescue equipment
• Conduct practice drills at least annually

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Confined Space Hazards

• Hazardous atmospheres
• Mechanical and electrical hazards
• Falls
• Thermal effects
• Structural hazards
• Engulfment

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Facts About Rescues

• More than 60 of fatalities occur among rescuers
• Most failed rescues result from improper
  planning, inadequate training, and insufficient
  manpower
• Atmospheric problems account for most confined
  space deaths
• Inadequate recognition, evaluation, testing, and
  monitoring underlie most emergencies

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Preventing Rescue Fatalities

• Training entrants, attendants, and supervisors to
  recognize hazards and take proper precautions
• Planning for rescues
• Designating and training rescue team
• Providing proper PPE and rescue equipment
• Conducting simulations

Image Credit Catawba County NC Rescue
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Elements of a Rescue Plan

• Rescue procedures
• Victim removal procedures and equipment
• Required protective equipment
• Communication and lighting methods
• Emergency assessment methods
• Hazard control methods
• Control of secondary hazards
• Availability of emergency vehicles and medically
  trained personnel

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Reevaluating YourRescue Plan

• Conditions within a space change
• New hazards are discovered
• Rescue personnel turnover
• New equipment
• Failure of real or simulated rescue
• Inadequate performance by rescuers

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Anatomy of a Rescue

• Attendant realizes entrant in trouble
• Attendant contacts rescue team
• Rescue team arrives on the scene
• Team assesses the situation
• Team prepares to carry out rescue
• Rescue

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Standby or Available Rescue?

• Depends on hazards
• You need a standby team if
• Atmosphere is or could become IDLH
• Available rescue is acceptable if hazards are not
  life-threatening

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Available Rescue

• Fire department or contractor personnel need
• To know the number, description, and location of
  each permit space
• To know all known hazards associated with each
  space
• Access to spaces to evaluate space, develop a
  rescue plan, and practice rescue operations

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Evaluating Rescue Services

• Initial evaluation
• Response time?
• Availability?
• Training in rescue duties?
• Equipment?
• Medical skills?

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Evaluating Rescue Services (cont.)

• Performance evaluation
• Entry training?
• Symptoms of exposure?
• Equipment?
• Performance?
• Safety information?
• Rescue plan?

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Planning for Rescue

• Do you understand the information that has been
  presented so far?

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Types of RescuesSelf-Rescue

• Self-rescue is preferred option
• Self-rescue is appropriate if entrant
• Is conscious and alert
• Can identify hazards
• Can recognize symptoms of exposure
• Is capable of functioning normally

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Types of RescuesNonentry

• Nonentry rescue is the next best choice
• Nonentry rescue is appropriate if
• Entrants are equipped with full-body harness and
  retrieval line
• Retrieval line is attached to mechanical device
• Attendant can confirm entrant can be moved safely
  
• Retrieval line is clear

Image Credit OSHA
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Types of RescuesEntry

• Entry rescue is last resort
• Entry rescue is required when
• Victims are unconscious or seriously injured
• Victims need immediate medical assistance
• Configuration of space makes nonentry rescue
  impossible

Image Credit houstontx.gov
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Rescue Training

• Hazard recognition and control methods
• Safe entry procedures
• Use of testing and monitoring equipment
• Use and maintenance of PPE and rescue equipment
• First-aid and CPR certification
• Annual simulations

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PPE for Rescuer Team

• Harness attached to retrieval line
• Air-supplying respirator
• Helmet
• Gloves
• Proper footwear
• Jumpsuit
• Air monitoring device

Image Credit Danville VA Fire Dept.
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Rescue Equipment

• Victim removal systems
• Air supply for victims
• Explosion-proof lighting and communication
  systems
• Monitoring and ventilation equipment
• Stretchers or other carrying devices

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Rescues and Rescue Teams

• Do you understand the information in the previous
  slides?

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Rescue Operations Evaluating the Scene

• Nature of hazards
• Diagram of the space
• Number and location of victims
• Length of time victims exposed to hazard
• Nature of injuries
• Information about space and hazards

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Rescue Operations Making the Scene Safe

• Set up a perimeter
• Perform testing
• Provide ventilation
• Lock out utilities to space
• Ensure structural stability

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Rescue Operations Entry

• Communications
• Lighting
• Layout of space
• Equipment

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Rescue Operations Victim Assessment

• Primary assessment
• Breathing air
• Secondary assessment
• Treatment of serious injuries
• Precautions for head, neck, or spine injuries

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Rescue Operations Removal of Victim(s)

• Packaging the victim
• Securing the victim to the removal device
• Getting the victim out of the space

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Rescue Operations Transfer for Treatment

• Transfer to treatment personnel
• Examination of victim
• Decontamination of victim

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Rescue Operations Terminating the Operation

• Accounting for rescue personnel
• Removing tools and equipment
• Decontamination of rescuers
• Final testing of space
• Team debriefing

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Key Points to Remember

• OSHA requires you to plan for confined space
  rescues
• You must identify all the potential hazards of
  your confined spaces
• You must make sure that the designated rescue
  team is properly trained and equipped to make
  successful rescues
• Rescue teams must conduct practice drills at
  least once a year