Section 296-307-65014. Make sure you have adequate rescue and emergency services available.

You must:

(1) Make sure you have adequate rescue and emergency services available during your permit-required confined space entry operations.

• Evaluate and select rescue teams or services who can:

– Respond to a rescue call in a timely manner. Timeliness is based on the identified hazards. Rescuers must have the capability to reach potential victims within an appropriate time frame based on the identified permit space hazards.

– Proficiently rescue employees from a permit-required confined space in your workplace. Rescuers must have the appropriate equipment for the type of rescue.

• Make sure that at least one member of the rescue team or service holds a current certification in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

• Inform each rescue team or service about the hazards they may confront when called to perform rescue.

• Provide the rescue team or service with access to all permit spaces from which rescue may be necessary.

– This will allow them to develop appropriate rescue plans and to practice rescue operations.

Note:	What will be considered timely will vary according to the specific hazards involved in each entry. For example, WAC 296-307-594, Respirators, requires that employers provide a standby person or persons capable of immediate action to rescue employee(s) for work areas considered to contain an IDLH atmosphere.

You must:

(2) Provide employees, assigned to provide permit-required confined space rescue and emergency services, with:

• Personal protective equipment (PPE) needed for safe entry.

• Other equipment required to conduct rescues safely.

• Training so they are:

– Proficient in the use of the PPE and other equipment.

– Proficient as an entrant of permit-required confined spaces.

– Able to safely perform assigned rescue and emergency duties.

– Knowledgeable in basic first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

• Practice sessions for permit-required confined space rescues at least once every twelve months where dummies, manikins, or actual persons are removed from either:

– The actual permit spaces; or

– Representative permit spaces that simulate the opening size, configuration, and accessibility, of permit spaces where rescue will be performed.

(3) Establish procedures for:

• Contacting rescue and emergency services.

• Rescuing entrants from permit-required confined spaces.

• Providing necessary emergency services to rescued entrants.

• Preventing unauthorized persons from attempting a rescue.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. WSR 05-01-166, § 296-307-65014, filed 12/21/04, effective 4/2/05.]

RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. WSR 05-01-166, § 296-307-65014, filed 12/21/04, effective 4/2/05.

Rules

296-307-594,