Confined Spaces
Confined space services are crucial for ensuring the safety of workers who enter small, potentially dangerous areas.
Our Services
Rescue Team
Pro Rescue Services provides highly trained and experienced rescue technicians who specialize in confined space rescues. While our primary focus is performing rescues, our extensive experience working in and around confined spaces enables us to identify and manage potential hazards, ensuring safety in every situation.
Our technicians work closely with your staff, combining their expertise and technical knowledge to develop tailored execution plans for your unique needs. We take proactive measures to monitor the area around the confined space, address emerging hazards, and ensure that every project is completed safely and efficiently.
Training
Pro Rescue Services offers comprehensive confined space rescue training designed to equip workers with the skills and knowledge to safely respond to emergency situations. Our training covers all aspects of confined space rescue, including the proper use of SCBA/SABA equipment, hazard assessment, atmospheric monitoring, and rope rescue techniques. We emphasize hands-on practice, allowing trainees to work through realistic scenarios to build confidence and proficiency in emergency response.
To learn more about our confined space rescue training and explore other safety training topics we offer, visit our training page.
Specialized Work
At Pro Rescue Services, we understand that working in confined spaces can present unique challenges that require specialized expertise. Whether it’s structural repairs, facility upgrades, asset installation, maintenance, or other construction services, our team is here to help. With our experience and skilled technicians, we are ready to assist with these tasks in a safe and efficient manner, allowing your project to move forward smoothly.
Types of Confined Spaces
Pipes
Tunnels
Tanks
Boilers
Trenches
Stacks
Many confined space-related deaths occur each year in Canada, with 60% of those fatalities involving would-be rescuers.
Our Expertise
Technical Rescue
At Pro Rescue Services, our technical rescue expertise covers a wide range of high-risk environments, supporting industries such as utilities, mining, oil & gas, and construction. Our skilled technicians are trained in disciplines like rope rescue, confined space entry, work at heights, trench rescue, and water rescue. We use specialized equipment and advanced techniques to safely respond to complex emergencies. By combining industry knowledge with the latest rescue technologies, we ensure the highest standards of safety and performance in every situation.
SCBA/SABA
Pro Rescue Services specializes in the safe use of SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus) and SABA (Supplied Air Breathing Apparatus). Our technicians are trained to use these devices in hazardous environments, ensuring safety in confined spaces with poor air quality. SCBA provides portable air for rescue workers, while SABA offers a continuous air supply from an external source.
NFPA
National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) 1006, 1670, and 1001 are essential standards for rescue personnel. NFPA 1006 outlines the qualifications for rescue technicians, while NFPA 1670 provides guidelines for safe and effective rescue operations. NFPA 1001 sets the basic requirements for firefighter qualifications. At Pro Rescue Services, we strictly follow these standards to ensure our rescue teams are well-trained, skilled, and equipped to handle complex emergencies safely and effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a standby rescue team every time we work in a confined space?
| This decision should be made during your confined space hazard assessment. Some confined spaces, like a small tank with easy access, can allow a simple rescue using a winch. However, you must consider other hazards that might complicate the rescue, such as the worker becoming tangled in pipes or wires, exposure to toxic gases, or losing consciousness. You also need to ensure that the rescue system is properly maintained and used. In our experience, confined space rescues are rarely “easy.” |
Can we train our own workers to conduct confined space rescue?
| Short Answer, Yes! Pro Rescue Services does train some site emergency response teams to conduct their own confined space rescues. However, before choosing this option, ask yourself: Do the rescue trained workers need to do the actual work? If so, they might struggle to rescue themselves. Are the workers interested in rescue training? If not, their commitment will be lacking. Do I have enough people to always have a full rescue team available when needed? Without enough people, an effective rescue will be difficult. |
How many people do you need for an effective rescue team?
| We usually recommend at least 3 trained rescuers for a confined space rescue. One rescuer will enter the space to find the injured worker and help them towards the exit, while the other two handle the ropes/equipment. Our teams use a two-rope system: a haul rope to lift the worker and a safety belay rope in case the main rope fails. Each rescuer operates one of these ropes, filling all three roles. Sometimes, more help is needed to pull the haul rope or assist with tasks like guiding emergency services or controlling the scene. |
Can we have one rescue team cover multiple confined space work locations at the same time?
| We often get asked this, and the answer isn’t always simple. If the hazards in multiple confined spaces are low, Pro Rescue Services can cover more than one location at a time. However, you must have a strong communication system to stop all work if an emergency happens at one site, so the rescue team isn’t required at another. If each confined space has multiple hazards that could lead to a rescue, we recommend having more than one team. When planning work in multiple confined spaces, we always ask to be part of the hazard assessment to give informed advice on how many rescue personnel are needed. |
Difference between confined and restricted space?
| The main difference between a confined space and a restricted space is the level of risk and accessibility. A confined space is an area with limited entry and exit, not meant for continuous occupancy, and may contain serious hazards like low oxygen, toxic gases, or physical dangers. Examples include tanks, silos, and manholes. These spaces often require special safety measures, including permits for entry. A restricted space, on the other hand, is an area where access is limited for reasons like safety or security but doesn’t always have the same dangerous conditions as confined spaces. While both have controlled access, confined spaces require more careful planning due to the potential risks. |
Are there any innovations in confined space work that Pro Rescue Services has created or designed?
| Pro Rescue Services has created better rescue triangles (temporary harnesses) and worked with others to design improved rescue-rated harnesses, which many of our clients have purchased. Check out our harness HERE. We’ve also helped develop effective communication systems for large confined spaces. We pride ourselves on finding safe, effective solutions for challenging confined space situations, and we’ve never been stumped. |