Health & Safety Training

Confined Space Rescue Training Course

A one-day in-company course for on-site rescue teams. Trains delegates in the rescue and recovery of a casualty from confined spaces with horizontal access, through realistic drill scenarios.

One day In-company UK-wide Certificate of competency On-site rescue team members
Key facts at a glance
One day
Duration0900 to 1600, practical-led
Horizontal access
The scoperescue from horizontally-entered spaces
Max 6
Group sizea small group for hands-on drills
Pre-requisite
RequiredFirst Aid and Confined Space Entry training
The course
Quick answer

What is confined space rescue training?

Confined space rescue training prepares members of an on-site rescue team to recover a casualty from a confined space with horizontal access. KeyOstas delivers it as a one-day in-company course of practical drill scenarios, including casualty handling and handover to the emergency services. First Aid and Confined Space Entry training are required beforehand.

For members of an On-site Rescue Team (ORT) for confined space activities
Covers rescue equipment, communication, escalation and emergency rescue procedures
Practical drill scenarios, casualty handling and handover to emergency services
Pre-requisite: First Aid and Confined Space Entry training
When something goes wrong in a confined space, a planned rescue is what saves a life, and untrained, improvised rescue is how many confined space deaths happen. This one-day course trains members of an on-site rescue team to recover a casualty from a confined space with horizontal access. It covers the legislation relevant to confined space safety, the hazards and their controls, personal protective equipment, and the selection and use of rescue equipment, alongside communication, escalation, and documentation and records. The core of the day is practical: emergency rescue procedures and realistic drill scenarios, including preparing for entry, dealing with a casualty in an emergency within a horizontally-entered confined space, casualty handling during a rescue, and handover of the casualty to the emergency services. The course is for anyone appointed to be part of an On-site Rescue Team for confined space entry activities, and First Aid and Confined Space Entry training are a mandatory requirement before attending. Delegates should bring their own PPE and rescue equipment, and the group is kept small, with a maximum of six delegates, so everyone takes a full part in the drills.
Horizontal access
rescue from horizontally-entered confined spaces
Max 6
a small group, so everyone drills hands-on
Pre-requisite
First Aid and Confined Space Entry training
Is it right for you

Is this course right for your team?

It is for the people appointed to rescue a casualty from a confined space.

Right for you if…

You have staff appointed to an on-site rescue team for confined space work
Your rescue scenarios involve confined spaces with horizontal access
Delegates already hold First Aid and Confined Space Entry training
You want practical drill scenarios, not classroom theory
You want training delivered in-company, on your own equipment

A different course fits better if…

Staff need to enter and work in confined spaces, not rescue: see Low Risk Confined Space Entry or Confined Space Entry with Escape Sets
Delegates do not yet hold First Aid or Confined Space Entry training: those are required first
You need to train supervisors rather than rescuers: see Confined Space Supervisor
After the course

What you will be able to do

By the end of the course, every delegate will be able to do the following.

Prepare for rescue

Know the law

Outline the legislation relevant to confined space safety.

Know the hazards

Describe the hazards of confined space rescue and their controls.

Select equipment

Select and use the correct PPE and rescue equipment for the task.

Communicate and escalate

Apply effective communication and escalation, and keep proper documentation and records.

Carry out a rescue

Follow rescue procedures

Carry out emergency rescue procedures for a horizontally-entered confined space.

Run drill scenarios

Complete rescue drill scenarios relevant to realistic potential situations.

Handle a casualty

Handle a casualty correctly during a rescue, emergency or injury situation.

Hand over the casualty

Carry out the handover of a casualty to the emergency services.

Course content

What the course covers

A one-day, practical-led course for on-site rescue team members.

01

The law, hazards and equipment

  • Legislation relevant to confined space safety
  • Hazards and their controls, and personal protective equipment
  • Selection and use of rescue equipment
02

Procedures and records

  • Communication and escalation
  • Documentation and records
  • Emergency rescue procedures
03

Practical rescue drills

  • Preparation for entry and dealing with a casualty in a horizontally-entered confined space
  • Rescue scenarios including drill procedures
  • Casualty handling, and handover of the casualty to the emergency services
Assessment

How the course is assessed and certificated

Practical and drill-based, with a core assessment of rescue ability.

Format

Instructor-led, in-company

A KeyOstas tutor delivers the one-day course, running 0900 to 1600 with a 45-minute lunch break.

Assessment

Practical drill scenarios

The core assessment covers preparation, casualty handling, rescue scenarios and handover to the emergency services.

Certificate

Certificate of competency

Delegates who successfully complete the course are awarded a training certificate of competency.

Delegates should bring their own PPE and rescue equipment, and must be fit to enter, rescue and recover casualties from horizontally-entered confined spaces. The group is limited to a maximum of six delegates.
Why KeyOstas

Why train with KeyOstas

Four decades of practical, in-company health & safety training.

01

Delivered at your site

We come to you, anywhere in the UK, and train your rescue team around your working pattern.

02

On your own equipment

Delegates train with their own PPE and rescue equipment, the kit they will really use.

03

Drill-based and hands-on

The day is built around realistic rescue drill scenarios, not classroom theory.

04

Specialists since 1984

Four decades of training UK workforces with practical instruction, not generic e-learning.

FAQ

Confined space rescue training: frequently asked questions

Who is the confined space rescue course for?
It is for anyone appointed to be part of an On-site Rescue Team (ORT) for their organisation's confined space entry activities.
Are there any pre-requisites?
Yes. First Aid and Confined Space Entry training are a mandatory requirement before attending this course.
How long is the course?
It is a one-day course, running from 0900 to 1600 with a 45-minute lunch break.
Does the course cover vertical rescue?
No. This course covers the rescue and recovery of a casualty from confined spaces with horizontal access.
How many delegates can attend?
The group is kept small, with a maximum of six delegates, so everyone takes a full part in the practical drills.
What should delegates bring?
Delegates should bring their own PPE and rescue equipment. They must also be fit to enter, rescue and recover casualties from horizontally-entered confined spaces.
What certificate is awarded?
Delegates who successfully complete the course are awarded a training certificate of competency.
Does the course replace the emergency services?
No. It trains an on-site rescue team to act quickly and hand a casualty over to the emergency services, who remain part of the emergency plan.

Train your confined space rescue team

Tell us how many people you would like to train and where you are based, and we will put together a quote for an in-company one-day course.

Last reviewed: May 2026. Checked against current UK health & safety legislation and HSE guidance.