Confined spaces are inherently dangerous because they are not designed to be occupied. Unfortunately, they often require inspection and maintenance to ensure they are in fully operational condition, and this generally requires someone to enter them.
Although you should perform a risk assessment of each space and put appropriate mitigations in place, things will go wrong occasionally. When this happens, it is essential that a professional rescue services team is enlisted as their swift decision-making skills and expertise can make the difference between a positive or a negative outcome.
Choosing a confined space rescue service
The leading rescue service providers have these features in common:
Expertise
Professional rescuers understand the dangers of confined spaces and have been trained to overcome them. They know how and when to progress a rescue mission and also when to abort. They perform real-time risk assessments, communicate effectively with their team and other emergency services personnel, and increase the chances of a successful outcome.
Appropriate equipment
Professional rescuers are equipped with the appropriate gear to assess a confined space and enact a successful rescue. They may use drones or robots fitted with real-time video monitoring equipment to allow them to make a full assessment of the hazards before human rescuers enter.
They will use appropriate harnesses and rigging to enable them to be evacuated should the rescue mission need to be aborted quickly, along with breathing apparatus and appropriate PPE to protect them from whatever hazardous conditions they may encounter.
Strategies
Professional rescuers will not only have a Plan A but a Plan B, C, and even beyond. They understand that no two confined rescues are the same and are willing to flex as necessary to ensure a successful outcome.
They apply the experience they gain from simulations and previous rescues to methodically progress through their rescue strategy, continually communicating with rescuers situated outside of the confined space and ensuring that all personnel understand and are in agreement on how to proceed to maximize the chances of a successful outcome.
Training
Professional rescue services ensure that their rescue teams are fully trained, skilled, insured and prepared to handle whatever incidents they may encounter. They are tested in challenging simulated environments so they remain calm under pressure, think clearly, communicate effectively, and follow their plan to enact a safe rescue.
Backup
Professional rescue services know when to call for backup. They will have other rescue teams and emergency services on standby whenever they are called to rescue somebody who is trapped in a confined space. They understand the dangers of these spaces, the likely outcomes, and the time sensitivities associated with them. Although a layperson will not have the experience or knowledge needed to know when to call for help, professional rescuers do and are not afraid to admit when they need it.
Conclusion
Professional rescue services are more likely to deliver a successful outcome than amateur rescuers because they are fully trained, properly equipped, will follow their plan, and call for backup if it is needed. Their expertise could mean the difference between life and death in a confined space.