Trench Rescue Awareness Fire Department Content Provided by Vancouver Fire Department Technical Rescue Training Disclaimer:  The content in this slide show has not been reviewed by the Department of Labor and Industries for accuracy and has been provided as “sample” curriculum only.   Each Authority Having Jurisdiction must design, take authority of, and responsibility for, the actual training done by the Department.  Local SOPs/SOGs, State regulations, and Federal laws may impact the material suggested.   The Department of Labor and Industries and Washington State Fire Chiefs Association takes no responsibility for the outcomes or use of these training samples.

Standards WAC 296-305-05113(6) Trench and Excavation Rescue NFPA 1670: Chapter 11 Trench and Excavation Search and Rescue FF2 6-4.2 Assist rescue teams during a specialized rescue

SOPs Our Department SOP for Trench and Excavation Rescue is:

Why We Care Trench accidents have a 112% higher fatality rate than other construction jobs.

Learning Objectives Identify the role of awareness level personnel. Identify skills and techniques used in trench rescue. Identify the five components of size-up. Identify equipment used in trench rescue. Perform a risk/benefit analysis and a hazard assessment. Identify the need for additional resources. Implement a scene management system. Determine whether it is a rescue or a recovery.

Trench Defined A trench is defined as a temporary excavation in which the length of the bottom exceeds the width of the bottom, and where the hole is deeper than it is wide. The term “trench” is generally limited to excavations that are less than 15 feet wide at the bottom and less than 20 feet deep.

Role of Awareness Level Personnel NFPA 1670 Standard for Technical Rescue As of November 1998 the National Fire protection Association (NFPA) has adopted a rescue standard that addresses trench rescue as one of its components

NFPA 1670 Overview The NFPA 1670 Standard should encompass nearly all of a department or agencies rescue capabilities. The intent of this standard is to establish general guidelines for the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) in assessing hazards, identifying levels of operational capabilities, and establishing training documentation and response guidelines. The rescue disciplines are: Water rescue Rope rescue Confined space rescue Trench rescue Building collapse rescue Wilderness search and rescue Vehicles and Machinery Rescue Other rescue operations requiring specialized training

NFPA 1670 Overview Role Of Functional Capability NFPA 1670 identifies three levels of functional capability for technical rescue. The three levels are: AWARENESS - At the Awareness level the responder has the necessary knowledge to recognize and identify a problem and understand the hazards associated with a technical rescue situation. The responder will make an assessment of the situation, attempt to isolate the problem, and know how to summon assistance. Actions taken by responders at the awareness level are defensive in nature and generally should pose low or no risk to the responder. Responders at this level are generally not considered rescuers.

NFPA 1670 Overview Role Of Functional Capability OPERATIONS - At the Operations level a responder has the skills, abilities, and knowledge of the Awareness level, and the added capacity to take limited action utilizing basic, common skills, and tools. The responder at the Operations level can make a higher level of risk assessment than at the Awareness level and take actions to stabilize the technical rescue situation and to assist technician level responders prepare for and complete rescue tasks. Actions taken at the Operations level are generally of a limited offensive nature and generally at low to moderate risk to the responder.

NFPA 1670 Overview Role Of Functional Capability TECHNICIAN - At the Technician level a responder has the skills, abilities, and knowledge of the Awareness and Operations level, and the added capacity to take positive action with specialized tools, skills, and knowledge. Responders at the Technician level can make a higher level of risk assessment than at the Operations level. Actions taken at the Technician level are generally offensive in nature and may pose a greater risk to the responder.

Role of Awareness Level Personnel The Awareness level instruction contains minimal skill components. Students will perform in a minimal capacity as rescuers. The course is designed to develop “knowledge” competencies within the areas of: Response Basic Rules and SAFETY Hazard recognition and mitigation procedures Initial Rescue Actions SIZE-UP Risk Assessment On Scene Actions Activation Procedures for Trench Rescue Response Site Control and Scene Management Low Risk Rescue Operations

Primary Priorities of Technical Rescue Training and Response Successful rescues are a mixture of four things: Training Practice Experience Judgment

Primary Priorities of Technical Rescue Training and Response All rescues should be performed within the following rescue priorities: SELF - Your first priority is to your own safety. Your ability to stay out of trouble and to self rescue if necessary

Primary Priorities of Technical Rescue Training and Response TEAM - Your second priority is to your team. The safety of the team should be assured before proceeding with any operation.

Primary Priorities of Technical Rescue Training and Response VICTIM - Third priority, only after ensuring the safety of yourself and the team, should you attempt to rescue the victim. self-sacrifice in rescue services is traditional and commendable… and a useless waste. Rescue instructors would rather appear as expert witnesses to testify why nothing was done, than as to why a rescuer was injured or died.

Primary Priorities of Technical Rescue Training and Response FINALY - utilize the lowest risk rescue methods first, while setting up higher risk rescue methods as next alternatives

The Rescue Triangle Training Equipment Capabilities

Four Priorities L-A-S-T L = Locate the Victim A = Access the Victim S = Stabilize the Victim T = Transport the Victim

The Five Components of Size-Up Facts Probabilities Own Situation Decisions Plan of Operation Should be used in developing your Think - