Confined Spaces for Employers: 02. Emergency Procedures and Rescue

Description

When it comes to confined space rescues, emergency planning and rescue protocols can greatly influence the outcome. In fact, proper planning could mean the difference between a rescue and an avoidable tragedy. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates there are about 100 deaths in confined spaces every year. These occur across a variety of industries, but more than 60% of the fatalities are would-be rescuers. And while we all know that different confined spaces have their own unique challenges, OSHA points to poor planning as a leading cause of fatalities. Some rescues are unsuccessful because the rescuers don't fully understand the environment they're entering or the on-site team is unprepared to help. In this course, we're going to talk about what employers need to know when planning for a rescue. It's important to begin by noting that, regardless of your industry, a documented, written emergency response plan is required by OSHA for permit-required confined spaces. This content complies with OSHA regulation 1910.146.