Rank: Forum user 
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I have had a request to clean out contents from within a storm water tank. Due to the size of the tank and the space above it we are unable to use are tripod and winch. My question is how can i have a rescue plan in place without the use of the tripod and winch? if the entrant were to clapts then how can we rescue them? my engineers are only trained for low/medium risk confined space and we do not have any rescue teams. is there an easy solution for this?
The Enginers use gas monitors and 10 minute escape sets. I have suggested to use jetters and brooms with long handles, but i am unsure if it will be able to clean it out.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Hi Dennis, tricky! Let's take the "confined space" element out of the equation - if it is just storm water the confined space risk is likely to be very low. However, somebody goes into this tank and has a heart attack for some entirely different reason - you would expect a way of getting them out. So, I think that you need to work out how that would be done and then perhaps add the CS issue back into the equation. Sounds like this has not been thought out when the tank was first put in - so design and construction issues of exactly the type that the Temporary or Mobile Construction Sites Directive which you may think of as "CDM" was written to deal with. So, I suppose one of the questions is when this tank will NEXT need to be cleaned out. If the answer is quite soon and then quite often, may be it't time to go back to the proverbial drawing board and make the access inherently better?
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Personally my thoughts are with accumulated organic matter in the bottom of the tank undergoing anaerobic decomposition creating Hydrogen Sulphide gas.
As the operators work in the tank they will be disturbing the organics and likely releasing trapped gas. I would seek to clear or disturb this material externally before using a blower to force air in to the tank for a period before permitting entry. I am going to presume inlet and outlet lines can / will be broken to keep the tank drained and prevent accidental filling. The outlet is usually a good spot to introduce a back flushing high pressure hose head.
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 2 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Personally my thoughts are with accumulated organic matter in the bottom of the tank undergoing anaerobic decomposition creating Hydrogen Sulphide gas.
As the operators work in the tank they will be disturbing the organics and likely releasing trapped gas. I would seek to clear or disturb this material externally before using a blower to force air in to the tank for a period before permitting entry. I am going to presume inlet and outlet lines can / will be broken to keep the tank drained and prevent accidental filling. The outlet is usually a good spot to introduce a back flushing high pressure hose head.
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2 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user
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I'd investigate using specialists with 'sprayball' technology. In my experience, if you get the right kit tanks can be cleaned far better and quicker with no risk to personnel an no confined space issues to manage. Its really increadable what some of this kit can do.
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1 user thanked Holliday42333 for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Im with those who suggest at looking at solutions other than entering the tank. Have a search on the internet of Gutter Cleaning vacumes. While they are desiged to avoid work at heights, depending on the access, sizr of tank they may be able to suck up the biological matter.
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