City & Guilds Level 3 Award in Working as a Member of a Rescue and Recovery Team in Confined Spaces

The City & Guilds Level 3 Award in Working as a Member of a Rescue and Recovery Team in Confined Spaces (6160-08) is a specialised vocational qualification that trains individuals to perform safe and effective emergency rescues in confined space environments. It is a nationally recognised award designed to meet the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for confined space rescue operations. This intensive course covers both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, ensuring that learners can confidently handle confined space emergencies. The content is comprehensive – including preparation for emergency activities, use of specialised equipment, safe entry and exit procedures, casualty recovery techniques, and strict adherence to safety protocols. The purpose of the training is to equip learners with the competencies required to operate as part of a dedicated rescue team, in line with industry best practices and regulatory requirements.

This qualification is intended for personnel who will serve as members of a confined space rescue and recovery team. It is ideal for individuals across various industries – such as utilities (water, sewage, power), manufacturing, petrochemical, or any sector where confined space work is undertaken – and where a standby rescue capability is required. Typically, candidates are experienced confined space workers or safety professionals who are tasked with providing emergency rescue cover. An emergency rescue team may be an in-house industrial rescue squad, a specialist contractor team, or part of the emergency services arranged by prior agreement. In essence, this course is for anyone whose job role necessitates being prepared to safely rescue others from confined spaces.  

What can I expect from the City & Guilds 6160-08 Working As A Member Of Rescue & Recovery training course?

Key learning outcomes of this course include

• Rescue Team Preparation: Conducting pre-entry safety checks and overseeing preparations for both the entry crew and the rescue team before work commences in a confined space.
• Safe Entry and Exit Procedures: Learning how to enter and exit confined spaces safely as part of a rescue team, including the correct use of access equipment and personal protective equipment (such as breathing apparatus) during high-risk entries.
• Use of Emergency Equipment: Proper operation of rescue tools and emergency equipment (e.g. tripods, winches, lifelines, gas monitors, stretchers) in accordance with manufacturers’ specifications and safety guidelines.
• Working Safely & Following Protocols: Adhering to established confined space procedures and permit-to-work systems, and working cohesively as a team under potentially hazardous conditions to ensure safety at all times.
• Rescue Techniques & Casualty Recovery: Techniques for locating, stabilising, and retrieving casualties from a confined space, including the use of casualty handling devices and safe methods to remove injured persons without further harm.
• Understanding Roles & Responsibilities: Gaining a clear understanding of each team member’s role within a rescue operation and the principles of effective teamwork and communication during confined space emergencies.
• Emergency Planning & Problem Solving: Understanding standard rescue team emergency plans and learning how to respond calmly to unexpected incidents or changing conditions during a rescue scenario.

The course is typically delivered through a mix of classroom theory and practical exercises. Learners can expect realistic scenario-based training, where simulated confined space incidents are used to practice rescue operations in a controlled environment. This hands-on approach ensures that upon completion, learners are able to apply their skills confidently in real-world situations.

This is an advanced level course, and there are important entry requirements and prerequisites to ensure candidates’ safety and readiness:

• Prior Certification: Learners must hold a current City & Guilds 6160-03 qualification (Working in High Risk Confined Spaces) or an equivalent high-risk confined space qualification. This prerequisite ensures all learners have proven competency in confined space entry at high risk level before progressing to rescue training.
• Medical Fitness: Learners must be medically fit for confined space work and emergency response duties. A routine medical questionnaire or fitness assessment may be require.
• Breathing Apparatus Requirement: Learners must be clean-shaven to ensure a proper seal on the face mask of breathing apparatus.
• First Aid Competency: It is strongly recommended that participants hold a valid first aid qualification prior to attending. During confined space rescues, immediate first aid or CPR may be needed for casualties, so having prior first aid knowledge is highly beneficial.
• Equipment/PPE: All necessary specialist rescue equipment (such as tripods, gas monitors, breathing apparatus, and casualty retrieval devices) will be provided by the training centre. However, learners are usually required to bring or wear their own personal protective equipment – including safety boots, gloves, a hard hat/helmet, and suitable durable work clothing with full coverage.

Assessment involves a combination of practical performance tests and written examinations to ensure competence in both skills and knowledge:

• Practical Assessment: Learners must complete an observed practical test in a realistic confined space emergency scenario. In this simulation, they are required to demonstrate correct use of equipment, adherence to safety procedures, effective team communication, and the ability to rescue and recover a casualty under pressure. An assessor observes each candidate’s performance to verify that they can fulfil the rescue team member role safely and effectively.
• Written Exam: Learners also sit a written exam, which is typically an externally set, internally marked short-answer question paper covering the theory and principles of confined space rescue. This test evaluates the candidate’s understanding of key topics such as risk assessment, ventilation and gas hazards, communication protocols, emergency first aid in confined spaces, and relevant regulations or guidelines.

Candidates must successfully pass both the practical and the written assessments to achieve the qualification. The course is graded on a pass/fail basis, meaning all required performance criteria and knowledge answers must meet the City & Guilds standard in order for the candidate to be awarded the certification.

Upon successful completion of the training and assessments, the candidate is awarded the City & Guilds Level 3 Award in Working as a Member of a Rescue and Recovery Team in Confined Spaces certificate (qualification code 6160-08). This certification is provided through City & Guilds (via the accredited training centre) and serves as formal recognition of the individual's skills and knowledge in confined space rescue operations.