WAC 296-809-50014   Make sure you have adequate rescue and emergency services available.  

     You must:

     (1) Make sure you have adequate rescue and emergency services available during your permit-required confined space entry operations.

     • Evaluate and select rescue teams or services who can:

     – Respond to a rescue call in a timely manner. Timeliness is based on the identified hazards. Rescuers must have the capability to reach potential victims within an appropriate time frame based on the identified permit space hazards.

     – Proficiently rescue employees from a permit-required confined space in your workplace. Rescuers must have the appropriate equipment for the type of rescue.

     • Make sure that at least one member of the rescue team or service holds a current certification in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

     • Inform each rescue team or service about the hazards they may confront when called to perform rescue.

     • Provide the rescue team or service with access to all permit spaces from which rescue may be necessary.

     – This will allow them to develop appropriate rescue plans and to practice rescue operations.

Note:

What will be considered timely will vary according to the specific hazards involved in each entry. For example, chapter 296-842 WAC, Respirators, requires that employers provide a standby person or persons capable of immediate action to rescue employee(s) for work areas considered to contain an IDLH atmosphere.

     (2) Employees assigned to provide permit-required confined space rescue and emergency services must be provided, at no cost to the employee, with:

     • Personal protective equipment (PPE) needed for safe entry.

     • Other equipment required to conduct rescues safely.

     • Training so they are:

     – Proficient in the use of the PPE and other equipment.

     – Proficient as an entrant of permit-required confined spaces.

     – Able to safely perform assigned rescue and emergency duties.

     – Knowledgeable in basic first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

     • Practice sessions for permit-required confined space rescues at least once every twelve months where dummies, manikins, or actual persons are removed from either:

     – The actual permit spaces; or

     – Representative permit spaces that simulate the opening size, configuration, and accessibility, of permit spaces where rescue will be performed.

     (3) Establish procedures for:

     • Contacting rescue and emergency services.

     • Rescuing entrants from permit-required confined spaces.

     • Providing necessary emergency services to rescued entrants.

     • Preventing unauthorized persons from attempting a rescue.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. 09-05-071, § 296-809-50014, filed 2/17/09, effective 4/1/09; 04-03-081, § 296-809-50014, filed 1/20/04, effective 5/1/04.]