Test Correctly & Often

Your life depends on proper air testing and monitoring. Do not take shortcuts or allow an untrained person to do the testing or interpret the test results. Equipment that has been specifically calibrated for the chemical being tested is critical. Not every piece of equipment tests for all types of gases.

Testing must be done prior to ANYONE entering a confined space, and the air should be retested at periodic intervals or monitored continuously. You must retest EACH TIME the space is entered, even after a short break or after leaving momentarily to retrieve a tool.

If possible, test from outside the space by inserting a probe or sampling line into the space. If you must test from inside the space, wear protective equipment until you know that the space is safe.

To learn more about Firefighter Confined Space visit our Firefighter Confined Space Entry & Rescue Online Training web page.