Contents
• Standard Operating Guidelines
• Equipment Review
• Practical Application
Confined Space Standard Operating
Guidelines
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A confined space shall be defined as a space that is large enough and
configured so that an employee can enter it, has limited means of
access and egress and is not designed for continuous occupancy.
A permit required confined space meets all of the same requirements
of a confined space plus one or more of the following: contains or has
a potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere, contains a material that
has the potential for engulfing an entrant, has an internal configuration
such that an entrant could be trapped by inwardly converging walls or
by a floor which slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross section
and/or contains any other recognized serious health hazards .
Any incident requiring rescue or removal of a victim from a confined
space shall require the response of the Technical Rescue Team.
No personnel shall enter a confined space without certified training and
equipment to do so.
Confined Space Standard Operating
Guidelines
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In general Operations level personnel shall be trained in recognizing
a confined space, identifying hazards associated with a confined
space and appropriate corrective measures to be taken to minimize
the hazards of a confined space incident.
Operations level personnel shall employ the following guidelines
when faced with a confined space rescue incident:
1) Request a technical rescue response from dispatch.
2) Initiate the Incident Management System (IMS)- including the
establishment of a staging area for incoming units and
personnel, as well as the implementation of the passport
accountability system.
3) Isolate the scene and deny entry to prevent further danger to
victim(s), personnel and bystanders.
Confined Space Standard Operating
Guidelines
4)
Gather information:
a. Rescue -vs- Recovery
b. Cause of incident
c. What function was the victim(s) performing in the confined space
d. Nature of injury or problem
i. Structural
ii. Mechanical
iii. Atmospheric
iv. Personal
e. Number of victims
f.
Specific victim information
g. Location of victim(s)
h. Location of alternative entry/access points
i.
Permit required or non-permit required space
j.
Identity of attendant or reporting party
Confined Space Standard Operating
Guidelines
5)
6)
7)
8)
Advise dispatch and incoming units of updated, detailed
information.
Attempt to obtain:
a. Blueprints of facility
b. Drawing or cross sections of actual confined space in
question
c. Copy of victim’s entry permit
Begin filling out the Fire Department Confined Space Entry
Permit.
Identify any possible or potential hazards and take the
appropriate steps to minimize or remove them.
a. Lock-out Tag-out procedures for utilities and machinery
b. Structural collapse or instability issues
c. Atmospheric conditions
Confined Space Standard Operating
Guidelines
9)
Assist the Technical Rescue Team as directed, staying within the
scope of Operations Level training. Tasks to include:
a. Serve as a haul team member
b. Operate safety lines
c. Set-up and operate ventilation and other rescue equipment
d. Monitor and run the air supply and communication systems
e. Air monitoring
Confined Space Standard Operating
Guidelines
10) Operations level personnel may attempt to perform a rescue if
ALL of the following criteria are met:
a. It is a rescue, not a body recovery
b. The victim is visible
c. Victim is within 25’ of the entry point, straight access
d. Entry is a horizontal access
e. SCBA is utilized and is able to remain on the firefighter’s
back at all times
f. Appropriate level of turnout gear is worn. (i.e hood,
gloves, pants, coat, helmet, boots, etc.)
g. A tagline is attached to the rescuer
h. All hazards have been addressed
11) Keep all unnecessary communications to a minimum during
rescue operations.
Ventilation Equipment
• “The purpose of
ventilation in a confined
space is to replace the
oxygen-deficient,
flammable, or toxic
environment with clean
air, and ultimately to
eliminate the
atmospheric hazards.”
CONINED SPACE RESCUE, Sargent,Chase. 2000, Fire
Engineering Books & Videos
Ventilation Equipment
• The primary piece of
ventilation equipment is the
electric powered, positive
pressure blower with ducting
• The electric blower should
be placed as close to the
entry point, of the confined
space, as possible. Make
note of the wind direction
and ensure that fresh air is
being introduced to the
space.
Supplied Air Breathing Apparatus
SABA
• The supplied air breathing
apparatus, in contrast to our
SCBA, supplies the rescuer
with a near endless supply of
air in which to enter the
confined space and perform
work. This is accomplished
through the use of a
manifold system and the use
of standard SCBA bottles.
