Redline Safety Ltd

Did you know ... as well as working directly for our own customers, Redline 'white lables' for several other companies. Our teams can often be seen providing confined space entry and rescue services on behalf of 3 of the major confined space training companies, 2 of the larger confined space rescue companies and handful of smaller organisations. We work as a self contained team or as individuals supporting their teams so our clients can benefit from additional resources at their busiest times. A tried and tested solution that has worked well for several years. If you think you could do with an extra team or extra pairs of hands then get in touch. Below are a handful of photos from last weeks works... #TeamWork #Safety #ConfinedSpace #ConfinedSpaceRescue

Flammable atmospheres and breathing apparatus ... We often get requests to send breathing apparatus teams into spaces where there have been previously reported gas alerts, most commonly into flammable atmospheres. The first thing we do is ask for the atmospheric readings, and a photo (like the one below) is great evidence for us to prepare our safe system of work. However, it is not good practice to send a breathing apparatus team into a space where there is a good chance there will be flammable gas, fume or vapour. Breathing apparatus will offer little protection to the wearer in the event of a fire or explosion, and whilst it will protect against a reduced oxygen or toxic atmosphere, it is better practice to apply a risk management hierarchy of control: 🔺 Elimination 🔺 Substitution 🔺 Engineering controls 🔺 Administrative controls 🔺 PPE If reducing the need for entry, purging, cleaning, ventilation, changing the method, isolations etc are not effective at removing the hazardous atmosphere then, as a last resort, the use of breathing apparatus can be considered. If you're looking for help with managing your hazardous atmospheres, entering spaces and/or providing emergency arrangements, then contact us directly... https://lnkd.in/eVzWtbSp #HazardousAtmosphere #BreathingApparatus #ConfinedSpace #ConfinedSpaceRescue

Last week a few of our colleagues refreshed their Confined Space Rescue training at Eurosafe UK in Sheffield with Steve Wood, NEBOSH, Tech IOSH, GIFireE and Rob Kynoch GIFireE, GInSTR, TechIOSH. All feedback from the course was fantastic and there were some great conversations around the use of technique versus ‘mandraulics’! The course delegates came from mix of different backgrounds and employment arrangements which highlighted some of the issues rescue technicians who are employed by companies on an as and when basis face, versus those who are full time employed and work with the same kit and colleagues day in, day out. Great learning and some great photos! #Mandraulics #Safety #SafetyTraining #ConfinedSpaceTraining #ConfinedSpaceRescue www.redlinesafety.co.uk

Another busy week at Redline. Along with some of our usual confined space safety works, we've had 2 of our teams on a training course at Arco Professional Safety Services Ltd in Eccleshall. Steven Dawson and Peter Hancock did a fantastic job designing and delivering a training course specific to our requirements. This is the first time we have run this course which combines working at height, abseiling, the use of our powered ascenders and our Terradaptor all into one course. The teams thoroughly enjoyed refreshing and honing their skills and we'll be repeating the course with our other team members very soon! Great training, great facilities and instructors who listen and respond to your requirements - what's not to love? #Safety #Training #ConfinedSpace #ConfinedSpaceRescue #WorkingatHeightTraining

Do confined space entry permits make the job safer or less safe? At first glance this may seem like a strange question, but hear us out. Obviously you cannot ignore the value of a good permit system for controlling multiple activities, isolations, cleaning and other preparations etc. But often we see companies tied up in their own permit systems and loosing sight of the bigger picture and what they need to do to make an entry safer. Paragraph 138 of the ACOP, Safe Work in Confined Spaces, states, “The permit-to-work procedure is an extension of the safe system to work, not a replacement for it. The use of a permit-to-work system does not, by itself, make the job safe.” Unfortunately we regularly see permits being used instead of a risk assessment, method statement and emergency plan. It’s very easy to do, and surprisingly common to see, “refer to risk assessment” on a permit, when the risk assessment does not exist. A permit, should reference the supporting documents (risk assessment, method statement, emergency plan, isolation procedures etc) which should be checked to ensure that they are suitable and sufficient both prior to, and during the permit issue process. A simple tick box style checklist (found in many permits) will seldom adequately replace a risk assessment, and an emergency plan which states which numbers to call to alert security / control room etc will likely not fulfil the requirements of Reg 5. A permit to enter is usually an important part of a safe system of work, but it shouldn’t be the only part. #Safety #PermitToWork #ConfinedSpace #ConfinedSpaceRescue Below are a selection of photos of what our teams have been up to so far this week.

