9 Emergency Preparedness and Response

Legislation requires that emergency and rescue plans are in place and are reviewed with all persons involved in an entry. The rescue plan must identify who is to respond to a rescue situation, and how that will occur. Emergency communications must be readily available and tested. If appropriate, a trained dispatcher must be identified. A competent first aid provider must be readily available.

©CSA Z1006-10 – Management of work in confined spaces recommends that the organization establish and maintain procedures to prepare for and respond to emergencies as specified within that standard. These procedures include:

• a plan for responding to emergencies and preventing or mitigating any illness or injury;
• identification of the necessary resources to implement the plan effectively;
• testing of the plan at specified intervals;
• communication with and training of affected parties so that they can fulfill their duties and responsibilities with respect to the plan and procedures; and
• communication with external service providers, visitors, emergency response services, government authorities, and the local community, as appropriate.

©CSA Z1006-10 should be referred to for additional information on emergency response plans and team member roles.

Confined Space Rescue

Self-rescue and non-entry rescue are included in this course.

Entry rescue is necessary if the entrant is unable to self-rescue and one or more of the following conditions exist:

• there is an uneven floor surface;
• the entrant is injured and moving the entrant without stabilizing his or her injuries can produce complications;
• the entrant is injured and will have to be extricated more than 3 m horizontally;
• the pathway is obstructed, e.g., by physical barriers, pipes, cables, liquids, or sludge etc.
• the entrant is untethered
• there is an IDLH or unknown atmosphere in the space

Self-rescue

When an entry team member observes that a hazard exceeds the tolerance level specified in the risk assessment, or a hazard not specified in the confined space work procedures develops, the entry team member shall immediately begin evacuation of all workers from the space.

Non-entry Rescue 

Options for non-entry rescue should be explored. The most effective non-entry rescues are from vertical spaces, using a tripod and man-rated retrieval winch. Adequate rescue equipment, including a yoke (spreader bar) and adequate means to lift an unconscious person, must be in place. Refer to legislation for details.

If an entrant in a confined space becomes injured or requires evacuation, the attendant shall communicate with the entrant to determine the extent of the emergency and action necessary. If the cause of the injury is unknown or could subject other workers to a similar risk of injury, the attendant shall immediately evacuate all entrants from the confined space.

If an entrant is unable to self-rescue or evacuate the confined space unaided, the attendant shall initiate emergency rescue procedures and operate the retrieval system to rescue the entrant from the confined space. The attendant shall not enter the space. If the retrieval system fails, or the entrant is not tethered, the attendant shall call the dispatcher and request him or her to summon assistance. The dispatcher shall summon the personnel required by the emergency response plan. Always assume that a hazardous atmosphere exists until proven otherwise.

After evacuation, the hazard must be safely controlled. This may be accomplished by using ventilation or by using the proper respirators. Once the hazard has been controlled, re-testing of the air must be done before re-issuing a permit and re-entering the space.

©CSA Z1006-10 recommends that rescues be practiced at least twice a year or prior to an entry taking place by performing a simulated rescue from a simulated or actual confined space that the rescuer could be called upon to deal with. NS regulations require that a person who undertakes confined space entry rescue operations is trained at least once every year.

Notes