Roco's New RescueTalk™ Podcast
RescueTalk™ Podcasts explore critical topics for technical, industrial and municipal rescue professionals, emergency responders and safety personnel. Learn about confined space rescue, OSHA compliance, NFPA standards, fall protection, trench rescue, off-shore considerations, rescue equipment, training and more. Get it now.
New from OSHA: Is 911 your Confined Space Rescue Plan?
OSHA has a new Fact Sheet for “Confined Spaces in Construction” that is designed to keep workers and emergency responders safe in permit-required confined spaces.
The new document from OSHA stresses that employers must select a service that has the ability to respond and conduct rescue in a timely manner based on site conditions and potential hazards specific to the space. It also states that “an employer who relies on local emergency services for assistance is required to meet the requirements of 1926.1211-Rescue and emergency services.”
This Fact Sheet includes information for emergency response providers along with key questions to consider before making a commitment to respond. It also emphasizes the importance of preplanning while encouraging service providers to work closely with employers in order to be properly prepared for the challenges they may face.
Click here to download OSHA Fact Sheet.“Permit-required confined spaces can present conditions that are immediately dangerous to workers’ lives or health if not properly identified, evaluated, tested and controlled.”
New CS Types Chart & Compliance Guide
This helpful new guide provides information for evaluating your rescue team or prospective rescue service based on the requirements of OSHA 1910.146 and 1926 Subpart AA. It includes a Rescue Team Evaluation Checklist from Appendix F and illustrates Confined Space Types 1-6, which is based on criteria from OSHA 1910.146. Roco’s method of categorizing confined spaces by various types can be useful in establishing practice requirements for your rescue service.
Responding in a safe, effective and timely manner to the various types of permit-required confined spaces at your facility is required by OSHA regulations 1910.146 (PRCS) and 1926 Subpart AA Confined Spaces in Construction.
An effective response by your rescue service is crucial to the safety of workers who are tasked with entering confined spaces to perform their job duties.
In order to be prepared, rescue teams can use this chart to plan their practice drills to include all of the various types of confined spaces. Appendix F of 1910.146 states that rescuers may practice in representative spaces that are considered “worst case” or most restrictive with respect to internal configuration, elevation and portal size. This illustrated guide will serve as a reminder to be prepared for the unexpected when planning for confined space emergencies for the safety of the rescuers and the entrants.
Request Your Free Confined Space Rescue Types Chart & Compliance Guide
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Confined Spaces in Construction: VPPPA Region VI
"Confined Spaces in Construction: Communication is Key!" will be the subject of a presentation by Roco's VPP Coordinator Pat Furr at the upcoming Region VI-VPP conference. The VPPPA Region VI Annual Safety & Health Conference will be held on May 16-19, 2016, at the Fort Worth Convention Center.
Presentation times are:
Tuesday, May 17th @ 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, May 18th @ 8:30 a.m.
This presentation will draw parallels and differences between the general industry and construction industry regulations for permit required confined space operations. Although there are similarities between the two regulations, there are also some very important differences.
We are still seeing fatalities in the construction industry that are directly attributable to poor coordination and communication and this presentation will go a long ways in clarifying those critical needs.
In addition to discussing some new definitions, and in particular the addition of some new roles and responsibilities, the need for clear coordination and communication between the various contractor entities will be emphasized.
Visit with Pat, Aimee and Chanie at Roco's Booth #506
Click the picture to download our Confined Spaces in Construction safety poster.
NFPA Issues New Guide for Confined Spaces
“Up until now, requesting or researching OSHA Letters of Interpretation or checking with other safety professionals was the means to get a clearer picture of ‘how’ to accomplish safe and compliant confined space entry. NFPA's Guide for Safe Confined Space Entry (NFPA350) helps to bridge that area from regulation to compliance. It is a ‘must have’ resource for safety professionals, confined space owners/workers and rescuers as well,” states, Dennis O'Connell, Director of Training for Roco Rescue, who served as an alternate committee member for NFPA 350.
Here's more from NFPA on their new guide...
Every year, confined space incidents result in worker deaths, injuries, and serious illnesses. The danger is widespread because all facilities can have confined spaces - from commercial buildings and hospitals to public works, utilities, and chemical/industrial facilities. By U.S. law, employees must comply with applicable regulations such as OSHA's 29 CFR 1910.146 and 29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA to ensure personnel safety. However, these regulations tell you 'what' to do, not 'how' to identify, evaluate, and control confined space hazards or conduct rescue response.
NFPA has just introduced NFPA 350: Guide for Safe Confined Space Entry and Work. This all-new guide is essential for anyone who enters confined spaces, along with facility managers, code officials, and safety personnel. NFPA 350 explains how to protect workers who enter into confined spaces for inspection or testing, or to perform associated work. Provisions address the full range of special hazards, including those present in water treatment, petrochemical, and agricultural facilities. It provides information to assist companies that need to comply with OSHA's Permit-Rquired Confined Spaces (29 CFR 1910.146) among other standards. In addition, NFPA 350 helps fire service and emergency services personnel develop and evaluate plans for confined space rescue in conjunction with NFPA 1670: Standard on Operations and Training for Technical Search and Rescue Incidents.
This guide will help you be prepared to recognize, evaluate, and control confined space entry hazards. Follow practices developed by experts for:
- • Identification of Confined Spaces
- • Evaluation of Hazards
- • Atmospheric Monitoring
- • Hazard Elimination and Control
- • Ventilation
- • Rescue and Rescue Planning
- • Confined Space Personnel Duties, Responsibilities, and Competencies
- • Pre-Entry Evaluation Forms and Permits
- • Management of Change
- • Prevention Through Design
- • OSHA Alternate Entry Procedures and Reclassification (Annex C)
As an added note, NFPA 350 looks at all confined spaces from a different prospective- i.e., all spaces are treated as "permit required" until it is proven that entry is safe or the proper precautions have been taken. This guide's impact in confined space work and rescue will be significant in reducing risk and meeting compliance issues. For more information, visit NFPA.org.
RescueTalk™ (RocoRescue.com) has been created as a free resource for sharing insightful information, news, views and commentary for our students and others who are interested in technical rope rescue. Therefore, we make no representations as to accuracy, completeness, or suitability of any information and are not liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis. Users and readers are 100% responsible for their own actions in every situation. Information presented on this website in no way replaces proper training!