• 

  Identify best access route, rendezvous point (RVP) and marshalling area and communicate to all responders

• Establish the last known position (LKP) or place last seen (PLS) of casualties, including times
• Identify the casualty's level of consciousness and offer reassurance where possible
• 
  Question the casualty, other responders and witnesses to understand incident factors and history
• 

  Identify the location of suitable access and egress routes before committing crews to a confined space

• Investigate the possibility of ingress from gas, liquids or flowing materials into the confined space
• 

  Carry out testing and monitoring of the atmosphere and use the results to inform the incident plan

• All incident information:
• 

  Gather information from available sources to gain accurate situational awareness and understanding

• 

  Question the responsible person, other responders and witnesses to understand incident factors and history

• 
  Confirm and communicate the involvement, num​ber and severity of any casualties (persons or animals)
• 

  Ensure that a scene survey is carried out at the earliest opportunity

• 

  Access any operational or site specific risk information (SSRI) and confirm accuracy

• 

  Debrief crews that have withdrawn from a working area during an incident to gain operational intelligence

• 

  Maintain situational awareness and identify changes during the incident through active monitoring and regular briefings

• Further incident information

  • 
    Identify number and last known position (LKP) of any occupants in need of rescue or assistance to evacuate
  • 

    Access past, present and future weather information from sources such as the Met Office

  • 

    Consider using the facilities available in the infrastructure control room to monitor the incident

  • All incident information:
  • 

    Use local knowledge, topography and map reading skills to aid navigation to an incident

  • 

    Ensure that tracks and pathways are suitable for fire service vehicles

  • 

    Consider the least damaging routes to incidents and where possible, stay on marked paths and tracks

  • 

    Consider Step 1-2-3 Plus: Safety Triggers for Emergency Personnel

  • 

    Access past, present and future weather information from sources such as the Met Office

  • 

    Ascertain the availability of pre-arranged evacuation strategies and policies

  • 

    Consider pollution prevention information contained within site specific risk plans

  • 

    Seek advice from landowners and other bodies on susceptible areas of the environment

  • 

    Review situational awareness following an emergency evacuation or tactical withdrawal

• 

  Request adequate resources to enable effective search and timely extrication of casualties

• 

  Request technical rescue teams to attend incidents involving confined space or work at height

• 

  Confirm that required agencies have been requested or notified (e.g. Police, Ambulance, environmental agencies)

• 

  Request expert advice or assistance based on the extent and urgency of the underground structure incident

• Further resource information

  • 

    Consider using a range of thermal imaging resources such as aerial appliances, drones and helicopters

  • Allocate sufficient personnel to support the use of PPE and RPE that has been implemented for confined space working
  • 

    Consider requesting specialist advice or assistance for atmospheric monitoring

  • All incident information:
  • 

    Identify best access route, rendezvous point (RVP) and marshalling area and communicate to all responders

  • 
    Consider requesting facilities for the welfare of crews deployed at protracted incidents
  • 

    Consider the availability of pollution control equipment and/or pollution containment facilities on site

  • 

    Make use of specialist fire and rescue service or on-site environmental protection equipment

  • 

    Consider the appointment of a HMA (or equivalent) to oversee environmental protection activities

  • 

    Request medical support at rescue incidents as soon as a need is identified

• Restricted access and egress

  • Identify and communicate access and egress routes to crews considering the incident plan and environment
  • 

    Establish and maintain safe means of access to and egress from scene of operations at all times

  • Account for extended travel times in the incident plan and include contingencies for restricted access and egress
  • Only use access lifts and transport approved for fire and rescue service purposes

• Flammable or explosive atmospheres

  • 

    Carry out testing and monitoring of the atmosphere and use the results to inform the incident plan

  • Consider ventilating confined spaces to improve internal conditions
  • Isolate or limit all ignition sources before ventilating a confined space where flammable gases are present
  • 

    Isolate the confined space from the ingress of gas, liquids or flowing materials

  • Use only intrinsically safe equipment in confined spaces where there is a risk of a flammable or explosive atmosphere
  • 

    Ensure that all personnel wear the type of RPE identified by service risk assessments, procedures and training

