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Confined Space Rescue Awareness

Massachusetts Firefighting Academy

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References

• NFPA 1670- Standard on Operations and Training for

Technical Rescue Incidents 2004 Ed.

• NFPA 472- Professional Competence of Responders to

Hazardous Materials Incidents. 2002 Ed.

• OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146

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Course Objective

To give the personnel, functioning at the awareness level, an understanding of their roles

and limitation while operating at a confined space rescue incident

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Awareness Level

This level represents the minimum capabilities of a responder who, in the course of his or her

regular job duties, could be called upon to respond to, or could be the first on the scene of,

a technical rescue incident. This level can involve search, rescue, and recovery

operations. Members of a team at this level are generally not considered rescuers.

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1670 section 5-2.1

• Organizations operating at the awareness level shall meet the requirements of- NFPA 1670, section 4-2- NFPA 1670, section 5-2- NFPA 472, chapter 4

Standard for Professional Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials Incidents

- They shall also be responsible for performing certain nonentry rescue (retrieval) operations

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1670 section 5-2.2Confined Space Awareness Level

Awareness-level functions for confined space rescue incidents shall include the following:

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Awareness-Level Functions

• Size-up of existing and potential conditions• Initiation of contact and establishment of

communications with victims where possible• Recognition and identification of the hazards

associated with nonentry confined space emergencies

• Recognition of confined spaces

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Awareness-Level Functions

• Procedures to perform a nonentry retrieval• Procedures for implementing the emergency

response system for confined space emergencies

• Procedures for implementing site control and scene management

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Skills

• Rope Skills- NFPA 1670, Chapter 4

section 4-2.2

• Haz-Mat Skills- NFPA 472, Chapter 4

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1670 Section 4-2.2Rope Rescue Awareness Level

Awareness-level functions for rope rescue incidents shall include the following:

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Awareness-Level Functions

• Size-up of existing and potential conditions where rope rescue operations will be performed

• Identification of the resources necessary to conduct safe and effective rope rescue operations

• Development and implementation of procedures for carrying out the emergency response system where rescue is required

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Awareness-Level Functions

• Development and implementation of procedures for carrying out site control and scene management

• Recognition of general hazards associated with rope rescue and the procedures necessary to mitigate these hazards within the general rescue area

• Development and implementation of procedures for the identification and utilization of personal protective equipment assigned for use at a rope rescue incident

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472 section 4.1.2.2Hazardous Material Awareness Level

When first on the scene of an emergency involving hazardous materials, the first responder at the awareness level shall be able to perform the following tasks:

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First Responder at Awareness Level

• Analyze the incident to determine both the hazardous materials present and the basic hazard and response information for each hazardous material by completing the following tasks:

- Detect the presence of hazardous materials- Survey the hazardous materials from a safe location

to identify the name, UN/NA identification number, or type placard applied for any hazardous materials involved

- Collect hazard information from the current edition of the ERG

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Emergency Response Guidebook

• Implement actions consistent with the local emergency response plan, the organization’s standard operating procedures, and the current edition of the ERG by initiating and completing the following tasks:

- Protective actions- Notification process

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General Requirements for Confined Space

• Authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) shall- Establish levels of operational capabilities- Establish operational procedures- Provide training - Comply with all applicable local, state, and

federal laws

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Hazard Analysis and Risk Assessment

• Shall determine the feasibility of conducting technical rescue

• Identify the type and ability of internal resources

• Identify the type and ability of external resources

• Establish procedures for activation of those resources

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Incident Response Planning

• Procedures shall be a formal written document for technical rescue emergency response

• Mutual aid agreements shall be developed for external resources

• Copies shall be distributed to all agencies having responsibilities

• Formally approved by the AHJ

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Equipment

• Appropriate for level of operation• Appropriate training to ensure

proficiency and maintenance of equipment

• Procedure for inventory and accountability of equipment

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Safety

• The AHJ shall ensure that members assigned duties and functions at technical rescue incidence and training exercises meet the pertinent requirements of sections 6-4 and 6-5 of NFPA 1500- “Standard on Fire Department Occupational

Safety and Health Program”

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Safety

• Safety Officer- Shall be assigned at any training

exercise or actual operation- This assignment shall meet the

requirements in chapter 4 of NFPA 1521

“Standard for Fire Department Safety Officer”

• Will always work under the Incident Command System

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Safety

• In any area of technical rescue the safety of the rescuers comes first. Without this, the rescue itself might become impossible.

