City & Guilds Level 3 Award in Direct Emergency Rescue and Recovery of Casualties from Confined Spaces

The City & Guilds Level 3 Award in Direct Emergency Rescue and Recovery of Casualties from Confined Spaces (6160-07) is a one-day advanced training program focused on confined space emergency rescue leadership. It equips learners with the knowledge and practical skills to plan, direct, and oversee the rescue and recovery of injured persons from confined spaces during emergencies. This course is aligned with national occupational standards for confined space rescue operations and covers scenarios in both water industry and non-water industry environments. In essence, it ensures that supervisors and team leaders are prepared to safely manage confined space incidents and coordinate effective rescue efforts.

This qualification is intended for individuals who will be in charge of a rescue team or emergency response in confined spaces. It is ideal for those fulfilling roles such as confined space rescue team leaders, rescue coordinators, entry controllers (top persons), or supervisors responsible for managing rescue and recovery operations . In practice, anyone who directs the activities of a confined space rescue team – for example, overseeing emergency planning, guiding rescuers during an incident, and managing post-incident procedures – would benefit from this course. The training is suited to personnel across various sectors (water, sewage, industrial, construction, utilities, etc.) where confined space entry is part of the job and emergency rescue teams must be led by a competent person. 

What can I expect from the City & Guilds 6160-07 Direct Emergency Rescue training course?

Learners can expect a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on exercises covering the leadership of confined space rescues. 

Key learning objectives include:

• Plan and prepare emergency operations for a rescue team in a confined space.
• Mobilise and direct a rescue team, including controlling safe entry into and exit from the confined space.
• Monitor rescue team activities to ensure procedures and safety protocols are followed at all times.
• Understand the principles of working as an effective rescue team leader.
• Understand the duties and responsibilities of a confined space rescue team leader/supervisor.

By the end of the course, learners will know how to develop rescue plans, effectively lead their team during an incident, use specialist equipment properly, and maintain safety for all involved. Scenario-based practical drills are typically included to reinforce these skills, ensuring that candidates can apply the taught principles in real-life situations.

Learners must be medically fit for confined space rescue work, as confirmed by their employer. Personal protective equipment (PPE), including a hard hat, gloves, high-visibility clothing, and safety footwear, is required. Delegates using breathing apparatus must be clean-shaven to ensure a proper face seal.

• Prior qualifications: Completion of specific lower-level confined space courses is required. Learners should already hold the City & Guilds Level 2 Award in Working in High Risk Confined Spaces (6160-03) as well as the Level 3 Award in Working as a Member of a Rescue and Recovery Team in Confined Spaces (6160-08) before attending this course. These prerequisite qualifications ensure the candidate has the necessary background in confined space entry and rescue team membership.

The 6160-07 course is assessed through a combination of written and practical evaluations. Learners must successfully complete a written examination, which tests their understanding of confined space regulations, rescue procedures, and leadership principles. In addition, each learner’s practical skills are assessed by an instructor through direct observation: the candidate will typically lead a simulated confined space rescue scenario and must demonstrate correct procedures, effective team control, and adherence to safety protocols. To pass the course, delegates need to satisfy both components of the assessment – meeting the required standard in the hands-on rescue exercise and achieving a pass mark on the written test.

Successful candidates receive the City & Guilds Level 3 Award in Direct Emergency Rescue and Recovery of Casualties from Confined Spaces (6160-07), certifying their competence to lead and manage rescue operations in confined spaces.