Morning all, Can I please ask for help on a trench rescue plan, (I dont want a template or a copy of anyones work!!), I have done a search on here and all rescues I have found are in relation to W@H. I would like any useful web pages that you guys may have come across. I have written down things like; rescue team/ first aiders, trench location on site, soil type, precautions in place (battering, sheet piles etc), works being carried out, weather conditions, emergency services access, type of incident (utility strike, medical problems, collapse), environment (weather, works closeby, structures close by), method of rescue (via ladder, rescue cage) Has anyone anything else to add. This is something Ive just started, so Im sure there is loads Ive not thought of yet. Thanks in advance.

Don't forget the recorded inspections should the trench be open for +7 days!

Hi Lawlee Have a look at the Confined Space Guidance on the web and HSE site should give you some pointers for rescue plans etc

Hi Ashley am I missing something -- why would you only inspect a trench after 7 days? Is it not still before the start of every shift? and then perhaps go and work out why you would need to rescue someone confined space service strike water ingress collapse and see if the plan is robust enough to work? And you need to think about how you may have to control the Fire Brigade and work with them and what plant you may have that could be useful -

Oh for an edit function (and a pinch of my own advice...) You could record the inspection every day and, to be honest, I think this is a better option as it gives some guidelines as to what to check. The requirement is that it is recorded once a week if open for 7 days or more (or 1 week) as a minimum. Of course, inspect every day checking integrity of trench, positioning of any shoring, access and egress methods, integrity of services, competence of operatives, health of operatives, wearing of required PPE by operatives etc etc etc, however with this daily check there is no legal obligation to record it. Hopefully that clears up my half arsed posts and makes more sense!