Self-contained Breathing Apparatus & Confined Space Rescue ( SCBA)

Affiliation: PDO
Duration: 1 days

Course Aim:

The course designed to provide delegates with basic knowledge and understanding of SABA and SCBA, confined space entry hazards, controls and responsibilities, and the basic skills required to safely prepare and use a SCBA, in toxic, other irrespirable atmospheres, confined spaces and for emergency rescue purposes, solo or as a team member.  

By completion of the course the delegates must understand the following; 

  1. Types, functions and limitations of Respiratory Protection Equipment using compressed air. (SABA, SCBA, Escape sets) 
  2. Negative pressure & Positive pressure facemasks and cowls – what they can do and what they cannot. 
  3. Draeger ‘PA94 Plus’ SCBA backplate and harness, pressure reducer, demand valve, gauge and whistle, Panorama Nova facemask, cylinder types. 
  4. Camlock ‘Fastmask’ and ‘Fastcowl’  
  5. Pre-use tests, Donning & start-up tests, ‘Doffing’ SCBA, after-use disassembling, cleaning/maintaining SCBA for further use, test records. 
  6. The ‘Buddy’ system 
  7. Confined spaces – types, hazards, activities, entry controls and procedures. 
  8. Procedures for emergencies and rescues, confined space entry team members roles and responsibilities 
  9. Rescue equipment, considerations, devising a rescue plan, solo and team rescue techniques.   

Course Content:

  • Be able to use, test and maintain SCBA for routine and non-routine activities. 
  • Identify the differences between SABA and SCBA. 
  • Recognise and identify confined space hazards, controls, key personnel and their responsibilities. 
  • Use SCBA under a variety of different circumstances, including devising and carrying out rescue plans. 

Who Should Attend?

Staff who are required to use SCBA for gas testing or other operational activities, or in operational emergencies. 

Pre- Requisites 

  • (ORT) HSE Orientation 
  • H2S 

Assessment 

  1. Using an SCBA as an aid, accurately explain the flow of air through an SCBA, the function of the gauge and whistle assembly, and why nominal and actual working time and whistle time may vary in use. 
  2. Correctly explain why obtaining a perfect face seal with SCBA is important, the factors that may cause a seal to be prevented or lost, and the actual and potential consequences to the wearer of not having a perfect seal for any reason. 
  3. Correctly carry out all the pre-use tests, and after-use tests on an SCBA, and records. 
  4. Correctly don and start-up, use and ‘doff’ an SCBA on a minimum of 3 different scenario practical exercises.
  5. Correctly carry out the role of a confined space attendant, and a member of a confined space entry team, as well as that of an emergency response team member wearing SCBA in at least two simulated emergency exercises. 
  6. During a simulated emergency, whilst wearing an SCBA, carry out a solo and two-man rescue of a training manikin from a confined space or simulator in the dark, and from a trench or elevated platform. 
  7. Correctly carry out after-use SCBA disassembly, cleaning, maintenance and reassembly on at least two occasions.