By Ethan Davis

Equipment:

The Manager or the Department Supervisor should require the following equipment to be on hand prior to confined space entry:

(1) Lifelines

(2) Safety belts

(3) Self-contained breathing apparatus

(4) Airline respirators

(5) Rescue harness and ropes

(6) Tripod

(7) Ropes, pulleys, and other rescue equipment

(8) Horns, whistles, telephones, radios, etc. for communication

(9) Fire fighting equipment

(10) Explosion proof lighting and electrical equipment

(11) 12” wide confined space or rope ladder

Rescue Procedures

(1) Procedures outlined above are followed, (i.e. Atmospheric tests should be performed prior to and during entry and documented on the permit, etc.).

(2) The attendant is equipped with an alarm horn prior to entry.

(3) Any entrant into a vertical exit confined space must wear a parachute type harness. Horizontal exit confined space requires a life line be worn in addition to the harness.

(4) Life lines must be attached to a fixed object outside of the confined space.

(5) All confined spaces with vertical exits should be equipped with means to attach a lifting winch (i.e. crank with handle, hoist, hauling apparatus with a rope, etc.) for victim rescue where tripod is impossible.

Training

Employees who perform tasks covered by the confined space entry policy (e.g. enter into confined spaces, measure atmospheric conditions in confined spaces, or perform rescue in a confined space) should be trained annually on site procedures and the use of permits and equipment.