Rescue Procedures

Because of the increased risk of working in a confined space, it is necessary to have a trained rescue team on site at all times while work is being performed. These rescue team members may be employees of the company performing the work or contractors. The person acting as the attendant during work cannot be part of the rescue team, unless someone is appointed to take that person's place as attendant while the rescue is occurring. The rescue team must have the following skills and knowledge among them:

• Knowledge of first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
• Knowledge of the rescue plan in place
• Ability to operate the equipment required to carry out the rescue plan

Note that calling 911 is not an approved measure for a primary rescue team. Because the 911 team would have to travel to the work site once they received the call, they do not qualify under the OHS regulation for immediate implementation of a rescue. Time spent waiting for the team to arrive could be the difference between life and death for someone in a confined space.

If a company has workers in multiple confined spaces on the same shift, the company must make additional preparations to address emergencies. For example, the company can choose to have an on-site rescue team for each individual confined space, or the company may create an evacuation plan that removes all workers from all other confined spaces while a rescue is underway at one location.

It is important to ensure that equipment used for rescue measures is appropriate for the space and task at hand. The OHS Confined Spaces Regulation states that equipment being used for rescue should be readily available, appropriate for entry into the confined space, and inspected by a competent person to ensure that it is in working order. Rescues can be performed from outside or inside the confined space, depending on the type of work being done, the size of the area, and the equipment being used. Some examples of equipment used in rescues from confined spaces include:

• Harnesses
• Lifelines
• Hoist and retrieval systems
• Self-contained breathing apparatus
• Airline respirators
• Personal protective equipment (PPE)

To learn more about Confined Spaces visit our Canada Confined Space Online Training web page.