• Extremes of temperature or humidity

  • Enforce appropriate restrictions on the time crews can be committed to working in a confined space
  • Monitor personnel for signs and symptoms of fatigue, dehydration, heat or cold stress
  • Instigate appropriate medical interventions if personnel show signs and symptoms of physiological stress
  • 

    Consider task rotation when  personnel are carrying out  manual handling tasks

• Irrespirable atmosphere

  • 

    Carry out testing and monitoring of the atmosphere and use the results to inform the incident plan

  • Identify the presence of residual sludge and other deposits before committing crews to a confined space
  • 

    Reduce the risk of fumes and gases from disturbed residual sludge and deposits in a confined space

  • 

    Ensure that all personnel wear the type of RPE identified by service risk assessments, procedures and training

• Ingress of water or liquid

  • 

    Access past, present and future weather information from sources such as the Met Office

  • 

    Identify the potential for liquids to enter confined spaces, including surface water

  • Isolate all sources of liquid ingress to confined spaces where possible
  • Implement suitable contingency arrangements where there is a risk of liquid ingress into a confined space

• Free flowing solids

  • 

    Identify the potential for liquids to enter confined spaces, including surface water

  • Where isolation or removal is possible, ensure that it occurs before personnel are committed to the space

• Unstable natural or built environment

  • 

    Assess and monitor the effectiveness shoring

  • 

    Consider requesting specialist tactical advice and resources for shoring

  • 

    Liaise with civil engineering specialists on-site and the tactical adviser from the fire and rescue service

  • 

    Liaise with the responsible person or competent person if required

• Plant and machinery

  • Request advice from responsible person or engineer regarding isolation and lock out of power supplies
  • 

    Consider Isolating power supplies to on-site machinery

  • 

    Liaise with the responsible person or process expert to obtain specialist advice on machinery involved

• Live utilities

  • 

    Liaise with the owner or occupier, on-site engineers or maintenance engineers regarding power systems

  • 

    Consider isolating the power supplies, considering the impact on any critical systems

  • 

    Identify any sources of renewable energy generation such as photovoltaic panels or wind power

  • 

    Ensure that PPE is worn in accordance with service risk assessment for live utilities

• All incident information:

• Working environment

  • 

    Identify bodies of water, unstable ground and risks of falling from height in working environment

  • 

    Consider the effect of weather conditions and time of day on the working environment

  • 

    Ensure that all personnel are briefed on the current hazards, risks, control measures and tactical mode

  • 

    Establish and maintain safe means of access to and egress from scene of operations at all times

  • 

    Establish, identify and communicate safe traffic routes, establish clear zones and equipment points

  • 

    Provide lighting to illuminate hazards to personnel in poorly lit environments

  • 

    Ensure that all personnel wear the level of PPE identified by service risk assessments, procedures and training

• Weather conditions

  • Monitor personnel for signs and symptoms of fatigue, dehydration, heat or cold stress
  • 

    Consider task rotation when  personnel are carrying out  manual handling tasks

  • 

    Consider relief and welfare arrangements to reduce the effects of stress and fatigue on themselves and others

  • Instigate appropriate medical interventions if personnel show signs and symptoms of physiological stress

• Noise

  • 

    Consider isolating sources of noise

  • 

    Keep the number of people exposed to the hazard at a minimum and reduce time of exposure through personnel rotation

  • 

    Ensure personnel wear appropriate hearing protectors

• Heavy and bulky objects

  • 

    Consider using machinery or other equipment to assist with manual handling risk

  • 

    Request additional or specialist resources to assist with manual handling tasks

  • 

    Consider the task, individual capabilities, load and environment (TILE) when carrying out risk assessments for manual handling

  • 

    Ensure personnel adopt the provided safe system of manual handling

• Moving vehicles

  • Be vigilant and co-operate with service procedures relating to vehicle movements
  • 

    Position appliances to fend-off vehicles and use warning signs, lights and cones

  • 

    Consider taking steps to minimise the risk of collisions 

• Animals

  • 

    Avoid, contain or control animals if necessary

  • 

    Request support with managing animals from owners, keepers, police, vets or welfare organisations

• Hazardous materials

  • Identify whether the incident should be reclassified as a hazardous materials response
  • Remove unaffected chemicals from the hazard area if safe to do so
  • 

