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Developed and maintained
by the NFCC

Control measure

Confined space: Health and safety considerations

TRAINING SPECIFICATION

Knowledge and understanding

Control measure element Learning outcome

Selection and use of suitable equipment

Understand:

  • The need for equipment to be appropriate to the environment, especially if there is an explosive atmosphere
  • The need to appropriately select and secure equipment when it is being used in a confined space

Personal protective equipment and respiratory protective equipment

Understand:

  • Ensure the PPE and RPE used in confined spaces takes into account:
    • Limited space and movement
    • High temperatures
    • The potential need for emergency evacuation of responders

Access and egress

Understand:

  • The need to identify and monitor access and egress routes
  • The need to identify alternative routes and when they may need to be used
  • The importance of maintaining the access and egress routes
  • Why it may be necessary to increase the size of openings to, or in, confined spaces
  • The benefits of appointing a confined space supervisor

Lighting

Understand:

  • The need for lighting equipment to be appropriate to the environment, especially if there is an explosive atmosphere

Be aware of electrostatic build-up

Understand:

  • What causes electrostatic build-up
  • What hazards are presented by electrostatic build-up

Establish arrangements to deal with firefighter emergencies

Understand:

  • The legislative requirements for establishing arrangements to deal with firefighter emergencies
  • The need for recovery systems

Limiting working time

Understand:

  • Why there may be a need to limit the time period that personnel are allowed to work in a confined space

Practical application

Control measure element Learning outcome

Incident commanders must:

Establish and maintain a recovery system for personnel deployed into confined space environments

Demonstrate the ability to:

  • Ensure there is a recovery system in place for all personnel entering the confined space hazard area

Incident commanders must:

Ensure that emergency arrangements are maintained and resourced for the duration that personnel are committed to confined spaces

Demonstrate the ability to:

  • Ensure there are suitable and sufficient arrangements for the rescue of personnel from the confined space in an emergency

Use only ATEX approved equipment in confined spaces if there is a risk of an explosive atmosphere

Demonstrate the ability to:

  • Ensure only ATEX approved equipment is used in a confined space, if there is the risk of an explosive atmosphere

Appropriately select and secure equipment used in a confined space to prevent it causing harm

Demonstrate the ability to:

  • Ensure equipment is appropriately selected and secured when it is being used in a confined space

Identify the appropriate PPE and RPE for confined space work

Demonstrate the ability to:

  • Ensure personnel use appropriate PPE and RPE when working in a confined space

Ensure that access and egress is appropriate for the operations being undertaken within the confined space and include contingencies for restricted access and egress

Demonstrate the ability to:

  • Identify and monitor access and egress routes
  • Identify alternative routes to be used in the event of the original access and egress presenting intolerable risks or becoming unsuitable during the incident
  • Maintain the access and egress route so that all personnel working in the confined space are able to withdraw as quickly as possible if required
  • Consider increasing the size of openings to, or in, confined spaces if they are not sufficient
  • Use a confined space supervisor to provide updates on hazards and operational requirements

Ensure that lighting equipment being used in a confined space is appropriate to the environment and hazards present

Demonstrate the ability to:

  • Ensure any lighting equipment used in a confined space is appropriate to the environment

Consider seeking advice from specialist rescue teams, confined space supervisors or on-site staff about the hazard of electrostatic build-up

Demonstrate the ability to:

  • Consider the presence of and seek advice on the hazard of electrostatic build-up

Eliminate or isolate sources of ignition if there is a risk of flammable gases in or near to a confined space

Demonstrate the ability to:

  • Control the impact of sources of ignition through the use of cordons
  • Ensure smoking and vaping are not allowed in or near to a confined space

Account for extended times in the incident plan due to difficulties operating in a confined space

Demonstrate the ability to:

  • Factor extended travel and access times into the incident plan

Consider limiting the time personnel can be committed to working in a confined space

Demonstrate the ability to:

  • Control the duration time for working in a confined space