(1) You must make sure you have adequate rescue and emergency services available during your permit-required confined space entry operations.1

(a) Evaluate and select rescue teams or services who can:

(i) Respond to a rescue call in a timely manner.2 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.

(ii) Proficiently rescue employees from a permit-required confined space in your workplace. Rescuers must have the appropriate equipment for the type of rescue.

(iii) Agree to notify you immediately in the event that the rescue service becomes unavailable.

(b) Make sure that at least one member of the rescue team or service holds a current certification in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

(d) 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.

(2) You must provide employees assigned to provide permit-required confined space rescue and emergency services, at no cost to the employee, with:

(a) Personal protective equipment (PPE) needed for safe entry.

(b) Other equipment required to conduct rescues safely.

(i) Proficient in the use of the PPE and other equipment.

(ii) Proficient as an entrant of permit-required confined spaces.

(iii) Able to safely perform assigned rescue and emergency duties.

(iv) Knowledgeable in basic first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

(d) Practice sessions for permit-required confined space rescues at least once every twelve months where dummies, manikins, or actual persons are removed from either:

(i) The actual permit spaces; or

(ii) Representative permit spaces that simulate the opening size, configuration, and accessibility, of permit spaces where rescue will be performed.

(3) You must establish procedures for:

(a) Contacting rescue and emergency services.

(b) Rescuing entrants from permit-required confined spaces.

(d) Preventing unauthorized persons from attempting a rescue.

Notes:	1 The following is not considered to be adequate rescue and emergency services:
	• Planning to rely on a rescue service and posting a contact number (like "911") without contacting them and completing an evaluation in advance to ensure they meet the criteria of this standard.
	2 Timely rescue will vary according to the specific hazards involved in each entry. For example, chapter 296-842 WAC, 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.

Note:

See Appendix H - Evaluating Rescue Teams or Services by visiting the labor and industries website at http://www.lni.wa.gov/safety/rules/chapter/809/.

PDFWAC 296-809-50014

Make sure you have adequate rescue and emergency services available.