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Developed and maintained
by the NFCC

Control measure

Confined space: Risk assessment

TRAINING SPECIFICATION

Knowledge and understanding

Control measure element Learning outcome

Fire and rescue service policies and resources

Understand:

  • The service’s policy on:
    • What type and complexity of confined space incidents can be dealt with by initial non-specialist personnel
    • How more complex confined space incidents will be handled
    • Details of the specialist resources and equipment that may be required

Identify potential hazards

Understand:

  • How to gather information about the hazards present in a confined space

Risk assess the benefits of entering the confined space

Understand:

  • How to carry out a risk assessment for confined space working

Safe system of work

Understand:

  • What elements should inform the safe system of work
  • The need for emergency arrangements

Practical application

Control measure element Learning outcome

Incident commanders must:

Ensure that personnel do not enter a confined space prior to carrying out a risk assessment

Demonstrate the ability to:

  • Risk-assess the confined space prior to committing personnel when entry is unavoidable

Incident commanders must:

Establish a safe system of work and emergency arrangements prior to personnel entering a confined space

Demonstrate the ability to:

  • Establish a safe system of work for personnel entering a confined space
  • Establish emergency arrangements when personnel are entering a confined space

Adhere to their service’s policy when responding to confined space incidents

Demonstrate the ability to:

  • Adhere to service policy when:
    • Deploying personnel to a confined space incident
    • Attending a confined space incident
    • Deploying personnel to a confined space