Confined space rescues are necessary when a person is trapped in a small, difficult-to-access area. These rescues are dangerous and can result in death. Asphyxiation is a common cause of death, but additional oxygen can help. Self-rescue or external assistance may be possible, but untrained individuals should not attempt a rescue. Confined spaces include silos, pipelines, and pits, and can be made more dangerous by hazardous materials or atmosphere. OSHA defines these spaces as “confined space required.”
When a disaster occurs, whether by act of nature, accident, or willful destructive act, many different types of response teams can be called into action. Survivors who are trapped in a small space require a confined space rescue to reach safety. Efforts to rescue people trapped in confined spaces are often dangerous, and emergency situations involving confined spaces account for a proportionally large number of deaths. Proper training in confined space rescue techniques can help increase the chances of survival for both trapped persons and rescuers.
It may be necessary to perform a confined space rescue if a person becomes trapped inside a silo, pipeline, or other small space that is not easy to get in and out of. These types of rescues are extremely dangerous to both the trapped person and those attempting a rescue. Firefighters and other rescue personnel regularly die in these emergency situations.
Most deaths that occur in accidents involving confined spaces are the result of asphyxiation. A poisonous atmosphere is a hazard that can kill a person trapped in a small space. More often, however, a gradual decrease in oxygen causes asphyxiation. For this reason, many businesses that have potentially dangerous confined spaces have a method of providing additional oxygen to a trapped person.
If the trapped person is unharmed, it may be possible to carry out a self-rescue, assisted by external people with ropes or lifting equipment. Suction or personnel removal devices can also be used in a confined space rescue, although these pieces of equipment are expensive and not readily available. It is important that colleagues or others not trained in confined space rescue methods do not enter a confined space to attempt to perform a rescue.
Any space that a person can fit into but cannot easily enter, exit, or move is considered a confined space. Some confined spaces are large once a person enters them and others are large enough for a person to enter. Common examples of confined spaces where people can become trapped are underground storage containers or tanks, silos, pipelines, and pits. Some confined spaces can be made more dangerous by the presence of flammable materials or a hazardous atmosphere. In the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defines these types of confined spaces, as well as confined spaces that contain a health or safety risk, such as live wires or machinery, as a “confined space required ”. “
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