ENCLOSED SPACE ENTRY- SAFETY PREPARATIONS & RESCUE
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[♪ Music ♪]
[Maritime Training Services Inc.]
[In case of any conflict between
the requirements shown in the movie]
[and the company's safety
management system (SMS), ]
[please follow the company's
SMS requirements.]
[Enclosed Space Entry
Safety Preparations and Rescue]
Nobody wants
to get into trouble
while in an enclosed
or a confined space.
Small mistakes can easily
turn into tragic accidents
inside spaces
like ballast tanks,
cofferdams, duct keels
or even large pipelines.
These areas can
carry unique hazards
like toxic gas,
low light, and low oxygen.
Should someone
become injured
these hazards make
rescue much more complex,
especially
at sea.
Entering and working
in an enclosed space
should never
be impulsive.
It should be a carefully
coordinated plan
to ensure that everything
goes smoothly,
and so that if something
does go wrong,
and someone
needs help,
the crew can act
efficiently and decisively.
In these cases, it is often
a life that is on the line.
In this video, you will learn
about planning and preparation
for entering an
enclosed space,
the formation
of an entry team,
preparations
for entry,
possible injuries
in these spaces
and how to
conduct rescue,
and different
types of equipment
used for
entry and rescue.
With good planning
and team work,
entry and work
inside enclosed space
can be safe
and injury free.
[Pre-Entry Meeting]
Most of the planning for
entering an enclosed space
is done at the
pre-entry toolbox meeting.
It's important that all involved
crew members participate.
By the end
of the meeting
everyone should have
a good snapshot of
the scope of work,
equipment needed,
and hazards involved in
working in that particular space.
Start by reviewing your company's
procedures for enclosed space entry,
and discussing the
layout of the enclosed space,
and the job that
needs to be done.
Based on
this information,
form your entry
and rescue teams,
and delegate duties to each
team member appropriately.
Use your company's
permit process,
which may include
a checklist to
ensure that all steps
for entry are covered,
and that all the
appropriate equipment
will be brought
to the site.
Depending upon the
nature of the entry,
additional JSA's or risk
assessments may be necessary.
Any equipment that is not
commonly used every day
should be brought on site and
reviewed with the team members
prior to the
work taking place.
Finally, make sure the meeting
is conducted in such a way as to
allow for ample time for
reviewing the scope of the work.
All involved crew
members must attend.
And all crew members
must understand their roles
in the enclosed space
entry that will take place.
[The Team]
Roles and
responsibilities for the work
are assigned in
the toolbox meeting.
The responsible officer
or a competent person,
typically determined by
your company's procedures,
is the on site
authority for entry.
They establish the
sequence of work,
brief the
entry team,
test the
atmosphere,
determine whether conditions
of entry are acceptable,
monitor who goes into
and comes out of the space,
establish clear lines
of communication,
and ensure all equipment is
on site, operational, and accessible.
Upon completion of the
work, they finally confirm
that all persons have
exited the enclosed space,
No further entries
are allowed,
and the space
is closed off.
The responsible officer appoints
an entry or a stand-by attendant
who is stationed outside
the permitted enclosed space.
The attendant monitors
the authorized entrants
and ensures that all
rescue and stand-by equipment
is ready and
within reach.
The attendant also
maintains direct constant
communication with
the work team inside.
The work team
within the space
should have a minimum
of at least two people.
At least one crew
member to work,
and a second crew
member for spotting,
and maintaining
communications.
Sometimes enclosed spaces
are large and very complex,
and obstacles can get in the
way of personnel movement.
Additional workers may
be needed for the job
in order to maintain
clear communications,
and complete
the work safely.
The work team
should be sized
in accordance with the
job that needs to be done.
In addition to the work team,
a rescue team stands by with
the important job of reacting
quickly in case of an emergency.
The team members
must ensure that
rescue equipment
is readily available,
and be familiar
with its use.
[Preparing the space for entry.]
