Direct emergency rescue and recovery of casualties from confined spaces

This standard is about directing a team for rescue and recovery of casualties from confined spaces.  Own entry is not required.  A confined space is any place, including any chamber, tank, vat, silo, pit, trench, pipe, sewer, flue, well or other similar space in which, by virtue of its enclosed nature, there arises a reasonably foreseeable specified risk.  Risks could lead to serious injury or death through fire, explosion, gas, fumes, vapour, lack of oxygen, rising levels of liquid, asphyxiation  or entrapment by free flowing solids. 

An emergency team will need to be available when the risk assessment for a confined space determines that it is necessary.   An emergency team is a dedicated team and may be an in-house team, specialist contractors or the emergency services by prior arrangement.  

This standard includes planning and preparing for emergency operations, mobilising rescue teams when emergencies arise, directing and monitoring emergency rescue activities, and reporting and securing sites after incidents and emergencies.

This standard is for anyone such as an engineer, coordinator, top man or supervisor who directs the activities of a team for rescue or recovery in confined spaces.

1. carry out dyanamic risk assessments of  conditions and situations in confined spaces throughout  rescue and recovery work

2. assess and adapt rescue plans to take account of conditions and situations

3. arrange for all rescue and safety equipment specified in safe systems of work to be on site before work begins

4. put emergency equipment, casualty recovery and handling devices in easily accessible designated locations or positions

5. confirm the suitability of rescue and safety equipment and tools for rescue and recovery activities

6. carry out pre-use checks to confirm the rescue and safety equipment and its fit comply with current legislation, manufacturers' specifications and approved codes of practice before starting work

7. confirm all specified personal protective equipment (PPE) is suitable and compatible with the rescue and safety equipment to be worn before using it

8. resolve any problems with rescue and safety equipment and report non-conformities to appropriate people

9. make sure  emergency communications systems are set up and tested  to ensure they are working before rescue and recovery begins

10. make emergency arrangements known to all emergency team members and relevant support and off-site personnel, checking understanding at appropriate times

11. analyse all available information about incidents and emergencies before commencing  rescue and recovery

12. confirm emergency arrangements, procedures and communications systems are in place before entry

13. deploy emergency team members and confirm all emergency team members know and understand their roles before rescue and recovery begins

14. check all emergency team members are in place with appropriate personal protective equipment before entry begins

15. set up exclusion zones to prevent entry by unauthorized people

16. make sure all emergency team members adhere to safe working procedures and manufacturers’ instructions regarding the carrying, fitting, adjusting and use of rescue and safety equipment 

17. make sure all emergency team members enter confined spaces as prescribed for emergencies and maintain a safe means of escape 

18. make sure all emergency team members carry out rescue and recovery activities in line with procedures 

19. introduce rescue and safety equipment and tools into confined spaces as specified in employers' instructions and procedures

20. monitor rescue and recovery procedures on an ongoing basis

21. communicate at regular intervals with emergency work teams at all stages of rescue and recovery activities

22. assess, prioritise and treat casualties in line with emergency procedures

23. follow and maintain emergency procedures throughout incidents and emergencies

24. monitor conditions and risks within confined spaces and rescue and safety equipment on an ongoing basis during rescue and recovery

25. check and record environmental readings at regular intervals and change rescue and recovery activity to resolve problems shown by information from monitoring equipment

26. act without delay to control risks and remedy any unsafe activity, equipment, and environmental conditions

27. arrange for basic first aid to be available to recovered surface casualties when appropriate

28. give sufficient relevant information to emergency services when handing over casualties

29. recover and remove equipment and tools from confined spaces in line with procedures when permitted

30. set up and maintain exclusion zones of relevant areas  in line with legislative procedures for post-incident investigation

31. record and report emergency incidents and their circumstances in line with organisational and legislative requirements

32. deposit used equipment in designated area for after use servicing 

1. the main principles of current confined spaces, health and safety and environmental legislation and regulations

related to emergency rescue in confined spaces and the use of safety equipment  

2. approved codes of practice and guidance for working safely in confined spaces

3. how to access and interpret safe systems of work for confined spaces

4. the implications of the organisation’s drink and drugs policies

5. procedures for dealing with emergencies, incidents, near misses, rescue and recovery 

6. contents of emergency plans including how to deal with fatalities

7. responsibilities of a rescue team and its individual members

8. how to use work authorisations and permits

9. definition of, classification schemes and defining features of confined spaces and their nature and characteristics

10. definitions of hazardous situations and different types and categories of hazards

11. types of spaces that could become confined due to the presence of a specified risk

12. hazards, substances, and situations associated with confined spaces 

13. dynamic assessment of how to reduce risk of injury to self, colleagues and the general public

14. actions that can be taken to reduce risk to an acceptable level for rescue and recovery to be carried out 

15. types of safety, escape and emergency equipment and its uses and limitations

16. how and where to site rescue equipment

17. how to prepare for and deal with weather conditions

18. methods and techniques for using and wearing PPE 

19. manufacturers' instructions relating to the inspection and use of safety, escape and emergency equipment including fall protection equipment, assisted rescue equipment, self-contained breathing apparatus and airline

20. sources of information about incidents and emergencies including maps, technical drawings, readings from monitoring equipment, reports from top person

21. your role when leading emergency rescue and recovery in maintaining the safety of emergency and work team members

22. the limitations and duration of breathing apparatus being used by emergency and work team members

23. how to use tally boards and incident logs for managing rescue operations

24. the role of emergency team members in administering basic first aid and when it is appropriate for them to do so

25. the uses of automated external defibrillators (AED) and oxygen therapy (resuscitator) units and when it is appropriate to use them

26. entry procedures and working procedures and the link between procedures, rescue plans and risk assessments 

27. why it is important to be vigilant to changing risks and hazards

28.  the different types and limitations of monitoring equipment and how to use it

29. decontamination procedures

30. why it is important to resolve problems about work or emergency team members without delay and who to resolve them with including when other people or organisations are involved 

31. communication methods for keeping in contact with other people for use in emergency situations in  confined spaces

32. how to maintain site integrity to enable further investigation following emergency and rescue situations

33. manufacturers’ instructions and procedures for preparing, inspecting us and using tools and equipment and where used and faulty equipment should be placed for servicing or maintenance after use

34. reporting systems for emergency situations and resolving problems

35. important information to pass to emergency services about casualties and how to report it