Brochure
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APPENDIXC
ConsiderationsforRescuefromaPermit‐RequiredConfinedSpace
GeneralRescueRequirements
Theequipmentspecifiedinthismanualisdesignedtoworkaspartofasystemtohelpfacilitatenon‐entryrescueandentryrescuefromconfined
spaces.
Confinedspacesvaryinsize,shape,configurationandhazard,andtheequipment/device(s)detailedinthismanualmaynotbesuitableforuse
duringsomepermit‐requiredconfinedspac
eentries.Hazardssuchasentanglement,electricarc,engulfment,andgeneralliftobstructionsmay
interferewithsaferescueandcausegreaterharmtotheentrant.
Allconfinedspaceentriesshouldbeplannedwheneverpossibleinsuchamannerthatanyforeseeablehazardismitigatedandnon‐entryrescue
canbefacilitated.
Inthecasethatnon‐entryrescueisnotfeasiblearescueplanmustbeinplacethatprovidesrescuerswithknowledgeaboutthespecificconfined
spacehazardstheymayencounterduringarescue,trainingonappropriaterescuemethodsfortheconfinedspacetheywillbeenteringandthe
correctequipmentandPPEtoperformtheentryrescue.PleasereferenceOSHAcodeCFR1926.1211forfurtherdetailsonemployer
responsibilitiesinpreparingforbothentryandnon‐entryrescue.
SystemConfigurationsforNon‐EntryRescueMethods
Whenenteringapermit‐requiredconfinedspacenon‐entryrescueisrequiredunlessretrievalequipmentwouldincreasetheoverallriskofentryor
wouldnotcontributetotherescueoftheworker.Mechanicaldevicesmustbeavailabletoretrievepersonnelfromverticaltypepermitspaces
morethan5feetdeep.Whenusingmechanicaldevicesfornon‐entryrescue,considerationmustbegiventothemeansofentry/egress,the
mitigationoffallhazardsandthemethodofemergencyretrieval.
1. SingleLine–WinchOnly–Entry/EgressUsingLadder
Whenasinglemechanicaldeviceisusedfornon‐entryrescueintoaconfinedspaceitservesonlyasbackup
totheworker’sprimaryentry/egress
method.Inmostcasestheprimarymeansofentry/egressintoaverticalconfinedspaceisaladder.
Whenusingonlyawinchasthebackuptotheentrant’sprimarymeansofentryandegress,theattendantshouldtakecaretokeepthewinchline
tauttoavoidanypotentialoverloadduetoafalleventonthewinchline.Thewinchisnotafallarrestdeviceandmustnotbesubjectedtofall
forces.Thewinchisforemergencyretrievalonly.SeeFigure1.
2. SingleLine–SRL‐ROnly–Entry/Egressusingladder
Whenasinglemechanicaldeviceisusedfornon‐entryrescueintoaconfinedspaceitservesonlyasbackuptotheworker’sprimaryentry/egress
method.Inmostcasestheprimarymeansofentry/egressintoaverticalconfinedspaceisaladder.
WhenusinganSRL‐Ronlyasabackuptotheworker’sprimarymeansofentryandegressthedevicecablewillpayfreel
yinandoutofthehousing
astheentrantmovesintothe verticalconfinedspace.IntheeventtheentrantfallstheSRL‐Rwillarrestthefallandreducefallforcesappliedto
thebody.Theattendantmaythenengagethebackupemergencyretrievalwinchtoraisetheentrantoutoftheconfinedspace.Theemergency
retrievalwinchisnottobeusedforordinaryentry/egressinandoutoftheconfinedspace.SeeFigure2.
3. DualLine–WinchandSRL/Alternate PFAS‐
Entry/EgressUsingLadder
Whenaconfinedspacehasanexistingladderbuttheattendantisunabletomaintainatautwinchlineastheentrantdescendsandascendsfrom
theconfinedspace,itispossibletousearegularSRDorFallArrestorConnectorSubsystem(FACSS)toprovideprotectionfromimpactingand
overloadingthewinchduringafallevent.
InthiscasethePFASprovidesfallprotectionastheworkerfreelymovesvertically,andthewinchprovidesbackupastheemergencyretrieval
devicefromtheconfinedspace.SeeFigure3.
4. DualLine–WinchandSRL‐R–Entry/EgressUsingaWinch
Whennoalternatemethodofentry/e
gress(suchasaladder)existstheconfinedspaceentrantwillbesuspended,raisedandloweredwiththe
winchlineattachedtoashoulderyokeorsternalD‐RingofaFullBodyHarness.AnSRL‐RisthenattachedtothedorsalD‐ringoftheFullBody
Harnesstoprovidefallarrestandemerge
ncyretrieval.Suspendedworkersarerequiredtohaveabackupsystemtotheirprimarymeansof
entry/egressthatwilllimitfallforcestothebodyandprovideemergencyretrievalintheeventofawinchmalfunction.SeeFigure4.
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