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Part 9 Confined Spaces
Rescue
9.37 Provision of rescue services
(1) The employer must provide for the services of rescue persons when a worker enters a confined space.
(2) If the rescue persons are employees of another firm, or an agency such as a fire department, there must be a written agreement detailing the services that are to be provided.
9.38 Equipment and training
(1) Every person assigned rescue duties must be properly equipped and adequately trained to carry out such duties.
(2) A practice drill must be conducted at least annually.
(3) Records of training and practice drills must be maintained by the employer of the rescue persons.
9.39 Notification
(1) Before a worker enters a confined space, the responsible supervisor or the standby person must notify rescue personnel of work in the space.
(2) The responsible supervisor or the standby person must notify rescue personnel when all workers have completed their work and exited from the space.
(3) If more than one confined space is to be entered at the same time, notification of rescue personnel to be on alert status at the commencement of work is adequate.
(4) Notification requirements in this section do not apply if the written agreement indicates that rescue personnel are available 24 hours each day.
9.40 Summoning rescue
The employer must ensure that rescue personnel monitor any signalling system that will be used to summon the rescue persons in the event of an emergency whenever they have been informed by the responsible supervisor or the standby person that a confined space entry is in progress.
9.41 Rescue procedures
(1) Rescue or evacuation from a confined space must be directed by a supervisor who is adequately trained in such procedures or a qualified rescue person.
(2) Effective voice communication must be maintained at all times between workers engaged in the rescue or evacuation and the person directing the rescue.
(3) A rescue worker must not enter a confined space unless there is at least one additional worker located outside to render assistance.
(4) A self-contained breathing apparatus, or air supplied respirator with escape bottle, must be used during rescue operations in an unknown or IDLH atmosphere.
Note: Rescue procedures must apply every possible effort to eliminate, control or reduce the risk to emergency personnel responding to emergency situations including the use of mechanical ventilation.
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