Confined Space Identification
Recognise different types of confined spaces and understand how their characteristics influence access, work and emergency response.
ITRA Technical Rescue Congress 2026
Confined Space Rescue Confined Spaces · Silos · Engulfment · Rescue Planning
A practical approach to confined space rescue with dedicated focus on silo operations and engulfment scenarios, exploring access, hazard control, casualty management, emergency egress and rescue planning.
Workshop Organizer
International Technical Rescue Association
Practical Confined Space Rescue training with dedicated silo and engulfment scenarios.
The workshop is designed to introduce participants to the fundamental considerations involved in confined space operations and emergency response.
Through practical scenarios at Outside Academy, participants will explore the challenges associated with confined spaces, silo access, engulfment hazards, casualty management, entry procedures and emergency rescue planning.
Confined Space & Silo Training Environment
Train for confined spaces, silos and engulfment.
This workshop takes place at Outside Academy, the Official Host of the ITRA Technical Rescue Congress 2026.
The training environment allows participants to work through realistic confined space problems while adding specific challenges associated with silos and engulfment incidents, including restricted access, unstable materials and difficult casualty extraction.
The scenarios will explore technical rescue systems together with access, entry control, rescue pre-planning, casualty management and the operational decisions required when a person is trapped or engulfed inside a confined space or silo.
Environment
Outside Academy Training Centre
Primary Discipline
Confined Space Rescue
Scenario Focus
Silos & Engulfment
Rescue Challenges
Entrapment & Difficult Extraction
Entry Control
Authorization Required
About the Workshop
Understanding the challenges before entering.
Participants will explore confined space rescue through practical scenarios that include silo environments and engulfment hazards, gaining an understanding of the access, stabilization, casualty management and extraction challenges these incidents create for rescue teams.
Entry Procedures
Explore the procedures, controls and authorization processes that should be considered before personnel enter a confined space.
Access & Emergency Egress
Examine access routes, vertical systems and emergency exit strategies for different confined space configurations.
Rescue Pre-Planning
Understand why the rescue plan, equipment and emergency response strategy must be considered before the entry begins.
Silo Rescue Techniques
Explore access, movement, casualty management and extraction considerations for rescue operations inside silo environments.
Engulfment Rescue
Examine rescue techniques for engulfment scenarios, including hazard control, stabilization, containment and the challenges of freeing and removing an entrapped casualty.
Key Operational Principle
Rescue planning starts before entry.
Effective confined space, silo and engulfment rescue depends on understanding the space, material behaviour, access route, hazards, available equipment and emergency options before personnel are committed to the operation.
Equipment Partners
Technical equipment supporting the scenarios.
The workshop will be supported by specialist manufacturers providing equipment for access, rescue systems and rope operations in the confined space environment.
Harken
Equipment Partner
Harken will support the practical workshop with specialized equipment used for access and rescue systems in confined space operations.
- TerrAdaptor
- LOKHEAD Winch
- Additional rescue equipment
TEUFELBERGER
Rope Partner
TEUFELBERGER will support the workshop by providing ropes for the technical and operational requirements of the confined space scenarios.
The collaboration gives participants the opportunity to work with professional rope systems in a confined space and silo rescue environment.
Workshop Format
Three hours of practical confined space, silo and engulfment operations.
The workshop combines demonstration, discussion and practical exercises focused on confined space operations, silo rescue and engulfment scenarios.
The objective is not only to practise technical systems, but also to understand the operational challenges created by restricted access, flowing or unstable materials, casualty entrapment and difficult extraction when rescue options must be planned in advance.
Duration
3 hours
Group Size
Maximum 15 participants
Level
No previous experience required
Workshop Lead
André Monteiro
Discipline
Confined Space Rescue
Participant Information
What to expect.
Experience
No previous confined space rescue experience is required to participate in this workshop.
Practical Participation
Participants will be introduced to practical confined space operations, including silo and engulfment rescue scenarios.
Collective Equipment
Collective rescue equipment required for the practical activities will be provided as part of the workshop.
Entry Control
Practical exercises will be conducted under instructor direction and subject to the authorization and entry procedures defined for the training scenario.
Safety
Controlled access to a complex environment.
Confined spaces require structured control of access and rescue operations.
The workshop combines confined space activities with silo and engulfment scenarios. Participants must follow the directions of the workshop team, including controls related to access, unstable materials, entrapment hazards and rescue systems at all times.
Main Environment
Confined Space
Scenario
Silo Rescue
Operational Hazard
Engulfment & Entrapment
Entry Requirement
Authorization
Risk Assessment
Coordinated with Congress Organization
Workshop Location
Outside Academy
Porto Metropolitan Area, Portugal
Outside Academy provides a dedicated technical rescue training environment for practical confined space, silo and engulfment scenarios.
Participants will work through realistic access, entrapment, stabilization and extraction challenges in a controlled training environment.
View on the Map
Outside Academy
Porto Metropolitan Area, Portugal
41.153214, -8.544063
Workshop Availability
Available during four workshop rotations.
Workshop activities will be coordinated with the operational and safety requirements defined by Outside Academy and the Congress team.
Workshop Team
Led by André Monteiro.
André Monteiro will lead the Confined Space Rescue Workshop.
Additional members of the workshop team will be designated in coordination with the Congress organization.
Workshop Lead
André Monteiro
Discipline
Confined Space Rescue
Organization
ITRA
Additional Team
To be confirmed
ITRA Technical Rescue Congress 2026
Plan before you enter.
Experience the challenges of confined space rescue, silo operations and engulfment scenarios, and understand why effective emergency response begins long before the rescue is needed.