Confined Space Rescue: Definition, Hazards & Procedures

Confined space rescue is the operation of removing a person from a confined space when they are unable to extricate themselves due to injury, illness, or another hazard. Confined spaces are characterized by their limited exit openings and restricted internal access and may include but are not limited to:

- Sewers

- Tunnels

- Vaults

- Underground utility corridors

- Storage tanks

- Manholes

- Pipelines

- Ductwork

- Silos

- Grain bins

- Hoppers

- Vats

- Wells

- Caissons

- Ships' holds

- Aircraft cargo areas

- Boilers

- Heaters

- Ovens

- Tanks

- Bins

- Cages

- Vaults

- Pits

- Trenches

- Quarries

- Mines

- Caves

- Any man-made structure that has limited ingress and egress and that the configuration of which could allow for the accumulation of dangerous atmospheres