If you are entering a confined space or supervising work that is taking place in a confined space you will require training to conduct the work safely. It is also useful for persons who work near or around confined spaces to have some form of training, so that they don’t inadvertently expose themselves to a potential hazard.
Most training companies will offer training at the following levels:
Confined Space Awareness – this is for persons working near confined space, or on sites where confined spaces are present. It introduces them to the characteristics and hazards of confined spaces so that they don’t expose themselves to these areas by accident.
Low Risk Confined Space Entry and Awareness – for areas that meet the definition of a confined space but the risks associated are at a very low level. This training would usually include identification of confined spaces and relevant legislation. Often these courses will also include the use of Gas Monitoring Equipment.
Medium Risk Confined Space Entry and Awareness – the most common type of confined space course delivered. This course covers the use of Tripods, Winches, Harnesses and Gas Detection Equipment, along with Escape Breathing Apparatus Sets. This qualifies candidates to enter confined spaces where access is restricted or they may need to use an Escape Breathing Apparatus Set to perform self-rescue.
High Risk Confined Space Entry and Awareness – this course covers the use of Working Breathing Apparatus in addition to the equipment used in the medium risk confined space training to allow candidates to enter environments where there is a known risk present, usually in the form of a toxic or flammable gas.
Confined Space Rescue Training – for persons that will be part of an onsite or standby rescue team. Further training is required to ensure they can enter potentially hazardous environments to extract casualties or to stabilise a casualty until additional help arrives. This training covers the ability to assess casualties and to use a variety of equipment to safely extract personnel from complex confined spaces.
Supervisor and Management Training – where a person is going to be planning work in a confined space or managing a number of projects relating to confined space working. It is very useful for them to receive extra training on how to risk assess and plan work, as well as simply being able to complete the work safely.
It is essential that your staff receive the right level of training to complete their work safely so choosing a good quality training course will help them define the boundaries of their capability and provide the knowledge and skill to recognise when an environment is unsafe to work in.
City and Guilds accredit the nationally recognised 6150 series of Confined Space courses as well. These fall into the following courses:
6150-01 – Level 2 Award in Working in Low Risk Confined Spaces: Water
6150-02 - Level 2 Award in Working in Medium Risk Confined Spaces: Water
6150-06 - Level 2 Award in Working in Medium Risk Confined Spaces (Topman – Non-Entrant): Water
6150-03 - Level 2 Award in Working in High Risk Confined Spaces: Water
6150-14 – Level 3 Award in Topman/Persons for High Risk Confined Spaces: Water
6150-05 – Level 3 Award in Emergency Rescue and Recovery of Casualties from Confined Spaces: Water
6150-61 – Level 5 Award in Manage Work in Confined Spaces
6150-51 - Level 2 Award in Working in Low Risk Confined Spaces
6150-52 - Level 2 Award in Working in Medium Risk Confined Spaces
6150-56 - Level 2 Award in Working in Medium Risk Confined Spaces (Topman – Non-Entrant)
6150-53 - Level 2 Award in Working in High Risk Confined Spaces
6150-54 – Level 3 Award in Topman/Persons for High Risk Confined Spaces
6150-55 – Level 3 Award in Emergency Rescue and Recovery of Casualties from Confined Spaces
The main difference between 6150-01(02,03,05,06,14) and the 6150-51(52,53,54,55,56,61) courses is that 6150-01(02,03,05,06,14) cater more to the Water Industry, and the others have some of the water industry specific content removed for those that work in other industries.
The benefit of a City and Guilds accredited qualification is that it is widely recognised across the UK as a suitable confined space training course. This ensures that the training certification that you receive is less likely to be questioned or deemed as unsuitable by any client that you may be working with. As with any training, if you will be working on another companies site or you will be working as a sub-contract for another firm, it is always sensible to discuss what training they see as acceptable prior to booking a course. If you need any advice or want to have a chat with one of our experienced training team member please give us a call, and we will help you choose the most suitable training course for your requirements.
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