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Confined Space Rescue: Why You Must Never Rush In
If someone collapses in a confined space, do not enter to help them - you will likely become the next victim.
Why this matters
- When a colleague goes down inside a tank or a pit, your first instinct is to run in and pull them out. This instinct is deadly. In many confined space tragedies, the people who died were not the first person to fall, but the coworkers who rushed in to help without the right equipment.
- The air inside a confined space can be invisible and odorless. If the air knocked your friend unconscious, it will do the same to you in seconds. You cannot hold your breath long enough to perform a rescue, and you cannot see the danger.
Talking points
- Stop and think. If someone is down, assume the air is toxic or there is no oxygen.
- Raise the alarm immediately. Shout for the supervisor and the designated rescue team.
- Never enter a confined space for rescue unless you are specifically trained, equipped with breathing apparatus, and covered by a rescue permit.
- Use the external rescue equipment. If the worker is attached to a tripod and winch, use the handle to pull them out from the outside.
- Stay at the entrance. Your job as a standby man or observer is to guide the professional rescue team to the exact location.
- Do not trust your senses. You cannot smell or see most dangerous gases like Carbon Monoxide or Hydrogen Sulfide.
Ask the crew
- If your friend collapses inside a pit today, what is the very first thing you should do?
- Why is it dangerous to just 'hold your breath' and run in for a quick rescue?
- Who on this site is authorized to enter a confined space for a rescue?
Download the PDF with attendance sheet
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