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RESCUE IN CONFINED SPACE

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES

LIST THE VARIOUS TYPES OF CONFINED SPACES
UNDERSTAND THE DANGERS AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS IN CONFINED SPACE RESCUE
ABLE TO EXECUTE THE 6 METHODS OF RESCUE IN CONFINED SPACE

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SCOPE

DEFINITION OF CONFINED SPACE
TYPES OF CONFINED SPACES
CHARACTERISTICS AND HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH CONFINED SPACES
RESCUE ACTION PLAN
EMERGENCY CASUALTY EVACUATION
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
CONCLUSION

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INTRODUCTION

RESCUE IN CONFINED SPACES ARE OFTEN CHALLENGING
MOST HAZARDOUS AMONG ALL RESCUE ACTIVITIES
6 OUT OF 10 KILLED ARE UNTRAINED
SAFETY OF RESCUERS MOST IMPORTANT (YOUR SAFETY)

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DEFINITION

MEET ALL THREE OF THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTICS/DESCRIPTIONS:

1) LARGE ENOUGH FOR HUMAN ENTRY/WORKS

2) LIMITED OR RESTRICTED MEANS FOR

ENTRY/EXIT

3) NOT DESIGNED FOR CONTINUOUS OCCUPANCY

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CONFINED SPACES

EXAMPLES

TANKS
DUCTS
CLOSED DRAINS & SEWERS
ANY CLOSED AREAS LIKE MANHOLES & SHALLOW DRAINS, ETC
SILOS
COLLAPSED STRUCTURES

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EXAMPLES

Silos

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EXAMPLES

Collapsed Structures

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HAZARDS IN CONFINED SPACES ...

...

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HAZARDS

1. HAZARDOUS ATMOSPHERE

HYDROGEN SULFIDE
CARBON MONOXIDE
EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERE
LOW OXYGEN
OTHER HAZARDOUS MATERIAL

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HAZARDS

2. FALL RISK

SLIPPERY LADDERS
RUSTY, UNSTABLE WALKWAYS
MECHANICAL FAILURE OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT

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HAZARDS

3. MECHANICAL HAZARDS

MOVING BELTS OR OTHER MACHINERY
ELECTRICAL HAZARDS
HIGH PRESSURE PIPE BLOWOUTS

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HAZARDS

4. FLOODING OR ENGULFMENT POTENTIAL

STORM SEWERS
HOPPERS
GRAIN BINS

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RESCUE ACTION PLAN

CASUALTY ASSESSMENT & CARE

APPROACH WITH CARE
IF ATMOSPHERE IS SAFE, BEGIN PRIMARY ASSESSMENT
IF ATMOSPHERE IS UNSAFE, REMOVE CASUALTY IMMEDIATELY / DO NOT ENTER

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SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

EMERGENCY RESPONSE

DON’T RUSH IN
DON’T TRY ALONE
CALL BACK-UP
STANDBY TEAM TO HELP/ASSIST
VENTILATE

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SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

EMERGENCY RESPONSE

FOLLOW CORRECT PROCEDURES
STAY ALERT AND GET READY TO GET OUT QUICKLY WHEN YOU NOTICE ANY WORRYING SIGNS

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SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

SAFE WORK PROCEDURES

RESCUERS TO STANDBY
MAINTAIN COMMUNICATIONS
SAFETY HARNESS & SAFETY LINES
NON-SPARKING EQUIPMENT
PROPER INSULATION OF ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES
PRECAUTIONS FOR HOT WORKS

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Forward Drag (Rescue Crawl or Neck Drag)
Cross Chest Method
Collar Pull
Leg Pull
Blanket

Methods of Emergency Casualty Evacuation from Confined Spaces

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Forward Drag or Rescue Crawl

or Neck Drag - (casualty without hand injury)

1. Tie casualty’s

arms securely

at both wrists

with triangular

bandages

2. Kneel astride

3. Pass your head through

casualty’s arms

4. Straighten your arms

to lift casualty

5. Drag out casualty

by crawling and pushing

your feet

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Pass belt, rope or triangular bandage under casualty near armpits.

2. Kneel astride casualty

Forward Drag or Rescue Crawl

or Neck Drag - (casualty with hand injuries)

3. Pass loop over your head.

4. Straighten your arms.

5. Drag casualty forward by crawling and pushing your feet

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1. Lift casualty to sitting position

2. Sit behind casualty with both legs apart

Cross-Chest Method

(Unconscious casualty with minor injuries

3. Place casualty’s hands crossed across chest with fingers on shoulders

4. Insert your arm under the casualty’s armpit and hold the outer arm of casualty

5. Drag out casualty backwards

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CASUALTY MAY BE CONSCIOUS OR UNCONSCIOUS, WITH OR WITHOUT FRACTURE.

Rescue Using a Blanket

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Collar pull method

Employed when earlier methods cannot be used.
Casualty’s head is positioned in direction of exit

Leg pull method

Last resort in very confined spaces under life threatening situation.
Casualty’s legs are in direction of exit and casualty cannot be repositioned.

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PRACTICAL

Practice all the 6 Rescue methods while given a scenario

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CONCLUSION