You must:
(1) Make sure you have adequate rescue and emergency services available during your permit-required confined space entry operations.
• Evaluate and select rescue teams or services who can:
– Respond to a rescue call in a timely manner. Timeliness is based on the identified hazards. Rescuers must have the capability to reach potential victims within an appropriate time frame based on the identified permit space hazards.
– Proficiently rescue employees from a permit-required confined space in your workplace. Rescuers must have the appropriate equipment for the type of rescue.
• Make sure that at least one member of the rescue team or service holds a current certification in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
• Inform each rescue team or service about the hazards they may confront when called to perform rescue.
• Provide the rescue team or service with access to all permit spaces from which rescue may be necessary.
– This will allow them to develop appropriate rescue plans and to practice rescue operations.
Note: | What will be considered timely will vary according to the specific hazards involved in each entry. For example, WAC 296-307-594, Respirators, requires that employers provide a standby person or persons capable of immediate action to rescue employee(s) for work areas considered to contain an IDLH atmosphere. |
You must:
(2) Provide employees, assigned to provide permit-required confined space rescue and emergency services, with:
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) needed for safe entry.
• Other equipment required to conduct rescues safely.
• Training so they are:
– Proficient in the use of the PPE and other equipment.
– Proficient as an entrant of permit-required confined spaces.
– Able to safely perform assigned rescue and emergency duties.
– Knowledgeable in basic first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
• Practice sessions for permit-required confined space rescues at least once every twelve months where dummies, manikins, or actual persons are removed from either:
– The actual permit spaces; or
– Representative permit spaces that simulate the opening size, configuration, and accessibility, of permit spaces where rescue will be performed.
(3) Establish procedures for:
• Contacting rescue and emergency services.
• Rescuing entrants from permit-required confined spaces.
• Providing necessary emergency services to rescued entrants.
• Preventing unauthorized persons from attempting a rescue.