Control measure

Avoid entry: Confined space

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TRAINING SPECIFICATION

Knowledge and understanding

Control measure element	Learning outcome
Achieving objectives while avoiding entry to a confined space	Understand: The relevant Confined Spaces Regulations What action to take if a risk assessment indicates that personnel should not be deployed into a confined space

Control measure element

Learning outcome

Achieving objectives while avoiding entry to a confined space

Understand:

The relevant Confined Spaces Regulations

What action to take if a risk assessment indicates that personnel should not be deployed into a confined space

NOS knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand:
You need to know and understand: 2920
K Hazards and risks of the workplace affecting people and the environment in relation to fire and rescue operational incidents K How to make and apply decisions based on the assessment of risk in relation to fire and rescue operational incidents K How to apply practices that maximise the health, safety and welfare of yourself and others during fire and rescue operational incidents K Fire service or other legislation relevant to carrying out search, rescue and casualty care
Health & Safety
K 1 Hazards and risks of the workplace affecting people and the environment in relation to fire and rescue operational incidents K 2 How to make and apply decisions based on the assessment of risk in relation to fire and rescue operational incidents K 3 How to apply practices that maximise the health, safety and welfare of yourself and others during fire and rescue operational incidents
Organisational
K 4 Fire service or other legislation relevant to carrying out search, rescue and casualty care

Practical application

Control measure element	Learning outcome
Incident commanders must: Evaluate the range of options that avoid committing personnel to work in a confined space	Demonstrate the ability to: Evaluate options that avoid the need for personnel to enter a confined space
Consider requesting specialist advice or assistance if the nature of the confined space is unsafe for personnel to enter	Demonstrate the ability to: Request appropriate specialist advice or assistance for an incident involving a confined space

Control measure element

Learning outcome

Incident commanders must:

Evaluate the range of options that avoid committing personnel to work in a confined space

Demonstrate the ability to:

Evaluate options that avoid the need for personnel to enter a confined space

Consider requesting specialist advice or assistance if the nature of the confined space is unsafe for personnel to enter

Demonstrate the ability to:

Request appropriate specialist advice or assistance for an incident involving a confined space

NOS performance criteria

You must be able to:
Respond to fire and rescue incidents
P 1 Confirm with relevant others your tasks and duties in relation to fire and rescue incidents in line with your role and responsibilities P 2 Establish key factors about fire and rescue incidents and inform others in line with your organisation’s procedures, including: 2.1 Extent 2.2 Nature 2.3 Location P 3 Establish risks affecting fire and rescue incidents in line with your organisation’s risk assessment procedures P 5 Operate within appropriate risk control measures in line with your organisation's procedures
Respond to fire and rescue incidents 2889
P Operate within appropriate risk control measures in line with your organisation's procedures

Control measure knowledge

Avoiding entry into a confined space to deal with an emergency, should always be the preferred approach. The Confined Spaces Regulations and the Confined Spaces Regulations (Northern Ireland) state:

'No person at work shall enter a confined space to carry out work for any purpose unless it is not reasonably practicable to achieve that purpose without such entry.'

If objectives can be achieved without entering the confined space, the risk of injury to personnel and worsening of conditions, for example, disturbance of sludge, in the confined space are significantly reduced. It is vital to assess the confined space to establish the risks presented by entry in comparison to the benefits of doing so.

All personnel should be aware of the limitations of their knowledge, training and equipment so they can assess the risk and make an informed tactical decision and intervention.

If the full risk assessment indicates that it is not safe enough for personnel to be deployed into the confined space, specialist advice or assistance should be requested. For further information refer to

Incident command – Specialist advice
Incident command – Specialist resources

If the confined space is in an industrial context, the responsible person or on-site staff may be able to provide the fire and rescue service with details of specialists who are competent to work in confined spaces.

Strategic actions

Fire and rescue services should:

Maintain a register of specialists from the fire and rescue service or other organisations who are competent to work in confined spaces

Tactical actions

Incident commanders should:

Evaluate the range of options that avoid committing personnel to work in a confined space
Consider requesting specialist advice or assistance if the nature of the confined space is unsafe for personnel to enter

Control measure
Confined space: Risk assessment

Height, structures and confined spaces

Control measure

Avoid entry: Confined space

Control measure

Avoid entry: Confined space

TRAINING SPECIFICATION

Knowledge and understanding

NOS knowledge and understanding

Practical application

NOS performance criteria

Control measure knowledge

Strategic actions

Tactical actions