All PCBUs in NSW are mandated by WHS Regulations to have a Confined Space Rescue Plan in place. Calling emergency services is not a plan. Indeed, if dialling 000 is the extent of your preparation, you are undermining worker safety and putting your business at regulatory risk. Instead, a compliant rescue plan must identify all foreseeable hazards, outline ways to mitigate risks (if not eliminate them entirely), remain current, and be regularly reviewed.
In this guide, the experts at Sydney Safety Training take you step-by-step through developing a rescue plan. We explore what a rescue plan for confined space is, why it is required under NSW WHS laws, the essential elements it must contain, and how to train your teams to implement it safely and effectively.
Definition of a Confined Space
WHS Regulation 5 provides a detailed definition of a confined space as a place. In summary, it’s a place that is not intended for human occupation or one that is likely to pose a risk to human health and safety. There are many elements that can render a space unsafe, including:
- Oxygen depletion or enrichment
- Toxic or flammable atmospheres
- Flowing liquids or free-flowing solids
Tanks, silos, storage bins, sewers, drains, pipes, vats, pits, vessels and enclosed crawl spaces are all typical examples of confined space.
It’s also important to understand what is not deemed a confined space. Mine shafts, the workings of a mine, fumigated shipping containers with ground-level openings and cold storage units accessible by an LPG-fueled forklift are not considered defined spaces.
Why is a Confined Space Dangerous?
These spaces are high-risk, given that conditions can change suddenly. They typically lack adequate ventilation and have restricted entry and exit points. Physical hazards, including suffocation, drowning, burns, crushing hazards, exposure to extreme temperatures and electrocution, are just some of the potentially dangerous outcomes. Make no mistake – being trapped in a confined space is a life-threatening situation that you and your workplace must avoid at all costs.
Because these hazards exist and can change rapidly, a rescue plan is required to respond effectively.
Why is a Confined Space Rescue Plan Required in NSW?
Aside from a legal and moral obligation, there are many reasons to have a rescue plan in place.
- Save lives – a well-drilled plan in place can minimise rescue time and get victims the emergency care they need sooner rather than later.
- Protect rescuers – the very nature of a confined space means people attempting the rescue will also likely be at risk. Sending untrained individuals into such a scenario is negligent.
- Encourage operational efficiency – a solid plan should reduce business downtime and disruption.
- Improve workplace confidence and morale – your employees and contractors will feel more secure and have greater peace of mind knowing they have a well-drilled plan in place.
- Provide a clear framework – every member of your team understands the role they must play and their responsibilities.
Confined Space Rescue Plan Requirements
A thorough plan must address many elements, including:
- Identifying all confined spaces in your workplace
- List all confined spaces within your workplace, referencing the definition and assessing the conditions of each entry.
- Defining all potential and foreseeable hazards and their entry conditions
- For each space, define all reasonably foreseeable hazards (e.g., low oxygen, toxic gases, engulfment, electrical risk), entry/exit difficulties, atmosphere monitoring methods, etc.
- Outlining the emergency scenarios
- Define what could go wrong (e.g., worker incapacitation, gas release, engulfment). Each scenario should link to defined rescue methods.
- Establishing the rescue methods
- Specify whether the rescue is self-rescue (worker exits unaided), non-entry rescue (using retrieval lines, tripods) or entry rescue (trained team enters with breathing apparatus).
- Allocating roles and responsibilities
- In an emergency, confusion over who does what often delays rescue.
- Itemising the rescue and retrieval equipment required
- List all first-aid and safety rescue equipment (harnesses, winches, gas monitors, breathing apparatus, stretcher, communications gear). Ensure equipment is maintained and inspected regularly.
- Stating the communications procedures
- This includes raising the alarm. Detail how a worker inside the space will communicate with the outside, how to raise the alarm, and how to contact external emergency services if needed. Include any shift-work/weekend considerations.
- Providing medical and First Aid kits
- Ensure contents are always replenished and nothing is out of date.
- Scheduling in training, refresher training and drills
- Ensure personnel conduct regular drills and review the plan after any incident, near miss, or change in work method.
- Ensuring all personnel have read, understood and approved the plan
- The plan needs to be circulated among all relevant personnel, approved, signed, and reviewed regularly. Entry permits should reference the plan, and records must be kept.
- Ensuring the plan integrates with your Safe Work procedures
- The plan must align with your confined space entry permit system, safe work method statements (SWMS), isolation procedures and general emergency response plan.
Free Confined Space Rescue Plan Template PDF
Download our free Rescue Plan for Confined Space PDF, designed in accordance with the Safe Work Australia Code of Practice and NSW WHS compliance requirements.
Accredited Confined Space Rescue Training
A robust confined space rescue plan requires comprehensive, accredited training. Sydney Safety Training provides a raft of the highest quality courses for supervisors, standby/rescuers and refresher training. We also conduct thorough training for Sydney Water, gas permits and rescuing at heights.
With real-job, practical experience and outstanding regulatory and Code of Practice knowledge, our specialist team is best-placed to give your people the practical skills and hard-wired expertise they need to avoid or respond to a confined space rescue.
Whether you want to use our purpose-built Villawood training facility, or have our mobile training unit come to you, we’ll make it happen.
Contact Sydney Safety Training About Confined Space Rescue Courses
Confined space work remains one of the highest-risk activities across construction, plumbing, industrial and utilities sectors in NSW and Australia-wide. A carefully considered rescue plan tailored to your worksite, regularly reviewed, and fully integrated into your site’s safe work systems is not optional; it’s your legal and moral duty.
FAQs
A confined space rescue plan is a thorough, written document strategising and preparing to extract an individual from a dangerous and enclosed area. The site-specific rescue planning document includes a risk assessment, detailed procedures, trained rescue team identification, appropriate equipment, and communication protocols to ensure a rapid and safe response in an emergency.
Schedule reviews after any change in work method, equipment or any incident. Otherwise, ensure an annual review at minimum. Conduct drills at least every quarter to ensure top-of-mind for personnel.
That depends on the hazards and rescue methods for each space. The necessary rescue equipment may include tripods, winches, harnesses, breathing apparatus, gas monitors, communications gear, and stretchers.