Tunnel and Confined Space Rescue & Support Services

Within the last 2 years UCI has begun providing support for clients with projects inside of tunnels and confined spaces. These areas can be completely dry, semi-dry or fully flooded. In 2004 we performed 2 such projects in addition to participating in a Value Engineering (VE) Study for a major tunnel repair project which is slated to begin within the next few years. Our experience in working in confined spaces as well as our experience in using and building supplied air breathing systems can be a major asset to clients who require this type of work.

All UCI personnel working on a confined space project will have the following documented training as a minimum:

• Confined Space-Permit Required (Supervisor, Attendant & Rescue training as required)
• 40 hour HAZWOPER or Haz-Com
• Lock-Out / Tag-Out
• Personal Protectice Equipment (PPE)
• First Aid
• CPR
• AED
• Fall Protection
• Ladder Safety
• Fire Prevention
• Fire Extinguisher
• Hot Work Safety
• SCBA & Supplied Air Respirator
• Air Monitoring Equipment
• Electrical Safety
• Rigging
• Bloodborn Regulations & Procedures (as required)
• EMT, DMT or Paramedic Certification (as required)

We are able to supply our clients with 2 different but complimentary types of services:

1. Support Services - This includes services such as tunnel lighting and electrical services by licenced electricians, the transportation of personnel and materials, atmospheric monitoring, communication systems, hazardous material abatement, rigging, the development of Site Specific-Safety Plans, and more.

2. Confined Space Rescue & Supervisory Services - When working in  Permit Required Confined Spaces federal regulations dictate that there must be a Confined Space Supervisor and Attendant on the job site. When an Owner has multiple contractors working in a confined space, having multiple supervisors and attendants can become very confusing and inefficient. UCI can provide trained personnel to manage the space and monitor the ingress and egress of all personnel working within a confined space. This insures that no unauthorized or improperly trained or equipped personnel enter the space. Regulations further dictate that rescue services be available when working within a permit required confined space.The options here are either outside services such as a fire department, or in-house rescue services. The drawback to using outside services are many, such as response time, lack of familiarity within the space, and inadequate equipment to effect a rescue. Again, if multiple contractors are working in a confined space and each contractor has a rescue crew, problems such as congestion on the surface and confusion in the confined space can occur. We can provide clients with a full time on-site rescue crew. This crew can double as the confined space supervisory and attendant team to minimize costs. Each rescue crew will have a fully trained and licenced EMT, DMT, or Paramedic as part of the team and each team will be equipped with all the necessary medical and rescue equipment.

By eliminating the requirement for contractors to supply these services, UCI can reduce the cost to clients who require that work be performed in confined spaces, while insuring a much higher level of safety for all entrants. We have invested several hundred thousand dollars in equipment for these services to fully meet the needs of Owners. Please contact us so that we may better understand your goals and explain how we can improve the safety and efficiency of your project. 

A UCI worker enters a tunnel to provide support services to the Owner while wearing a Scott 4.5 SCBA.	Our worker is entering a tunnel to assist the Owner with support services. Note that he is wearing a protective suit, gloves, boots, and using an SCBA. He is also carrying a multi-gas detector and a 2-way radio for communication.	These 4 workers have just returned from working inside a tunnel. They are standing on a containment pad awaiting the tenders to remove their gear and begin decontamination.

Another UCI employee, fully outfitted in PPE enters a permit required confined space.	UCI employees wash down hoses used inside this tunnel. Again, note that each man is wearing a fall protection harness and carrying a multi-gas detector.	UCI workers remove a barrel of material recovered from inside of this tunnel. Note that all of the intrinsically safe electrical lighting was supplied and installed by UCI.