If your site requires access to areas like tanks, silos, tunnels, pits, or culverts—chances are you’re dealing with confined spaces. And when it comes to safety, confined space entry and rescue is one of the most complex, high risk activities on any industrial site.

Whether you're in manufacturing, construction, utilities, renewables, or facilities management, you’re legally required to assess these areas and have the right controls in place. That includes proper confined space risk assessments, site specific rescue plans, and the right training and equipment for your team.

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), confined space fatalities, though less frequent than other incidents, often involve multiple workers when attempted rescues go wrong. The risks such as low oxygen, hazardous gases, limited access can escalate quickly. Without a proper plan, things can spiral fast.

This is where confined space consultancy makes a real difference. We work with businesses across the UK to assess their site to provide suitable and sufficient, entry plans, rescue plans and train for safer confined space entry work. Whether you’re preparing for routine maintenance, emergency response, or a major shutdown.

Our goal is simple: help you stay safe, compliant, confident, and rescue ready.

What Do Health & Safety Leads and Site Managers Ask About Confined Space Safety?

We’re regularly asked questions like these:

Legal and Compliance

• What is the legal definition of a confined space under UK regulations?
• What are the requirements of the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997?
• Do we need a confined space rescue plan for every entry?
• How do we ensure we’re fully compliant?

Risk Assessment and Rescue Planning

• What does a “suitable and sufficient” confined space risk assessment include?
• How do we write a confined space rescue plan that is simple and actually works?
• What emergency procedures should we have for vertical and horizontal entry?
• How often should rescue plans and risk assessments be reviewed?

Confined Space Equipment and Inspection

• What PPE is required for confined space entry?
• Do we need gas detection, BA sets, or escape sets?
• What type of gas monitor do I need?
• Who should inspect our confined space entry and rescue equipment?
• What are the LOLER and PUWER inspection requirements for tripods, winches, and harnesses?

Confined Space Training and Competency

• What level of confined space training do we need?
• Should our team be trained in confined space rescue?
• Can we deliver confined space training on our own site?
• What’s the difference between low risk, medium risk, and high risk confined space entry training?

These are the questions we deal with every day. And at REAX, our job is to give you straightforward answers, expert advice, and practical solutions.

How REAX Supports Your Confined Space Work

Whether you’re starting from scratch or reviewing existing procedures, we offer a full suite of confined space consultancy services to help you manage risk and improve safety.

Confined Space Risk Assessments and Site Audits

Our confined space consultants carry out on-site assessments to help you:

• Identify and categorise confined spaces
• Review your entry procedures and isolation controls
• Ensure your documentation meets current UK legislation
• Identify the right kit, access methods, and rescue options for each space

All assessments are bespoke and built around your site and tasks.

Rescue Plan Development

Every confined space should have a rescue plan that is specific, realistic, and actionable. We’ll help you:

• Develop written rescue strategies for low, medium, and high risk entries
• Plan for vertical retrieval, Breathing Apparatus based rescue, or stretchers and rope systems
• Align with your existing emergency procedures and first responder protocols
• Conduct rescue drills and test your team’s response under controlled conditions

Confined Space Training Delivered On-Site

We deliver nationally recognised confined space training accredited by City & Guilds, CABWI and our own in house qualifications at your location, using our mobile training trailer. This helps reduce costs for travel, accommodation and any logistics issues with getting everyone to our training centre

Courses include:

• Low risk confined space entry training
• Medium risk (Escape Set) confined space training
• High risk (Full Breathing Apparatus) entry and rescue team training
• Bespoke rescue solutions

If you're also involved in rope access or work at height environments, we can integrate training for that too.

Equipment Supply, Inspection and Advice

Not sure what kit you need? Or whether your current setup is suitable and sufficient as well as compliant?

We advise and provide audits of your existing equipment – if it’s fit for purpose, we’ll tell you - there is no point buying equipment if your current equipment fits your needs!

However, if you do need equipment we can provide advice, alternatives and supply of:

• Gas monitors, escape sets, full BA systems
• Rescue tripods, gantries, winches, and retrieval blocks
• Confined space harnesses, lighting, and communications
• Equipment hire, inspection, and servicing in line with LOLER/PUWER

We’ll help you avoid overspending—and we’ll never recommend equipment you don’t need.

Ready to Talk? Book Your Confined Space Consultancy with REAX

If you're looking for expert help with confined space rescue planning, risk assessments, onsite training, or equipment support, REAX is ready to help.

We work with industrial, commercial, and high risk sites across the UK - making sure confined space work is done safely, legally, and confidently.

Get in touch today to book a confined space consultancy call, and we’ll talk you through your setup, challenges, and how we can support your team.

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