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FAILURE

• F – Failure to understand or underestimating the environment

• A – Additional medical implications not considered

• I – Inadequate rescue skills• L – Lack of team work and experience• U – Underestimating the logistical need of the

operation• R – Rescue vs. Recovery mode not considered• E – Equipment not mastered for technical rescue

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Confined Space Statistics 1997-2001

• 458 Total fatalities• 22% (97) occurring between 10 am and 12

pm• Fatality every four (4) days• Mining, Agriculture & Farming industry

posed the greatest risk

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60% of all confined space fatalities are from would be rescuers!

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How Do We Prevent This?

• Good and continued training

• Following all safety procedures

• Risk/Benefit Analysis

• Rescue vs. Recovery Mode

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Recognition of Confined Spaces

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OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146

• Defines a Confined Space

• Defines a Permit Confined Space

• Defines a Rescue Service

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Confined Space

• Is large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily enter and perform assigned work

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Confined Space

• Has limited or restricted means for entry or exit- Tanks, silos, storage bins, hoppers, vaults and

pits are spaces that may have limited means of entry or exit

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Confined Space

• Is not designed for continuous employee occupancy

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Permit Confined Space

• A confined space that has one or more of the following characteristics:

- Contains or has a potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere

- Contains a material that has the potential for engulfing an entrant

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Permit Confined Space

- Has an internal configuration such that an entrant could be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or by a floor which slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross-section

- Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard

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Recognition and Identification

• Recognition and identification of the hazards associated with nonentry confined space emergencies

- Hazardous Atmosphere Oxygen Deficient (Most Common) Oxygen Enriched

- Flammable Gas or Vapors Gasoline Toluene

- Toxic Carbon Monoxide (CO) Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)

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Recognition and Identification

• Recognition and identification of the hazards associated with nonentry confined space emergencies

- Physical & Mechanical Hazards Engulfment – Liquid or Powder Entrapment – Walls, Floors, Narrow Passages Contact with moving machinery Contact with electrical equipment Noise Heat / Cold Falls

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Entry Permit

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Basic Roles in Industrial Confined Space

• Entry Supervisor- Overall person in charge, may

be more than one space• Attendant

- Monitors entrant and specific space

• Entrant- Person actually in space

performing work• Stand by Rescue Team

- Industry personnel, required by OSHA

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Procedures for implementing the emergency response system for

confined space emergencies

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Rescue Service

The personnel designated to rescue employees from permit spaces

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Rescue Service

Who is Usually Listed as the Rescue Service?• The Fire Department

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Size-Up

• Size-up of existing and potential conditions- Information at time of dispatch- Knowledge of work being performed in your

district- Information received upon your arrival

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Communications

• Initiation of contact and establishment of communications with victims where possible

- Visual Contact

- Voice Contact

- Radio Contact

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Procedures

• Procedures to perform a nonentry retrieval- Self Rescue- Personal retrieval system already in place

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Procedures

• Procedures for implementing site control and scene management

- Facility employees can be used as a resource

- Consider Police for scene assistance and crowd control

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Summary

• Know what a Confined Space is what causes Confined Space accidents to happen

• What are the laws that pertain to Confined Space rescues?

• Know the hazards associated with the Confined Space

• What are your initial actions? • Maintain Site control and hazards• Do not enter the Confined Space!

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Looking for more Confined Space classes…

Please contact the Technical Rescue Office Coordinator at (978) 567-3214

or

check the website for updates on all classes http://www.mass.gov/dfs/mfa/index.shtm