health and safety | The Maritime Skills Academy

Is confined space training a legal requirement?

In accordance with the Confined Spaces Regulations of 1997, confined space training is mandatory for those who may need to enter or supervise a confined space. This training is the responsibility of employers and ensures risks are monitored and casualties are minimised.

The Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974 highlights employers’ responsibility to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of employees and anyone present on their business premises. This act is vast and can be applied in every aspect of a business’s operations, including confined space entry.

Delegates extracting a casualty during confined space training

At the Maritime Skills Academy, we have introduced a new series of confined space training courses, to ensure your team is well-trained, your duty as an employer is fulfilled, and incidents in the workplace are prevented.

Low, Medium, and High Risk Confined Spaces

Confined spaces are categorised by their level of risk and require more in-depth training the higher the entry risk. Here is how to identify a confined space risk as low, medium or high:

	Characteristics	Hazards	Training
Low-Risk	Low-risk confined spaces are well-ventilated with non-toxic air. Usually well-lit and easy to navigate with minimal obstacles.	Although hazards in a low-risk confined space are minimal, entry and exit can be dangerous, especially if a team lack the appropriate training. Using confined space equipment and emergency procedures can be hazardous without training.	Basic entry and exit. Equipment usage and emergency procedures must be taught in order for staff to legally enter a confined space.
Medium-Risk	Medium-risk confined spaces can have hazardous atmospheres. This may require breathing apparatus or PPE. There is also an increased risk of poor visibility and physical hazards.	Medium-risk environments have a higher risk of poor visibility and difficult navigation in return. This can increase the likelihood of casualties, meaning staff will need higher levels of training.	Risk assessment prior to entry is essential in medium-risk spaces. Staff must also be trained in BA set and PPE operation, communication between teams and navigation in poor visibility.
High-Risk	High-risk environments are guaranteed to have life-threatening air quality, making BA sets essential for safe entry. There is also an increased risk of engulfment and entrapment, and the need for casualty recovery and evacuation.	High-risk confined spaces are guaranteed to have poor visibility, dangerous air conditions and physical obstacles. Staff entering such conditions will require in depth training.	Given the nature of the environment, staff will need training in safety equipment, crisis management, communication, emergency evacuation and casualty recovery.

What is classed as a confined space?

In order for an area to be deemed an enclosed space, there must be either full or partial enclosure, making entry and access limited. An enclosed space will have one or more of the following hazards:

Free-flowing solids
Increased temperature
Increase in liquids
Fire or explosion
Toxic gases or lack of oxygen

Delegates exiting confined space using winch during confined space training

Common confined spaces include sewers, pipes, tunnels, confined boilers, trenches, and vaults. If you are unsure if your environment includes a confined space, get in touch with our team to discuss your training needs.

How long does a confined space training certificate last?

Confined space training generally needs renewing every three years. This ensures a company’s protocols are up to date, and staff are using the most efficient technologies to operate. However, more frequent training can reduce risks further and reduce the chance of staff letting standards and protocols slip.

Confined space training Kent

All new confined space training at the Maritime Skills Academy in Dover, Kent, covers all the essential teachings for those who may need to enter confined spaces. By utilising our state-of-the-art facilities, which include a simulated enclosed space entry way, your team will receive training that is as close to real-life experience as possible. Get in touch today to find out how our training could help you.

The Primary Survey, also known as DR(S) ABC(D), is a crucial mnemonic in first aid for assessing the severity of a casualty’s injury or illness. By following these steps, you can deliver lifesaving aid while waiting for the emergency services.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use it in any scenario:

D is for Danger

Survey your surroundings for hazards that may have caused the initial injury, or that could endanger you. Protecting yourself is crucial for helping the casualty.

R is for Response

Check for a response, approaching from the feet when possible to avoid straining the casualty’s neck or back.

Call the casualty’s name to check for a response without alarming them. You may pinch their collarbone or gently shake their shoulders to elicit a reaction.

S is for send for help

If the casualty is unresponsive, call for help immediately to increase their chances of survival.

If you are in a public place, be sure to ask someone to call an ambulance or to fetch the nearest AED (defibrillator).

Alternatively, call 999 and leave your phone on speaker as you continue the survey.

A is for Airways

Check the casualty’s airway for obstructions by gently tilting their head back with one hand while pulling the chin down with the other. Look carefully inside their mouth and throat.

If there is a blockage, you can either use something to move it, like a pen, or roll the casualty on their side to let it drain. You must never use your fingers, as the person could wake and bite down!

B is for Breathing

Check for breathing by placing your cheek close to their mouth and nose, watching their chest for movement.

Listen for 10 seconds for normal breathing. If you hear abnormal gasps and neck extension is possible, this is ‘agonal breathing,’ which suggests cardiac arrest.

If they are not breathing, it’s time to begin CPR.

C is for Compressions

Place one hand over the other, and interlock your fingers. Position your hands between the nipples, at the centre of the chest.

Give the casualty 30 chest compressions followed by two breaths, and repeat for as long as possible. Aim for a depth of 5-6 cm (2 inches) and push at a rhythm of 120 beats per minute.

We suggest singing along to a song with the same rhythm to keep you on track. Try one of these:

Stayin’ Alive – The Bee Gees
Pink Pony Club – Chappell Roan
I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor

It’s important to know that whilst you are trying to save a life, you must not exhaust yourself. Look to swap with someone every 1 to 2 minutes as you wait for emergency services to arrive, or until the person regains consciousness.

D is for Defibrillator

If a defib is on hand, then continue with chest compressions whilst someone else continues to set up the machine. Remember to remove any metal on the casualty (such as an underwire in a bra) to avoid burning them once the machine is fitted.

Follow the defibrillator’s instructions and continue compressions after each shock.

Why the Primary Survey is so important?

By remembering the steps to the Primary Survey and DRS ABC, you can provide immediate first aid and increase the chance of survival for a casualty. Having a step by step guide to casualty response eliminates the risk of confusion and panic, and keeps the casualty, surroundings, and responder safe.

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