City & Guilds have released a new qualification called City & Guilds Level 2 Award in Entrant and Entry Controller for Confined Spaces (Medium Risk) (6160-09). This is a combined Medium Risk Entrant and Medium Risk Entry Controller course which is 2 days in duration.
From Monday 16 May, MRS Training & Rescue's Medium Risk Confined Space courses will be upgraded to the combined entrant and entry controller certification. Course duration and prices remain unchanged.
The key difference between the new 6160-09 Medium Risk and the previous 6160-02 Medium Risk is that the 6160-09 now includes entry controller (top person) qualification and assessment.
The 6160-02 qualification is still available and valid.
If anyone cannot or does not want to be an Entrant at Medium Risk but does want Entry Controller, the 3 day City & Guilds Level 3 Award in Control Entry and Arrangements for Confined Spaces (6160-04) covers everything from low up to and including high risk.
What is the role of the Entrant?
The role of the entrant / operative is to enter the confined space and complete the tasks that have been agreed and authorised. The operatives should not deviate from the plan that has been developed under the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997.
Entrants should be:
- Competent
- Briefed on work to be carried out and the emergency arrangements
- Confirm the resources are fit for purpose
- Ensure it is safe to enter
- Follow instructions from the Entry Controller
- Maintain communication with the top (and bottom) person
- Work safely
- Follow emergency procedures
What is the role of the Top Person / Entry Controller?
It is very important that the role of this individual is well understood, as this
person is often responsible for:
- Verifying the space is safe to enter
- Setting up the access equipment, and ensuring it is safe
- Maintaining an exclusion zone around confined space; preventing unauthorised access
- Remaining outside when people are working in a confined space
- Maintaining an entry log for people entering / exiting a confined space
- Recording messages and environmental readings
- Maintaining communication with those inside a confined space and any relevant persons outside of a confined space e.g. rescue team
- Reviewing the hazards, and ensuring that the confined space remains safe for the operators
- Withdrawing the operators if they have reason to believe there is a change that will affect their safety
- Dealing with an emergency
- Entry controller must not enter a confined space or leave it unattended whilst people are still in the confined space
Given the range of responsibilities, it is important that the entry controller is:
- Competent and fully conversant with risk assessment and implementation of safe systems of work (and, if required, permit to work)
- Has a sound understanding of the equipment and any limitations
- Understands the emergency plan, and is prepared to implement it
- Confident with communication, and liaising with authorities in the event of an emergency
- Is able to remain calm under difficult circumstances, thinking rationally about the steps needed to secure the safety of the operative
Is this suitable for those managing work in confined spaces?
Anyone that is responsible for managing confined spaces should take one of the Managing Confined Spaces courses we offer.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 states, under section 2, that anyone managing confined space entries, including working and emergency situations, must be able to demonstrate competence in identifying confined spaces, carrying our risk assessments, developing safe systems of work, utilising permits and devising emergency arrangements.
Responsibilities include:
- Ensuring all paperwork is in order
- Sufficient resources are available
- Sufficient competent staff are present
- Ensuring preparatory work, such as draining and isolating, has been carried out
- Briefing teams on work to be carried out
- Reinstatement procedure on completion of work
- Completion and storage of documents