This system is used in conjunction
with an escape bottle for the
rescuer
Supplied Air Breathing Apparatus
SABA
• The manifolds are stored on
the drivers side of L42.
Check with your TRT
member for location and
familiarity.
• You will find two complete,
and separate manifolds for
use. One for the Entry Team
- The other is for the standby/ back-up team.
Supplied Air Breathing Apparatus
SABA
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Begin set-up by identifying the
manifold to be used by the entry
team. Either can be used for this
purpose.
Retrieve two bottles, plus as many
spares as possible, and attach the
two bottles to the hose fittings
located on the manifold. Do not
begin operations until a cache of
spare bottles have been secured.
Once the bottles have been
attached you may turn on one of
the bottles to charge the system.
Please note that the manifold
system operates from only one
bottle at a time. Do not operate
with both bottles on at the same
time.
Supplied Air Breathing Apparatus
SABA
• Internal to the manifold system is a
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check valve. This allows for the
highest air pressure to provide the
air to the system.
By charging the system with one
bottle the valve allows air to enter
from this side. Once this bottle is
low we may charge the second
bottle, thus overriding the valve and
allowing the second bottle to
provide the air for the system.
Once we are operating off of bottle
#2 we may bleed off and disconnect
bottle #1; then replace with a fresh
bottle.
Repeat the above steps to ensure
that there is always a fresh bottle to
charge the system when the one
you are operating from has been
depleted.
Supplied Air Breathing Apparatus
SABA
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Once the system has been charged
we may attach the air line portion of
the “umbilicus”.
To do this- find the “male” end of
the air line, from the “umbilicus” or
the patient line, and insert it into one
of the “female” ports on the
manifold.
Please note that Locking Foster
fittings are utilized on the manifold
•
To connect to the “locking Foster
fitting” align the “notch” in the
female fitting with the “raised point”
on its post and press down on the
“female” fitting. Insert the “male”
end and release. Now turn the
“female” fitting so it is no longer
aligned and duct tape the connection
for safety.
Supplied Air Breathing Apparatus
SABA
Patient
Line
Rescuer
“Umbilicus”
• Once the manifold has been
charged and lines attached
for the rescuers and patient
you may begin to set up the
back-up team manifold in
the same manner as you had
for the entry team.
Please note that an
additional rescuer line
would be required in
order to be fully prepared
for entry, thus allowing
for a two person team to
make their entry.
Supplied Air Breathing Apparatus
SABA
• Some key points regarding the
SABA manifold system:
 Maximum length of airline
allowed for a user on the
system is 300’.
 Operations are performed using
only one SCBA bottle at a time.
 Please keep the dust caps in
place on all air line and
communication cable fittings
when not being used.
 Two manifolds will be in use on
every entry. One for the entry
team and one for the back-up
team.
SABA Escape Bottle
• Used in conjunction with the
supplied air breathing
apparatus manifold is the
emergency escape bottle.
This bottle is a self contained
10 minute escape bottle for
use in emergency situations
only.
• The bottle is worn by the
rescuer via its attachment to
a waist belt. On this waist
belt you will find the
attachment point for the
SABA air line (1) and the
mask mounted regulator for
our SCBA masks (2).
1
2
SABA Escape Bottle
• Please note that the escape
bottle is not supplied by the
SABA manifold. It is
imperative that this escape
bottle remain “off” until
needed in an emergency, i.e.
a malfunction with the SABA
manifold.
• If at any time the rescuer
notes that his/her escape
bottle has been turned on
they must immediately leave
the confined space and
return to the outside for a
bottle change.
SABA Lines
Umbilicus
• “Umbilicus” lines can be
found in large, red and
blue duffle bags.
Contact your TRT
member for location
and familiarity.
• Each bag is color coded
to match the color of
the umbilicus.
SABA Lines
Umbilicus
• In each of the color
coded bags there is a
100” of red or blue
“umbilicus”.
• The “umbilicus” is simply
a sheath that contains
the air line and hardwire
communication line.
SABA Lines
Umbilicus
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The “umbilicus” is stored coiled,
using an over/under method of
coiling to help ensure kink free
deployment.
