Posted: 15 Aug '19

With Onsite Confined Space and Fall Rescue You Can Be Prepared for the Worst

An estimated 90 people die yearly in confined spaces irrespective of their industries. Most of the casualties are workers rescuing their colleagues from hazards associated with such areas. The increment in the death cases links to ignorance of the fall hazards associated with the spaces.

Onsite confined spaces such as utility holes, crawl spaces and holding tanks have deep access holes which are more than 20 feet. Thus, with onsite confined space and fall rescue you can be prepared for the worst.

Features of a Confined Space

• Has a limited entry and exit openings
• Can accommodate a worker
• Does not support the continuous human occupancy
• Can be entirely or partially enclosed
• Poses potential dangers

Some of the potential hazards to which you are exposed when working in the confined spaces include;

• Fall hazards
• Insufficient oxygen
• Poisonous Gases
• Fire and explosions, etc.

Onsite Confined Space and Fall Rescue

How prepared are your workers in handling onsite confined space and fall rescue? Prepare your employees with these steps imperative for fall rescue in such areas.

1. Protect the entrance; In case of any open confined space, immediately protect its access using a cover or guardrails to safeguard employees from falling into the dangerous space.
2. Utilize fall protection equipment: Encourage your employees to always wear the fall protection gear example the lanyard before entering the confined space or while working near the entrance. The gear arrests any potential fall.
3. Foster safe entry into vertical openings: Always ensure your workers use the necessary safety equipment, e.g. a winching system together with a ladder, or a tripod to access the vertical space as is appropriate.
4. Do you have backup fall protection? Onsite confined space and fall rescue requires that you use some safety measures. If using the ladder to enter, remember to accompany it with a self-retracting lifeline for enhanced fall rescue.
5. Get Trained: Unless your pursue onsite confined space and fall rescue training, you will hardly use the fall protection equipment thus inability to arrest or avert a possible fall. Therefore, invest in your employees' training, so they prepare for the worst.

Bottom Line

Do you believe the onsite confined space and fall rescue prepares you for the worst? Help reduce the confined space fall statistic by equipping your employees with the necessary safety skills.

Contact us now for OHS-compliant onsite confined space and fall rescue training.