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When an accident happens in a confined space or a trench, the most dangerous person
on site is the ‘Hero.’ Statistics show that a significant percentage of fatalities in confined
spaces are the would-be rescuers who rushed in without a plan. The First 10 Minutes are
the most critical.
Within the first 120 seconds, the supervisor should establish a ‘Hard Perimeter’ to keep
unauthorized personnel away. By minute five, they should have the Material Safety Data
Sheets (MSDS) and entry permits ready for the fire department. By minute ten, they
should be providing clear, concise SITREPs (Situation Reports) to incoming responders.
The goal is simple: transition from a worker to an Incident Commander. Do not enter the
space. Identify the hazard from the outside, monitor the atmosphere if possible, and
prepare the ‘rescue packet’ for professional teams. Your job is to ensure that one victim
doesn’t become two.