A Redi-Mix concrete plant in southern Missouri requested a visit from the Missouri On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program to help improve the company’s safety and health management system. During the consultation visit in November of 2022, the consultant discovered that the company was relying on the local fire department to provide confined space rescue if needed. Knowing the complexity of confined space rescue procedures, the consultant recommended the company contact its local fire department to ensure that the fire department was adequately trained on the company's confined space and rescue procedures. The site had two permit-required confined spaces.

After being contacted by the Redi-Mix plant, the fire chief coordinated the training for the fire department with the company. The fire department received training on the locations of the confined spaces at the worksite, rescue equipment, and emergency procedures. To take full advantage of the confined space rescue training being provided to the fire department, the training was also provided to on-site Redi-Mix employees and Redi-Mix employees from other plant locations. Representatives from each of the company’s Redi Mix plants came to participate in the training.

Management of the Redi-Mix plant realized the importance of coordinating with and providing training to the local fire department to perform permit-required confined space rescue if needed. A timely rescue could mean the difference between saving or losing a life. Management of the Redi-Mix plant also realized the importance of developing a retraining schedule for the fire department to account for turnover among fire department volunteers and employees.

The OSHA On-Site Consultation Program offers no-cost and confidential occupational safety and health services to small and medium-sized businesses in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several U.S. territories, with priority given to high hazard worksites. Consultants from state agencies or universities work with employers to identify workplace hazards and how to fix them, provide advice for compliance with OSHA standards, train and educate workers, and assist in establishing and improving safety and health programs. On-Site Consultation services are separate from OSHA enforcement efforts. To locate the OSHA On-Site Consultation program nearest you, call 800-321-OSHA (6742) or visit www.osha.gov/consultation.