Rescuing a Worker Trapped in a Confined Space

What should my plan include?

Employers must have operating and rescue procedures in writing. When employees enter a potentially hazardous confined space, a trained attendant must be present to monitor for dangerous situations and activate the response plan when needed.  A trained emergency rescue team must also be ready to ensure a quick response. The team should include employees trained in CPR, first aid, and have appropriate emergency response and rescue equipment readily available. 

Plan the response with caution. In the video, no one had to enter the confined space to rescue the injured worker. A non-entry rescue is recommended whenever possible. But depending on the setup at your workplace, workers might have to enter the confined space to initiate a rescue. In these cases, they should never rush into a confined space without the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). This may include a self-contained breathing apparatus and a safety belt and line depending on the potential hazards in the space. Unprepared and untrained rescuers often become additional victims during a confined space emergency.

Practice your confined space response plan yearly to ensure that your rescue team can perform quickly enough to save the life of the injured worker. Remember to follow up any drill or emergency response by reviewing the actions taken by your employees. This helps you identify areas for improvement and also what went well.

Equally important as your response plan is to ensure that a proper hazard assessment is performed prior to entering confined spaces. Take action to eliminate or control potential hazards to reduce the risk of an emergency situation.

No one can predict when an emergency will occur at work. But with an effective response plan, practiced regularly, your employees will know their responsibilities. They’ll be able to execute them under the pressure of providing immediate aid to an injured coworker in dangerous conditions.