Bringing the future into the present allows you to take action now. (Experienced Rescue Teams)
Must Do: Consider the possibility of a rescue when evaluating your website.
Assessment of your site’s particular environment is the first step in planning for confined space crises. You’ve already thought about what your employees require to do their tasks; now think about how you’ll get them out safely.
To assist you figure out what kind of rescue you’ll need, ask these questions:
- Is it possible for a worker to leave the danger zone alone?
- Can an attendant recover a worker without entering the confined space if there is a possible problem?
- Or does your situation necessitate the presence of a well-trained, efficient rescue crew, either on call or on location?
Must Do: Determine how long it will take to respond and how long it will take to save a person.
A simple formula for calculating rescue team reaction time, according to Michael Roop, CSP, an experienced rescue team trainer:
Reaction Time + Contact Time + Travel Time + Assessment Time + Prep Time = Response Time.
How long will it take for you to notice that the worker could require help? When will the rescue crew be notified? What is the expected arrival time of the team? How much time will it take for the crew to plan the rescue and set up the necessary equipment?
The following is Roop’s rescue time formula:
Time to Reach, Treat, Package, and Evacuate the Victim = Rescue Time. The entire rescue procedure, according to Roop, “may take anywhere between 45 and an hour.” He says that a well-trained team should be able to finish the rescue in under an hour.
This webinar will teach you all you need to know about rescue preparation, including response and rescue time.
Must Do: Assess the potential members of your team.
When it comes to picking your rescue crew, there are many additional factors to consider. In 1910, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published several useful guidelines. 146 App F, a non-mandatory appendix that contains extensive questions that can be used for both an initial and a performance review. Take into account the following:
- What will the rescuers say to you, each other, and the worker?
- Are your rescuers equipped with the required skills and equipment to deal with your situation?
- Is it possible for them to act right away?
- What is the hierarchy of command?
Must Do: Practice Your Rescue Team Once You’ve Designated It!
Practice, of course, can mean the difference between a flurry of costly errors and a calm, successful performance. Knowing how to use equipment and anticipating potential obstacles are only a few of the skills needed for confined space rescue.
Simulated rescue drills, both planned and unexpected, are part of the training. Your team must practise rescue operations at least once a year using dummies, manikins, or actual people in representative spaces, according to OSHA. 2 You must also assess the performance of your group physically. “Test them so you know you have a top-notch staff,” Roop recommends.
