Confined space rescue

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Confined space rescue is a subset of technical rescue that involves the rescue and recovery of victims involved in situations where there is a confined space such underground vaults, storage silos, storage tanks, or sewers.

Confined space rescues can be technically challenging due to the environment in which they occur. Confined spaces are often narrow and constricting preventing easy access by rescuers. They are usually either unlit or poorly lit so rescuers must provide their own light source. Finally, confined spaces often contain hazardous materials in liquid or gas form which can be harmful or fatal to humans.

These hazards are incredibly dangerous as they create a very limited window in which to perform a rescue. The general rule is that after four minutes without oxygen, a person in a confined space has very likely asphyxiated resulting in either brain damage or death.^[1] The urgent need to rescue someone from a confined space often leads to ill-prepared rescue attempts. Two-thirds of all deaths that occur in confined spaces are of persons attempting to rescue someone else.^[1]

1 Confined space rescue categories
2 Rescue equipment
3 Rescue training
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Confined space rescue categories

There are three categories of confined space rescue: self rescue, non-entry rescue and entry rescue.

[edit] Self rescue

In a self-rescue, much as the name suggests, the individual who recognizes a critical condition or symptoms of exposure and exits the space on his or her own. This is the preferred rescue method as confined space hazards can quickly incapacitate or kill an individual. An individual can almost always exit a confined space far quicker than waiting for someone to come in and retrieve them.^[1]

[edit] Non-entry rescue

A non-entry rescue involves attempting to extricate an incapacitated person without having anyone else enter the confined space.^[1] This can be done via a safety line attached to the personnel in the confined space or by grabbing the personnel with a rope, strap or pole and pulling them to safety.

[edit] Entry rescue

This is a last resort option as having more personnel enter an area that has already incapacitated one or more persons places the rescuer at considerable risk. Entry rescues must be carefully planned and executed to avoid creating more victims in need of rescue. Rescuers need to be aware of their surroundings and must reevaluate their plans immediately if there is any change in the conditions of the confined space.^[1]

In the event of an entry rescue, standby rescuers are recommended in the event that the initial entry rescuer(s) encounter trouble.^[1]

[edit] Rescue equipment

Due to the unique nature of confined space rescues, there is specialized equipment necessary to perform a safe and successful rescue.

One of the initial pieces of equipment employed in a confined space is a ventilator to disperse collected hazardous gasses and introduce fresh air into the environment.

A wristlet is often the first items used to actually perform the rescue (as opposed to the ventilator which is used to prepare the environment for a rescue). A wristlet is a cloth strap that is used to hook around the wrist or ankle of an incapacitated person. Once the strap is looped around a hand or foot, it is pulled back towards the rescuers, tightening around the arm or leg and allowing the victim to be pulled out of the confined space.

In the event that an entry rescue must be performed, rescue personnel will wear protective clothing and self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). They also wear protective headgear and carry explosion proof lighting to prevent igniting any gasses in the space. The rescuer may also wear a full body harness with an attached safety line, especially if a vertical descent is required.^[1]

A mechanical winch and tripod may be set up over the access point for the confined space if the bottom of the confined space is more than five feet from the entrance.^[1]

The rescuers may also carry monitoring equipment by which they can ascertain the quality of the air in the environment. Even if the air qulity reading does not indicate any hazardous conditions, it is still recommended that rescuers wear SCBA.^[1]

[edit] Rescue training

Agencies that oversee workplace safety require that persons qualified in confined space rescue complete rescue training and excecises annually at the least and recommend more frequest training.

Numerous agencies in the United States have facilities for technical rescue training and often have a confined space training area.

In the USA, confined space rescue is covered under National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1670, and under 29 CFR 1910.146 and 29 CFR 1910.147, and often is managed using the Incident Command System.