We're often asked how many rescues we've carried out over the years. To be honest its not that many! At Redline we're proud of our pro-active approach to confined space safety and believe it goes a long way towards preventing incidents from occurring. Unfortunately incidents still do happen, although they are usually on areas of the site out of our control, or on the way to/from site! In addition to the usual bumps and bruises, here are a few examples of incidents our team have dealt with: ❗ Expanding foam to face and eyes (equipment malfunction) - confined space entrant ❗ Head and facial injury (contact with suspended load) - signaller, nearby lifting activity ❗ Neurological episode - confined space entrant ❗ Leg and arm lacerations - cyclist passing the site ❗ Partial leg amputation - motorcycle accident on way to site ❗ Laceration to face (contact with angle grinder) - confined space entrant ❗ Head and facial injury (contact with suspended load) - signaller, nearby lifting activity ❗ Broken collar bone (fall of suspended load) - signaller, nearby lifting activity ❗ Partial thumb amputation (contact with cut off saw) - other contractor on site ❗ Head injury - traffic accident on way from site As you can see, none of these is caused by a "specified risk"! Remember when you are risk assessing and planning for emergencies to consider everything that is reasonably foreseeable. #RiskAssessment #RescuePlanning #Safety #ConfinedSpace #ConfinedSpaceRescue www.redlinesafety.co.uk

Who is inspecting your harnesses? Many companies we come across rely solely on their insurance inspectors to carry out their periodic examinations. On a recent visit to a client's site, our team were looking over their harnesses prior to use and discovered, whilst they were in good condition, that they were all 13 years old. All manufacturers of webbing products publish a 'Statement of Obsolesence' which gives a recommended lifespan for their products, either from date of manufacture, or date of first use. Most webbing products in the UK, have a lifespan from date of manufacture of 10 years. Here are some links to a few examples: https://lnkd.in/eFTqZRcY https://lnkd.in/ea3bUeaa https://lnkd.in/eB_Q-fue Time and time again we see harnesses in use, beyond their recommended lifespan, which have been tagged and assumed suitable for use by insurance inspectors. Find someone you trust to look after your equipment! #Safety #SafetyHarness #WorkingAtHeight #ConfinedSpace #ConfinedSpaceRescue www.redlinesafety.co.uk

Great work, and feedback, from one of the teams who were supporting the internal inspection of a pipe this week. Installation of anchor points to set up a fall protection and recovery system (the pipe was steeply sloping) and confined space support for our client and their contractor. #Safety #WorkingatHeight #ConfinedSpace #ConfinedSpaceRescue www.redlinesafety.co.uk

Thankfully the teams have mostly been managing to avoid the Junuary weather! Here's a small selection of what we have been up to lately. #Junuary #Safety #ConfinedSpace #ConfinedSpaceRescue www.redlinesafety.co.uk

We often get asked if we can recommend decent instrinsically safe cameras, either because our clients can't find them or the ones they have found are not of good enough quality. Our clients are usually suprised when we suggest that they can use their own non-intrinsically safe cameras. Let us explain our reasoning for this. Unless there is a significant risk of a flammable or explosive atmosphere, either inherently present or which may be created in your space, then there is no requirement to use intrinsically safe equipment. Of course, if there is a signifcant risk of a flammable or explosive atmosphere, then the use of appropriate ATEX rated equipment is a must. A few points to keep in mind: ⚡ Low voltage does not equal intrinsically safe - low voltage equipment may reduce the likelihood of an electric shock, but the equipment is still a potential source of ignition. ⚡ Hot surfaces - whilst not electrical, are a potential source of ignition and may cause substances to vapourise (or otherwise alter) and form harmful vapours or similar. Confined space safety is not a black and white subject and every situation should be treated differently, risk assessed and controlled accordingly. If you need advice on any aspect of working in confined spaces then feel free to contact the team directly - info@redlinesafety.co.uk. #safety #ATEX #DSEAR #ConfinedSpace #ConfinedSpaceRescue #ConfinedSpaceTraining www.redlinesafety.co.uk