Standby Rescue Services

Why 911 Isn't Always Enough For OSHA

OSHA's confined space standard requires employers to ensure rescue services are available and can respond to emergencies in a timeframe that minimizes harm to trapped workers. This means rescue capability must be immediately available when workers enter permit-required confined spaces, not just a phone call away. The regulation specifically requires that rescue services have appropriate equipment, be trained in confined space rescue, be proficient in using that equipment in the actual spaces where entries occur, and practice rescues at least annually.

Many companies assume calling 911 satisfies this requirement, but fire departments and emergency medical services rarely meet OSHA's criteria. Most fire departments lack specialized confined space rescue training and equipment. Response times of ten to fifteen minutes far exceed the timeframe that minimizes harm when someone is trapped in an oxygen-deficient or toxic atmosphere. Fire departments serve entire communities and may be responding to other emergencies when your confined space incident occurs. Even departments with technical rescue teams often decline to provide advance assurance they will respond, meaning you cannot rely on their availability to satisfy OSHA requirements. Relying on 911 leaves your workers unprotected and your company non-compliant.

When Does Standby Rescue Make Sense For Your Company?

Standby rescue services provide immediate professional rescue capability without requiring you to maintain a full-time in-house rescue team. This approach proves ideal for many operational scenarios where rescue capability is needed but maintaining dedicated personnel is not practical or cost-effective.

• Occasional Confined Space Entries: Companies that enter confined spaces only during maintenance shutdowns, equipment inspections, or repair projects cannot justify maintaining year-round rescue teams for intermittent work requiring rescue coverage only a few times annually.
• Short-Duration Projects: Construction projects, turnarounds, or temporary work at facilities requiring confined space entry for limited periods benefit from standby services rather than training and equipping teams that disband when projects are completed.
• Insufficient Personnel for Dedicated Teams: Small operations lacking enough employees to staff rescue teams while maintaining normal production operations cannot spare workers for rescue duty without significantly impacting business operations.
• Specialized or Complex Entries: High-risk confined spaces with unusual configurations, extreme depths, toxic atmospheres, or other complicating factors may exceed the capabilities of typical in-house teams, requiring professional rescue technicians with advanced training and specialized equipment.
• Cost Considerations: Standby services eliminate expenses associated with maintaining rescue teams, including initial training costs, annual refresher training, equipment purchases and maintenance, medical evaluations, fit testing, and time spent maintaining proficiency rather than performing productive work.
• Regulatory Compliance Assurance: Professional standby rescue services provide documentation proving OSHA-compliant rescue capability was present during entries, reducing enforcement risk and demonstrating due diligence should incidents occur despite precautions.

What Do Our Standby Services Include?

Our standby rescue services provide everything necessary for an immediate confined space rescue response. We arrive fully prepared to execute rescues the moment emergencies develop, eliminating delays that cost lives.

• Trained Rescue Technicians: Experienced personnel with extensive confined space rescue training, current certifications, and real-world emergency response experience positioned on-site throughout your operations.
• Complete Rescue Equipment: All necessary gear, including tripods, mechanical advantage systems, air monitoring devices, ventilation equipment, breathing apparatus, and communication systems.
• Pre-Entry Planning: Comprehensive review of entry permits, atmospheric testing, hazard assessment, and rescue strategy development before any worker enters confined spaces.
• Continuous Monitoring: Ongoing atmospheric monitoring, constant communication with entrants, and maintained readiness throughout entry operations.
• Immediate Response: Instant rescue initiation when emergencies develop, with trained technicians positioned to begin extraction within seconds.
• Complete Documentation: Detailed records supporting your OSHA compliance requirements.