Confined Space Rescue

Any safety regulation that comes with a built-in plan for executing a rescue from the environment being regulated, speaks volumes about the dangers of working in that environment!

Regulations for Confined Space entry fall into this category and you only have to look at the statistics to understand why. In normal work places, for every 1,400 accidents reported, one results in a death or serious injury. In confined spaces, it is one in ten! Also, for every person dying in a confined space, almost two people die trying to execute a rescue. Many of these are un-trained rescuers, to include professional rescuers, brave and compassionate they may be, but the results are the same, death.
 
In 1993 the USA became the first country to enforce dedicated Confined Space Regulations CFR 1910.146 Industrial & CFR 1926.21 Construction, on a national scale. In a very short time frame, safety of workers in confined spaces has become a national issue, even a global issue, though it has been a problem for generations.  They also mandate that workers understand the hazards of working in confined spaces, are properly trained and equipped to handle them. They also have access to a fully trained and fully equipped Rescue Team in the event of a problem and or a possible rescue operation.

The OSHA standard allows for an outside agency to provide rescue services. The outside Rescue Service must meet the OSHA requirements and be contacted prior to entering the Space, with sufficient advance notice that the team will have an opportunity to evaluate and execute the procedures necessary for rescue/retrieval in a timely manner. Merely posting the service's phone number or planning to rely on the 911 emergency phone number to obtain these services at the time of a permit space emergency would not comply with the OSHA standards, nor would it be time sensitive for an emergency rescue.