Confined space rescue

Confined space rescue

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 silos, storage tanks, or sewers.

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.[1] 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.[1]

Contents

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.[1]

Non-entry rescue

A non-entry rescue involves attempting to extricate an incapacitated person without having anyone else enter the confined space.[1] This can be done via a safety line attached to the personnel in the confined space or by grabbing the personnel with a rope, 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.[1]

In the event of an entry rescue, standby rescuers are recommended in the event that the initial entry rescuer(s) encounter trouble.[1]

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 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.[1] 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.[1]

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.[1]

Rescue training

Agencies that oversee workplace safety 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.

See also

References

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Confined space — is a term from labor safety regulations that refers to an area whose enclosed conditions and limited access make it dangerous. Contents 1 Description 2 Entry certification 3 Injuries/Fatalities …   Wikipedia

  • Rescue — refers to operations that usually involve the saving of life, or prevention of injury. Tools used might include search dogs, search and rescue horses, helicopters, and the Jaws of Life and other hydraulic cutting and spreading tools used to… …   Wikipedia

  • Rescue squad — A rescue squad is an organization that provides emergency medical care to both trauma and medical patients at either the basic life support or advanced life support levels. The staff of such agencies can possess any number of certifications… …   Wikipedia

  • Rope rescue — is a subset of technical rescue that involves the use of static nylon kernmantle ropes, anchoring and belaying devices, friction rappel devices, various devices to utilize mechanical advantage for hauling systems, and other specialized equipment… …   Wikipedia

  • Cave rescue — environments. Cave rescue borrows elements from firefighting, confined space rescue, rope rescue and mountaineering techniques but has also developed its own special techniques and skills for performing work in conditions that are almost always… …   Wikipedia

  • Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue — Motto:  When seconds count, count on us Established 1984 Staffing Combination Career/Volunteer …   Wikipedia

  • 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… …   Wikipedia

  • Trench rescue — is a highly specialized form of rescue, a subset of confined space rescue. Trench rescue involves shoring up the sides of a trench, and digging a trapped worker out of a collapsed ditch. The area around a collapse should not be approached by any… …   Wikipedia

  • Space colonization — Artist Les Bossinas 1989 concept of Mars mission Space colonization (also called space settlement, space humanization, or space habitation) is the concept of permanent human habitation outside of Earth. Although hypothetical at the present time,… …   Wikipedia

  • Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service — (CFRS) Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) area Coverage Area Cornwall Siz …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”