    Comply with service protocols when handling substances that are hazardous to health

  • Ensure open wounds, cuts and grazes are covered by a waterproof dressing
  • 

    Comply with hygiene arrangements and do not eat, drink, smoke or vape

• Body fluids

  • Avoid contact with body fluids where possible

  • Isolate or cover body fluids following casualty removal

  • Wear body fluid gloves and cover broken skin with waterproof dressing

  • Instigate decontamination procedures following exposure of personnel and equipment to body fluids

• Distressing or traumatic scenes

  • Minimise number of personnel exposed to traumatic scenes where possible
  • 

    Handover responsibility for traumatic incidents to an appropriate agency where the fire service does not have primacy

  • Erect screens to restrict the view of traumatic scenes

• Violence and aggression

  • 

    Consider adopting defensive tactics if people are displaying unpredictable, aggressive, violent or illegal behaviour 

  • 

    Request police support at incidents involving violence and aggression towards crews

• Restrict the access of persons to premises or a place if they reasonably believe an emergency to have occurred

• Further powers, policies and procedures

  • All incident information:
  • Close a highway, stop and regulate traffic:
    • if a road traffic accident has occurred
    • for the purpose of rescuing people or protecting them from serious harm
    • if they reasonably believe a fire to have broken out or to be about to break out
    • for the purpose of extinguishing or preventing the fire or protecting life or property
  • 

    Consider applying operational discretion where outcomes would justify unusual, unorthodox or innovative action

  • 
    Outcomes which would justify applying operational discretion include:
    • Saving human life
    • Taking decisive action to prevent an incident escalating
    • Incidents where taking no action may lead others to put themselves in danger
  • 

    Return to operational procedures when the objective has been achieved

  • 

    Ensure that no person shall enter a confined space unless it is not reasonably practicable to achieve without such entry

• 

  Maintain the safety of all personnel, other responders and the public

• 

  Save life and reduce harm

• Further objectives

  • All incident information:
  • 

    Consider the JESIP principles at all incidents involving multi-agency operations

  • 

    Consider taking action to prevent a serious escalation of the incident

  • 
    Protect Critical National Infrastructure and/or local critical infrastructure
  • 

    Minimise the impact of the incident and fire service actions on any identified environmental risk

• 

  Implement a co-ordinated search plan, define parameters and sub-divide the area where necessary

• 

  Consider benefits to casualty of immediate extrication or medical attention in-situ

• 

  Develop a plan based on Locate, Access, Stabilise, Transport (LAST) principles

• Evaluate a range of options that avoid committing personnel to work in a confined space
• Commit personnel to work in a confined space only following a full risk assessment
• Implement appropriate tag line and recovery systems for teams working within confined spaces
• Ensure that emergency arrangements are maintained and resourced for the duration of the incident
• 

  Co-ordinate the evacuation, ventilation, fixed installation and intervention strategies simultaneously

• Further tactical priorities

  • 

    Develop a plan based on Locate, Access, Stabilise, Transport (LAST) principles

  • Identify the number of casualties requiring medical attention and instigate a triage process
  • All incident information:
  • 

    Apply the firefighter safety maxim and safe person principles at operational incidents

  • 

    Identify and communicate the hazard area and establish a safe working area as soon as is practicable

  • 

    Anticipate the likely development of the incident and evaluate the potential consequences of a range of actions

  • 

    Develop and communicate an incident plan considering contingencies arrangements

  • Consider the competence of individuals and teams when allocating tasks
  • 

    Regularly review and update incident plan in response to active monitoring of the situation against expected outcomes

  • 

    Review the tactical mode following active monitoring and briefings with sector commanders

  • 

    Periodically review the analytical risk assessment using situational awareness from active monitoring

  • 

    Use the Joint Decision Model to co-ordinate an effective response at multi-agency incidents

  • Identify the need to evacuate and develop a strategy in liaison with partner agencies

  • 

    Communicate emergency evacuation signal and muster point arrangements to all personnel

  • 

    Secure the scene to ensure evidence is preserved for internal and external investigations

  • 

    Carry out an environmental risk assessment and monitor the impact of tactics on the identified risk

  • Assign suitably trained responders to carry out casualty assessment and provide treatment