A close-up detail of the rescuer
end of the “umbilicus”
 Black line is the air line
 Orange line is the hardwire
communication line
 Carabiner and tag-line is
attached to the dorsal
connection of the Class III
harness
SABA Lines
Umbilicus
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Some key points regarding the
“umbilicus”
 Each bag contains one
section of 100’.
 Bag #1 also contains a 10’
black pigtail. (Pigtail allows
communications and
manifold to be in separate
locations)
 Coiled in an over and under
method to keep the kinks
out of the line when
deploying.
 Neatness and organization
is the key to successful
deployment of the
“umbilicus”.
 Connections utilize “Locking
Foster” fittings.
Communication System
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The Con-Space communication
system is a hard wire system that
allows for constant monitoring of
communications with the entry team
in a confined space incident.
The equipment for this system is
stored in a “Pelican” type briefcase.
Contact you TRT member for
location and familiarity.
Components include:
 2 throat microphones with ear
pieces
 1 headsets
 1 control box
 1 hard wire lines for headsets
 1 talk box
 1 hardwire line with mute
switch
 1 mute switch pigtail
Communication System
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Setting up the communication
system for use will require
multiple connections to be made
to the control box (1). All
connections in this system are
made by aligning the raised
point of the “female” (2) fitting
with the accompanying orange
dot on the “male” (3) fitting.
Once connected turn the
“female” fitting to the Right to
lock-in.
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2
Communication System
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The headset for the Communications
Operator is recognizable by the fact
that in both of its ear portions it
contains padding and speakers. This
enables the Communications Operator
to direct all of his/her attention to the
team in the confined space.
The hard wire lines are also
recognizable as they do not contain a
“lock-out” device, pre-attached, on
them. This allows the controller to be
in constant contact with the entry
team.
Green arrow shows talk box
connection.
Ports are labeled talk box, red, blue,
controller.
Communication System
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The ear piece and throat
microphone enable the rescuer to
transmit and receive information
in a hands-free manner.
Running from the control box, or
splitter, to the rescuer is the
communication hardwire linecontained in the umbilicus. This is
then connected to the ear piece
and throat microphone using the
same type of connection
described for the control box.
The ear piece fits over the ear
allowing the speaker to rest inside
the ear canal, and the
microphone is placed on the
throat and tested for clarity.
Dressing the Confined Space
Rescue Technician
• In most instances the
Rescue Technician will
be able to donn their
confined space gear
without assistance from
others. However, there
may be some need for
help with SABA and
communications line
connections.
Dressing the Confined Space
Rescue Technician
• The first piece of
equipment required is a
full jumpsuit. Ours are
made of Nomex
material to protect
against flash situations.
• The second item will
always be a standard
Class III harness.
Dressing the Confined Space Rescue
Technician
• Once the Class III
harness has been
donned, the emergency
escape bottle is donned
and the waist belt
secured.
• The SABA air line, from
the umbilicus, can then
be attached to the port
of the first stage
regulator on the escape
bottle’s waist belt.
Dressing the Confined Space Rescue
Technician
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Next, the carabiner and tag line
may be attached to the dorsal
connection point on the
rescuer’s Class III harness.
The communications line can
then be routed up over the right
shoulder, secured with the
attached clip to the right
shoulder “D-ring” to provide
strain relief, and the fitting
draped over the shoulder for
later connection to the ear piece
and microphone.
Dressing the Confined Space Rescue
Technician
• Once the ear piece and
the microphone have
been properly donned,
the connection to the
communications line
can be made. Please
note that the wires for
the ear piece and the
microphone have small
clips that may be used
to secure them to the
rescuers jumpsuit as
strain relief.
Dressing the Confined Space Rescue
Technician
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Final preparations would
include: a helmet, SCBA mask
and gloves.
Once the rescuer has
completely and correctly
donned all gear, he/she must
pass a safety inspection,
including a check of the
communications system and its
operation, insuring that the air
line is supplying air to the
rescuer and that their escape
bottle is turned off. As well as
inspection of all connection
points and safety systems.
Practical Application
• Please arrange a time with your shift’s
TRT crew to review the preceding
equipment, its location along with
proper operation and set-up.
• Also review the protocols as they relate
to confined space rescue.
This presentation was developed for you
by C-42