Confined spaces are environments that expose workers to various risks and, due to their nature, in the event of accidents, rescues are necessary and are always complicated. And, rescue in confined spaces is extremely important because they are decisive procedures between the life and death of a worker.
To authorize and carry out work safely in confined spaces, it is necessary to establish preventive measures, administrative measures, personal measures and ensure the training of workers, information gathered in the Rescue Plan and integrated into the Emergency Response Plan.
Unfortunately, accidents involving workers performing work in confined spaces occur in many situations due to the lack of use of protective equipment by the worker, the company's negligence in complying with mandatory accident prevention measures, lack of training in task procedures, lack of plans for emergency situations and rescue, among other factors.
In emergency situations, rescue procedures in confined spaces are essential to guarantee the health and safety of those involved, and a trained team ensures the emergency plan and the correct execution of the various steps that must be followed.
Rescue in confined spaces is always a critical operation and requires that a Rescue Plan be prepared in advance by a professional or specialized team. With this in mind, we have prepared an article explaining how this type of procedure works; check it out below.
There is or may be a dangerous atmosphere. In addition, a confined space is characterized by having difficult-to-access means of entry and exit, such as silos, tanks, wells, etc.
We can mention that in several work environments or sectors, such as petrochemicals, civil construction, sanitation, gas, telephone, port, agribusiness services, among others, construction, maintenance, cleaning and monitoring activities are required, which demand occupational health and safety practices. Click Here for Confined Space training
The requirements for the safety and health of workers in confined spaces are established in the Regulatory Standard and the criteria for managing occupational risks and prevention measures are provided for, in order to guarantee the execution of activities or operations in a safe manner for workers who interact directly or indirectly with this type of space.
The Rescue Plan must be prepared by a professional with technical responsibility and must specify:
a) designation of the emergency and rescue team, internal or external, sized according to the geometry, access and risks of the activities and rescue operation;
b) response time for emergency care;
c) selection of appropriate techniques, specific personal and/or collective equipment and rescue system available, in order to reduce the time the worker is inertly suspended and their exposure to existing hazards; and
d) planning for simulations of the identified scenarios.
To perform rescue in confined spaces, it is necessary to assess the emergency situation and verify two methods, which are:
No entry: In this way, the worker is rescued without the rescuers entering the confined space. The victim is removed using equipment such as tripods and safety ropes. This way, the rescuer is safer, but in many cases it ends up becoming a more complex operation;
With entry: This is a technique used when no entry is possible or when the injured worker needs immediate medical attention. Here, the rescuer can enter the space, attached to safety ropes, and be hoisted out accompanied by the injured worker.
In addition to these two main rescue methods, there is also the possibility of self-rescue, which is when the worker is able to leave the space on his own. However, due to the fact that most accidents in confined spaces are more serious, this is less common.
Lanyard: PPE that attaches the worker to the anchoring system.
Air masks: Provide breathing air to the rescuer in environments with a lack of oxygen or the presence of toxic gases.
This type of rescue is always a highly complex and high-risk operation, requiring that rescuers be up-to-date on training, use appropriate equipment, monitor the atmosphere and, most importantly, have training and knowledge about the Rescue Plan.
Identification of risks: Toxic gases, lack of oxygen, instability of the structure, etc.;
Checking the victim's condition: Consciousness, breathing, vital signs;
Choosing the rescue technique: Choose between rescue with or without entry;