Emergency procedures are one of the most overlooked parts of confined space work — yet they’re the first thing that matter when something goes wrong. Before anyone enters the space, the team must know the plan, the equipment, the roles, and the rescue options.

Watch the full video:

Emergency procedures need to be established before work starts, not during an incident. The level of planning depends on whether the entry is low, medium, or high risk, but the principle stays the same: if something goes wrong, the response must be immediate, coordinated, and understood by everyone involved.

Failing to plan properly can lead to delayed rescue, miscommunication, preventable injuries, or an incident escalating far beyond what the team can manage.

Practical Steps / Key Takeaways

Low-Risk Emergencies

• A clear worker-alone policy must be in place.
• First aid resources should be easily accessible.
• Communication must be reliable, not only between the entrant and standby, but also back to a manager, office, or partner on site.

Medium-Risk Emergencies

• All team members should be trained to operate winches or retrieval systems safely.
• Everyone must understand the emergency plan and know their individual role.
• Retrieval equipment must be ready, checked, and close to the entry point.

High-Risk Emergencies

• Everything from low and medium risk applies, with added requirements.
• A dedicated rescue team must be on standby, typically with a minimum of three trained personnel.
• Full breathing apparatus may be required depending on the potential hazards.
• The rescue team must be ready to intervene immediately.

Expert Insight or REAX Perspective

We teach emergency procedures as an embedded part of confined space operations, not an afterthought. Teams need more than a written plan; they need clarity, confidence, and the ability to act under pressure. Through training and confined space consultancy, we help organisations develop emergency strategies that are realistic, compliant, and built around their actual working environments.

Explore our Confined Space Training↗︎

‍