The recent tragic confined space incident in Colorado that claimed multiple lives is a sobering reminder that we still have work to do. Our hearts go out to the victims and their survivors.
And in California, a worker died while cleaning an underground tank. Other crew members were unable to rescue the victim. Fire and hazmat teams removed the worker, deconed him and attempted to revive him.
At HazSim, our mission isn’t to place blame — but to stop these deaths. Period.
Confined space work is inherently dangerous. But training doesn’t have to be. Research shows hands-on, realistic simulation is one of the most effective tools for preventing fatalities.
A groundbreaking study from Sarpy and Burke in 2021 found that “Active learning, including simulation and scenario-based drills, enhances retention, especially when training reflects the complexity of real-world tasks.”
Also Read: 4 Best Practices for Confined Space Air Monitoring
In other words, realistic training saves lives.
HazSim enables safe, repeatable drills that mimic confined space hazards — such as gas leaks, oxygen displacement, and toxic environments — without exposing personnel to actual danger. Whether your team learns best through visual cues, real-time feedback, language-specific instructions, or repetition, HazSim adapts.
Training Tools: Free Air-Monitoring Drill Cards
No matter what language they speak, what role they hold, or how they learn — every responder deserves training that works.
News reports indicate the victims were deceased when first responders reached them. We don’t know what level training or equipment these workers had. We know that tragedies like the one in Colorado are complex. And we also know that better training saves lives. We are committed to making it more accessible, adaptable, and effective than ever.
A GoFundMe page has been set up in honor of some of the Colorado victims.
Sarpy, S. A., & Burke, M. J. (2021). Training Transfer and Safety in High-Risk Occupations. Journal of Applied Psychology.
