WAC 296-305-05003   Confined space rescue operations.  (1) Fire departments shall comply with chapter 296-62 WAC, Part M for their own confined spaces.

     (2) Fire departments which have been contracted as an outside rescue service provider shall also comply with Part M and in particular the specific provisions of WAC 296-62-14150(2) which requires authorized entrant training and rescue practices from the host's actual permit spaces or representative permit spaces.

     (3) Fire departments which have responded or will respond to calls to perform rescue from a noncontracted permit-required confined space are required to have each member of a rescue team practice making permit space rescues at least every 12 months by means of simulated rescue operations in which they remove dummies, mannequins or actual persons from permit space. A permit is required for the practice permit space entry.

     (4) During an actual rescue response, written and/or verbally recorded hazard sizeup will be allowed in lieu of the written permit requirements in WAC 296-62-14507 and 296-62-14509 and shall be completed prior to any entry. This sizeup shall include at a minimum:

     (a) Recognition and declaration of the situation as a confined space incident.

     (b) Denial of entry to unprotected persons.

     (c) Assessment of all readily available confined space documentation, e.g., MSDSs, any existing permit, plans or blueprints of the space.

     (d) Assessment of number of victim(s), locations and injury conditions.

     (e) Discussion with witnesses, supervisor, etc.

     (f) Assessment of any current or potential space hazards, in particular, any hazard(s) which lead to the necessary rescue.

     (g) Determination and declaration if body recovery or victim rescue.

     (5) At confined space incidents, at least two people outside shall be equipped with appropriate breathing apparatus to act as the back-up team, which shall remain free of the contaminated area in order to rescue disabled firefighters.

     (6) Written documentation of the rescue team's training on the fire department's confined space operating procedures, authorized entrant training, if applicable, the contracted host's confined space program. A record of each of the hazard sizeups shall be maintained for at least one year.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040,[49.17].050 . 02-12-098, § 296-305-05003, filed 6/5/02, effective 8/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010,[49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 96-11-067, § 296-305-05003, filed 5/10/96, effective 1/1/97.]