New Confined Spaces Training Facility

News Release: Monday 26 October 2009

Develop Training Ltd are pleased to announce the availability of their new Confined Spaces Training facility that has been constructed on the site of Northumbrian Water Plc in Thornaby, near Middlesbrough. The custom built facility replicates typical confined space environments usually found in industrial and commercial applications as well as UK water premises.

Every year, UK workers are killed or seriously injured in a wide range of occupations and industries as the result of being exposed to dangerous atmospheres and conditions in confined working spaces. Deaths and injuries are not just limited to the workers themselves but also to those who have tried to rescue them without proper training or equipment.

Designed by Andy Richford, Training Delivery Manager for Develop's Confined Spaces Division, the new training facility will help give people an awareness of confined spaces and enable them to work safely in a variety of enclosed spaces including plant rooms, drains and sewers, fuel tanks, lift shafts, and ductwork. It can also be used to train emergency rescue teams in order to help them to undertake their specialist roles in a realistic setting which mirrors the challenging environments they find themselves in.

Navigating by torchlight, students transit through a cleverly designed maze of interconnected tunnels and enclosed areas. The facility can be adapted to suit the skills required by different trainees with the option to add smoke, noise and rescue dummies to the training scenario to make it more demanding. Specialist equipment such as harnesses, tripods, winches, fall arresters, gas monitors and breathing apparatus will also be used; whilst levels of difficulty can be adapted by changing entry routes and sounding audible alarms.

Andy Richford goes on to state, "We are delighted to be launching this facility as it will help raise awareness of the need for this type of training. We have spent a considerable amount of time ensuring the unit will deliver a first class training experience and that it will help reduce risk and save lives. The low operating costs of the facility mean we can transfer savings back to our clients so that they receive the most efficient, value for money training available in this field".