Confined Spaces for Employers: 02. Emergency Procedures and Rescue

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.