Preparation for
entering an enclosed space
will often begin a day or two
ahead of the planned entry time,
as the space will need to
be ventilated continuously
for multiple hours depending
on the size of the space,
the shape
of the space,
and the use or
purpose of the pace.
Ventilation
of the space
may be with either fixed or
portable ventilation equipment,
including installed fans
with ventilation ducts,
or portable blowers
with ducts.
While using blowers it is
particularly important to note
that clean air
is supplied in,
and that there is a separate
outlet for the exhaust air.
For some spaces, such as
cargo tanks on a tanker,
it will be necessary
to wash the tank
and gas free the space,
and then ventilate,
to ensure that the
space will be safe for entry.
Due to the possibility
of oxygen deficiency,
as well as the presence
of hydro carbons,
and/or toxic gases
in confined spaces,
it is the responsibility
of the competent person
to properly identify
the known hazards,
and the potential
hazards of such spaces.
It is important to obtain a
representative cross-section of
the compartment by
atmospheric sampling for
a range of toxic gases
at several depths,
and through as many deck
openings as practicable
using calibrated
multi-gas detection devices,
and colorimetric detector
tubes, if necessary.
Stop ventilation and wait
10 minutes before testing the space.
The next step is to
bring all the equipment
for entry, work, and
rescue to the work site.
It must be laid out in an organized
way so it is ready for use.
The attendant should
not have to leave his post
to access any
of the equipment.
At the same time, the
equipment should be placed
so that it does not
become a tripping hazard.
If necessary, proper
signs and barriers
should be used to
mark out any openings
where any other
crew could fall through
if they were unaware of
the work that is taking place.
All crew must wear
appropriate PPE for the job
including hard hats, gloves,
and appropriate safety boots.
If the work inside
involves working aloft,
then full-body
harnesses must be worn,
with an arrestor
secured to a safe point.
Each person should also have
appropriate lighting for the job.
At this point, all
hatches should be open.
The space should have been
tested and declared safe.
Ventilation should have been
turned back on for the workers.
Equipment should be
gathered and laid out.
The responsible officer
may now authorize the entry.
It is best, and common practice,
for each crew member to
wear a multi-gas
detector in the space
so that each person
may monitor for
oxygen content, LEL,
and appropriate toxic gases
wherever they are
physically located.
Communication
between the attendant,
responsible officer,
and work team
is extremely
important.
For people inside
the tank itself,
communication
can be difficult
because of echoing,
and noise from ventilation,
and radio signals
can be blocked
from various levels of
metal within the space.
Your equipment should include
intrinsically safe walkie-talkies
that must be tested
for battery strength,
as well as signal strength from
inside the enclosed space to
the area where the attendant and
rescue equipment are stationed.
If, for whatever reason,
radio comms fail,
it may be necessary
to relay information
verbally from
person to person.
Be patient while
waiting for a reply.
Above all, frequent and periodic
radio checks are important,
as these can
be the first sign
that the workers in
the space are in trouble.
A pre-established
time line should be made
for conducting
these checks.
Ideally, you have
made all preparations
as required by your
company's management system,
and you have executed a
flawless enclosed space entry.
But as we're all too aware,
accidents happen.
No matter how well
prepared a space is for entry,
you must always be
prepared to conduct a rescue.
Unfortunately, addressing accidents
and injuries in enclosed spaces
can be extremely difficult
and time consuming.
Additionally, as we have seen in
many incidents around the world,
rescuers can be injured or killed
quite easily attempting a rescue.
For this reason,
it's critically important
for crew to be
trained and equipped
to perform rescue operations
within enclosed spaces.
[Why a rescue]
If a person requires
rescue from a space
it is not always
readily apparent
as to the
reason for it.
Often, the tank
stand-by attendant
will be the first person that
realizes a rescue is necessary,
either by noticing a
missed radio check-in,
or witnessing the person
in the space go down.
That is why the attendant's
job is extremely important,
and the person must be
vigilant 100% of the time.
The attendant must immediately
call for help over the radio,
and notify
the rescue team.
The attendant must never go in
after a person by themselves.
If they do, they may
suffer the same injury
as the person
in the space.
