Confined space rescue plan

When work takes place in confined spaces such as drains, silos or tanks, it’s essential that you have a rescue plan in place. Our template will help you prepare one.

Being prepared

The term “confined space” refers to a place such as a chamber, tank, vat, silo, pit, trench, pipe, sewer, flue, well or other similar enclosed space where there’s a foreseeable danger such as asphyxiation, toxic or flammable atmosphere, flooding or a free-flowing solid, e.g. grain.

Work in confined spaces is high risk unless it’s carried out by well-trained teams using specialist equipment such as man-riding winches, gas detectors and escape breathing apparatus.

Should you decide to undertake this work in-house it must be carried out in accordance with safe systems of work. Furthermore, to comply with Regulation 5 Confined Spaces Regulations 1997, you must put in place arrangements for emergencies. These plans must cover all types of foreseeable incident including injuries whilst using work equipment, the collapse of a structure, medical events, gas ingress, etc. To achieve this use our Confined Space Rescue Plan.

Our document is designed to be prepared in advance of the confined space by a trained confined space work supervisor. You’ll find information on the procedure to follow on page two of the form.