• 

  Carry out testing and monitoring of the atmosphere and use the results to inform the incident plan

• 

  Deploy an appropriate team size into confined or restricted areas for search and rescue task

• Make a safe approach to the casualty and maintain a safe environment for all involved
• 

  Establish and maintain contact with the casualty

• Protect casualties by physically isolating them from immediate harm where possible

• Consider the need for immediate rescue or a means of securing the casualty

• Establish tag line and recovery systems for crews deployed around unstable ground

• Further operational tactics

  • All incident information:
  • 
    Consider the potential effects of incident development when positioning appliances
  • Identify the number of casualties requiring medical attention and instigate a triage process
  • 

    Instigate and communicate hygiene arrangements, facilities and consider decontamination

  • 

    Implement an appropriate protection plan when an identified nature conservation site is at risk

  • Assign suitably trained responders to carry out casualty assessment and provide treatment

• Establish an effective system of communication considering distances and the working environment
• 

  Conduct regular communication checks to ensure equipment continues to function

• 

  Implement fallback procedures should there be a failure in the communications equipment

• Brief search teams on plans, parameters and casualty information, confirming understanding
• Provide a structured handover when transferring casualty to medical responders

• Further communication

  • 

    Use the most effective methods for communicating with people who are either directly or indirectly involved in the incident 

  • Establish a media liaison point and brief a nominated media liaison officer
  • 

    Liaise and work with on-site staff or the contractor's specialist teams where they are available

  • 

    Ensure communication systems are effective in subsurface and tunnel environments

  • All incident information:
  • 

    Identify best access route, rendezvous point (RVP) and marshalling area and communicate to all responders

  • 

    Communicate any change in the tactical mode of a sector of the incident to all personnel

  • 

    Communicate objectives, priorities and tactics to be adopted in resolving the incident

  • 

    Deliver clear, concise and timely briefings to crews, command support functions and other agencies

  • Ensure all personnel are aware of the incident command structure and communication strategy
  • Establish a media liaison point and brief a nominated media liaison officer
  • Use plain English to communicate information where a lack of common understanding exists
  • 

    Regularly pass information to fire control regarding incident progress

  • 

    Communicate emergency evacuation signal and muster point arrangements to all personnel

  • 

    Ensure that all appropriate environmental agencies are informed of the incident when required

  • 

    Use the most effective methods for communicating with people who are either directly or indirectly involved in the incident 

  • Use only intrinsically safe equipment in confined spaces where there is a risk of a flammable or explosive atmosphere

• 

  Ensure that all personnel wear the level of PPE identified by service risk assessments, procedures and training

• 

  Ensure that all personnel wear the type of RPE identified by service risk assessments, procedures and training

• 

  Communicate emergency evacuation signal and muster point arrangements to all personnel

• 

  Consider decontamination of personnel, PPE and equipment prior to redeployment

• 

  Follow service protocols for post incident health surveillance and monitoring

• Further incident closure and handover

  • All incident information:
  • 

    Consider whether appliances, personnel, equipment and other resources can be released from the incident

  • 

    Conduct an inventory check and ensure equipment receives appropriate after use inspection and testing

  • 

    Consider decontamination of personnel, PPE and equipment prior to redeployment

  • 

    Consider the condition and serviceability of PPE when assessing operational readiness for redeployment

  • 

    Secure the scene to ensure evidence is preserved for internal and external investigations

  • 

    Gather relevant information for the incident recording system

  • Conduct a structured debrief at a level appropriate to the size of the incident
  • Record and share significant findings from incident debriefs
  • 

    When appropriate instigate a review of existing guidance following the use of operational discretion

  • 

    Ensure differences in information are resolved and systems updated following the closure of an incident

  • 

    Compile and secure all incident command paperwork (e.g. analytical risk assessment and decision logs)

  • 

    Ensure that waste products created by the fire and rescue service are disposed of legally and responsibly

  • 

    Follow service protocols for post incident health surveillance and monitoring

  • 

    Instigate and co-operate with post incident investigations where necessary

CONFINED SPACE 

While at least one of the five specified risks must be present or reasonably foreseeable for a space to be classified as confined, there are other associated hazards that may be encountered when working in confined spaces. See flow chart below: