Confined space rescue
Encyclopedia
Confined space rescue is a subset of technical rescue
operations that involves the rescue and recovery of victims trapped in a confined space
or in a place only accessible through confined spaces, such as underground vaults
, storage silo
s, storage tank
s, or sewer
s.
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 can be fatal as they create a limited window
in which to perform a rescue. The general rule is that after four minutes without oxygen
, a person in a confined space will likely suffer asphyxia
resulting in either brain damage
or death
. The urgent need to rescue someone from a confined space often leads to ill-prepared rescue attempts. Two-thirds of all of deaths occurring in confined spaces are attributed to persons attempting to rescue someone else.
, strap or pole and pulling them to safety.
In the event of an entry rescue, standby rescuers are recommended in the event that the initial entry rescuer(s) encounter trouble.
One of the initial pieces of equipment employed in a confined space is a method of ventilation
to disperse collected hazardous gasses and introduce fresh air into the environment.
A wristlet is often the first item 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 cinch tightly around the wrist or ankle of an incapacitated person. Once the strap is looped around a hand or foot, its attached rope is pulled by rescuers, tightening around the arm or leg and pulling the victim out of the confined space.
In the event that an entry rescue must be performed, rescue personnel will wear protective clothing
appropriate for the situation. This may include a self contained breathing apparatus
(SCBA), protective headgear and the use of explosion proof lighting (to prevent igniting
any gases). The rescuer may also wear a full body harness
with an attached safety line, especially if a vertical descent is required. To assist in vertical descents, a mechanical
winch
and tripod may be set up over the access point, if the bottom of the confined space is more than five feet from the entrance.
The rescuers may also carry monitoring equipment by which they can ascertain the quality of the air in the environment. Even if the air quality reading does not indicate any hazardous conditions, it is still recommended that rescuers wear SCBA.
require that persons qualified for confined space rescue operations complete rescue training and exercises annually, at the least, and recommend more frequent 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 the National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA) 1670, and under 29 CFR 1910.146 and 29 CFR 1910.147, and must follow Occupational Safety and Health Administration
standards or heavy fines will be levied upon the company that violates their regulation and injury occurs in the workplace. Others are often is managed according to the Incident Command System
.
Technical rescue
Technical rescue refers to those aspects of saving life or property that employ the use of tools and skills that exceed those normally reserved for fire fighting, medical emergency, and rescue. These disciplines include rope rescue, swiftwater rescue, confined space rescue, ski rescue, cave rescue,...
operations that involves the rescue and recovery of victims trapped in a confined space
Confined space
Confined space is a term from labor-safety regulations that refers to an area whose enclosed conditions and limited access make it dangerous.- Description :...
or in a place only accessible through confined spaces, such as underground vaults
Utility vault
A utility vault is an underground room providing access to subterranean public utility equipment, such as valves for water or natural gas pipes, or switchgear for electrical or telecommunications equipment....
, storage silo
Storage silo
A silo is a structure for storing bulk materials. Silos are used in agriculture to store grain or fermented feed known as silage. Silos are more commonly used for bulk storage of grain, coal, cement, carbon black, woodchips, food products and sawdust. Three types of silos are in widespread use...
s, storage tank
Storage tank
A storage tank is a container, usually for holding liquids, sometimes for compressed gases . The term can be used for reservoirs , and for manufactured containers. The usage of the word tank for reservoirs is common or universal in Indian English, American English and moderately common in British...
s, or sewer
Sanitary sewer
A sanitary sewer is a separate underground carriage system specifically for transporting sewage from houses and commercial buildings to treatment or disposal. Sanitary sewers serving industrial areas also carry industrial wastewater...
s.
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
Liquid
Liquid is one of the three classical states of matter . Like a gas, a liquid is able to flow and take the shape of a container. Some liquids resist compression, while others can be compressed. Unlike a gas, a liquid does not disperse to fill every space of a container, and maintains a fairly...
or gas
Gas
Gas is one of the three classical states of matter . Near absolute zero, a substance exists as a solid. As heat is added to this substance it melts into a liquid at its melting point , boils into a gas at its boiling point, and if heated high enough would enter a plasma state in which the electrons...
form which can be harmful or fatal to humans.
These hazards can be fatal as they create a limited window
Window
A window is a transparent or translucent opening in a wall or door that allows the passage of light and, if not closed or sealed, air and sound. Windows are usually glazed or covered in some other transparent or translucent material like float glass. Windows are held in place by frames, which...
in which to perform a rescue. The general rule is that after four minutes without oxygen
Oxygen
Oxygen is the element with atomic number 8 and represented by the symbol O. Its name derives from the Greek roots ὀξύς and -γενής , because at the time of naming, it was mistakenly thought that all acids required oxygen in their composition...
, a person in a confined space will likely suffer asphyxia
Asphyxia
Asphyxia or asphyxiation is a condition of severely deficient supply of oxygen to the body that arises from being unable to breathe normally. An example of asphyxia is choking. Asphyxia causes generalized hypoxia, which primarily affects the tissues and organs...
resulting in either brain damage
Brain damage
"Brain damage" or "brain injury" is the destruction or degeneration of brain cells. Brain injuries occur due to a wide range of internal and external factors...
or death
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
. The urgent need to rescue someone from a confined space often leads to ill-prepared rescue attempts. Two-thirds of all of deaths occurring in confined spaces are attributed to persons attempting to rescue someone else.
Confined space rescue categories
There are three categories of confined space rescue: self rescue, non-entry rescue and entry rescue.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 in far less time than it takes to wait for someone to come in and retrieve them.Non-entry rescue
A non-entry rescue involves attempting to extricate an incapacitated person without having anyone else enter the confined space. This can be done via a safety line attached to the personnel in the confined space or by grabbing the personnel with a ropeRope
A rope is a length of fibres, twisted or braided together to improve strength for pulling and connecting. It has tensile strength but is too flexible to provide compressive strength...
, strap or pole and pulling them to safety.
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.In the event of an entry rescue, standby rescuers are recommended in the event that the initial entry rescuer(s) encounter trouble.
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 method of ventilation
Ventilation (architecture)
Ventilating is the process of "changing" or replacing air in any space to provide high indoor air quality...
to disperse collected hazardous gasses and introduce fresh air into the environment.
A wristlet is often the first item 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 cinch tightly around the wrist or ankle of an incapacitated person. Once the strap is looped around a hand or foot, its attached rope is pulled by rescuers, tightening around the arm or leg and pulling the victim out of the confined space.
In the event that an entry rescue must be performed, rescue personnel will wear protective clothing
Personal protective equipment
Personal protective equipment refers to protective clothing, helmets, goggles, or other garment or equipment designed to protect the wearer's body from injury by blunt impacts, electrical hazards, heat, chemicals, and infection, for job-related occupational safety and health purposes, and in...
appropriate for the situation. This may include a self contained breathing apparatus
Self contained breathing apparatus
A self contained breathing apparatus, or SCBA, sometimes referred to as a Compressed Air Breathing Apparatus , air pack, or simply Breathing Apparatus is a device worn by rescue workers, firefighters, and others to provide breathable air in an IDLH Atmosphere...
(SCBA), protective headgear and the use of explosion proof lighting (to prevent igniting
Combustion
Combustion or burning is the sequence of exothermic chemical reactions between a fuel and an oxidant accompanied by the production of heat and conversion of chemical species. The release of heat can result in the production of light in the form of either glowing or a flame...
any gases). The rescuer may also wear a full body harness
Safety harness
A safety harness is a form of protective equipment designed to protect a person, animal, or object from injury or damage. The harness is an attachment between a stationary and non-stationary object and is usually fabricated from rope, cable or webbing and locking hardware...
with an attached safety line, especially if a vertical descent is required. To assist in vertical descents, a mechanical
Machine
A machine manages power to accomplish a task, examples include, a mechanical system, a computing system, an electronic system, and a molecular machine. In common usage, the meaning is that of a device having parts that perform or assist in performing any type of work...
winch
Winch
A winch is a mechanical device that is used to pull in or let out or otherwise adjust the "tension" of a rope or wire rope . In its simplest form it consists of a spool and attached hand crank. In larger forms, winches stand at the heart of machines as diverse as tow trucks, steam shovels and...
and tripod may be set up over the access point, if the bottom of the confined space is more than five feet from the entrance.
The rescuers may also carry monitoring equipment by which they can ascertain the quality of the air in the environment. Even if the air quality reading does not indicate any hazardous conditions, it is still recommended that rescuers wear SCBA.
Rescue training
Agencies that oversee workplace safetyWorkplace safety
Workplace safety & health is a category of management responsibility in places of employment.To ensure the safety and health of workers, managers establish a focus on safety that can include elements such as:* management leadership and commitment...
require that persons qualified for confined space rescue operations complete rescue training and exercises annually, at the least, and recommend more frequent training.
Numerous agencies in the United States have facilities for technical rescue training and often have a confined space training area.
In the USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, confined space rescue is covered under the National Fire Protection Association
National Fire Protection Association
The National Fire Protection Association is a United States trade association that creates and maintains private, copywrited, standards and codes for usage and adoption by local governments...
(NFPA) 1670, and under 29 CFR 1910.146 and 29 CFR 1910.147, and must follow Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Labor. It was created by Congress of the United States under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, signed by President Richard M. Nixon, on December 29, 1970...
standards or heavy fines will be levied upon the company that violates their regulation and injury occurs in the workplace. Others are often is managed according to the Incident Command System
Incident Command System
The Incident Command System is "a systematic tool used for the command, control, and coordination of emergency response" according to the United States Federal Highway Administration...
.