Time and time again,
this has proven to be
the reason for
the next victim.
Wait until help arrives, so that
the situation can be assessed.
Reasons for rescue
in an enclosed space
can broadly be defined
into two categories:
injury and asphyxiation.
If someone
gets an injury by
falling or slipping
in an enclosed space,
they may not be able to
evacuate without assistance.
They may need to be rescued
by means of a stretcher,
or extrication device, a lifting
harness or hoisting apparatus.
The type of equipment
you use in the rescue
will differ depending on the
nature of the injury and the space.
No matter how well the space
was tested before the entry,
enclosed spaces may still have
low levels of oxygen or toxic gas
in low-lying,
lingering pockets.
The crew working
in such a space
may be overcome
by asphyxiation.
These scenarios are
life-threatening emergencies,
and the
rescue operation
will require equipment
that provides oxygen,
like self-contained
breathing apparatus,
and resuscitation devices.
It is very
important to
try and determine the
reason for the rescue
before anyone else
enters the space,
either injury
or asphyxiation.
Unless the cause and circumstances
of the injury is obvious,
assume that the
person in the space
has been overcome
by asphyxiation,
and proceed as if the
atmosphere within the space
has become
unsustainable for human life.
[Rescue equipment]
The appropriate rescue
equipment for any job
should have been identified
in the toolbox meeting,
as well as in the
company's MS procedures,
and brought to the
work site so that
the stand-by rescue team
can readily access it.
It may also be listed
on the Permit to Work.
Rescue equipment can be
broadly defined in two categories:
extraction equipment
and medical equipment.
Retrieval extraction
equipment is required
in every
enclosed space entry.
This may include
tank rescue davit and winch,
SCBA,
EEBD,
immobilization spine board
designed for extraction,
such as an SKED®
or Reeves Sleeve®,
full-body harnesses.
The kind of
extraction equipment
that is used
in a rescue
will vary with the kind of injury
sustained by the worker.
If a neck or spine injury can
be ruled out with certainty,
the injured worker may
be extracted vertically
through the
smaller openings
via a lifeline and the connection
points on their harness.
If it's suspected that
the injured worker
has a neck
or spine injury,
they should not be lifted from the
space using only their harness,
as this may worsen the injury,
or even kill the worker.
The injured worker
should be immobilized
on a spine board
extraction device,
such as a
Reeves Sleeve®,
before they are
raised from the space.
SCBA's must be available
for workers entering the space,
and additional SCBA's must
be readily available for rescuers
should an accident
occur in the atmosphere,
and the space is
no longer breathable.
The Permit to Work will also
require medical equipment
that provides
oxygen and First Aid
to people who have
asphyxiated or sustained injuries.
This includes an oxygen
and resuscitation kit,
AED, First Aid supplies
such as cervical collars,
splints,
and bandages.
Depending on the
space and conditions,
the Permit to Work may require
additional rescue equipment,
such as fire extinguishers
and firefighting suits,
additional hoists,
and lighting designed for use in
potentially explosive environments.
Just like the
entry equipment,
all enclosed space
rescue equipment
must be positioned
within easy reach
outside of the
entry to the space.
And just
as importantly,
crew members assigned
to the rescue team
must be knowledgeable and
experienced in rescue operations,
and the use of
rescue equipment.
Efficiency comes
with practice,
and enclosed space
rescue drills should be run
at least once every two months,
per SOLAS regulations.
Being efficient could be
the difference between
a rescue operation and
a recovery operation.
Make sure you have a thorough
understanding of not just the process
for planning safe entry
into an enclosed space,
but also understanding why
all these steps are necessary.
Accidents can,
and do, happen,
and the ultimate
responsibility for ensuring safety
falls upon you and
your crew mates.
Preparation may make the
difference between life and death
for your co-workers,
and maybe even you.
[Special thanks to:
Rhys Del Rosario,]
[Seaspan Ship Management Ltd.,
Brendan Ball,]
[OSG Ship Management, Inc.]
[Maritime Training Services]