Maintaining site safety is a core responsibility for the construction manager. As part of this duty, understanding the regulatory framework for confined space rescue is absolutely essential so, in this article we explore the key legal requirements, the practical implications for busy sites, and best-practice how-to steps. What Counts as a Confined Space? According to the UK’s Confined Spaces Regulations 1997, a confined space is any enclosed or partially enclosed area not designed for continuous human occupancy, where there is a foreseeable risk of serious harm such as lack of oxygen, toxic gas exposure, drowning, or explosion. Examples include tanks, silos, manholes, tunnels, sewers, boiler interiors, shafts, vaults, and basements. Key Legislation Construction Managers Must Know 1. Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 2. Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 & Management Regulations 1999 These set the wider framework requiring competent risk assessment, supervision, planning, and provision of safe systems including training, PPE, and emergency planning. Why Delegation and Preparedness Matter HSE guidance makes clear that relying on external emergency services is inadequate in confined space incidents as response times are often too slow, and access for uniformed crews may be difficult. A dedicated rescue team needs to be immediately available on‑site or nearby. Safe rescue starts well before need arises through hazard assessments, drills, equipment maintenance, and clear communication protocols. Supervisors and rescuers alike must hold appropriate certification including City & Guilds qualifications such as 6160‑03 for high‑risk spaces and 6160‑08 for rescue team members. Look for experienced training providers that offer a wide range of confined space training courses. Practical Checklist for Construction Managers Step Action Risk Assessment Identify confined spaces on your site. Use the HSE-approved Code of Practice L101 to guide assessment. Avoid Entry if Possible Wherever feasible, carry out work from outside. If entry is unavoidable, ensure it follows a robust system of work. Develop Rescue Plan Prepare rescue arrangements before entry (Regulation 5). This must include whether self-rescue, non-entry rescue, or entry rescue is viable. Appoint Competent Personnel Ensure site leaders and safety supervisor are trained in confined space oversight and rescue protocols. Ensure Equipment Readiness Confirm ventilation, atmospheric monitoring, breathing apparatus, harnesses, tripods, winches, lighting, communication tools are all functional. Train & Drill Regularly Ensure entrants, attendants and responders regularly rehearse rescue procedures. Consider mobile training units or experienced third‑party providers for practice scenarios. Audit and Review Conduct periodic reviews of confined space plans, equipment servicing, rescue performance and incident lessons. Real Consequences When Preparedness Lapses Numerous real-world incidents have underlined the danger and according to various studies, about two‑thirds of confined space fatalities occur not to the initial victim but to would-be rescuers entering without proper planning or equipment.  By contrast, companies that embed trained rescue teams, regular drills and documented rescue systems improve outcomes significantly, and reduce liability, downtime and risk exposure. Final Thought For construction managers, confined space regulations aren’t just administrative burdens, they’re life-critical frameworks. Understanding Regulations 1997 (especially Regulations 4 & 5), taking proactive steps to minimise entry, appointing competent teams, and establishing ready rescue arrangements are essential. It’s not about promotion it’s about responsibility and informed leadership. Setting a high bar for rescue readiness, training and compliant systems ensures safer worksites, fewer incidents and peace of mind when high-risk jobs arise.

Off the back of Storm Floris, energy solutions and temperature control specialist Aggreko is urging site managers to adopt more robust dehumidification and heating strategies in the face of high-risk weather in order to minimise damage to materials. Storm Floris recently brought 90mph winds and torrential rain to the UK, posing significant disruption to operations across the north of England and Scotland.[1] Chiming with this, Aggreko’s latest report, Building in Resilience: Weather-Proofing European Construction in a Changing Climate, found that damage to materials was the top concern regarding high-risk weather among UK construction managers, with almost 40% also stating that they had faced major delays, missed deadlines, and financial penalties as a result of high-risk weather. Chris Smith, Head of Temperature Control at Aggreko, is emphasising the need for site managers to bolster their approach to dehumidification and heating in order to minimise the financial impact of both Floris and future storms. He said: “As last year’s storm season evidenced, extreme weather is becoming all the more common in the UK, though volatile supply chains and rising material costs mean that the potential financial impact is greater than ever. As such, there is a renewed need for construction managers to deploy effective dehumidification and heating solutions to minimise damage to materials and ensure that sites are able to weather the storm.” ‘Storm season’ saw a record-breaking 12 named storms hit the UK between September 2023 and August 2024,[2] with the Met Office also forecasting that winters will be up to 30% wetter by 2070.[3] More recently, a report from QBE Insurance Group, developed in collaboration with Control Risks, found that the construction sector is already facing surging material costs due to geopolitical developments, with copper, steel, aluminium, and timber all spiking, and some reaching all-time highs.[4] Chris concluded: “With material costs on the rise, site managers must do all they can to safeguard their stocks against water damage, or pay the price. Copper, steel, aluminium, and timber – as well as wider materials such as concrete and insulation – are all susceptible to the effects of water ingress and damp, so an all-encompassing dehumidification and heating strategy is key. “Bringing in solutions from a temperature control specialist can help materials to dry out quicker, allowing damage that may otherwise render them unusable to be avoided. While the worst of Storm Floris may have passed, it is certainly not the last of the UK’s wet weather, particularly as we approach the autumn and winter months, so I urge site managers to engage with these contacts ahead of time to get wet weather ready.” Read Aggreko’s full report, Building in Resilience: Weather-Proofing European Construction in a Changing Climate. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals