Page 40 - OHS, April 2020

CONFINED SPACES
Warning Ahead: Relying on Non-Entry Rescue for Permit Required Confined Spaces
Nothing is as simple as it seems; the unexpected happens every day.
BY CHRIS KOESTER AND DAVE CARTER
It’s a typical work scenario. A tripod is placed over the opening of a tank and a worker (entrant) is lowered inside to clean the tank and perform an inspection. He is secured to the tripod with a
winch and SRL. There is no chance of any entangle- ments inside so everything should go easy. Right?
The employer had all the equipment necessary for
a non-entry rescue set up. The rescue plan, in case something bad happened, was for the attendant to simply crank the handle on the winch and hoist the entrant up and out using the winch/tripod system. Unfortunately, the unexpected happens.
The entrant collapses onto the floor of the tank. The attendant cranks on the winch to bring the en-
36 Occupational Health & Safety | APRIL 2020
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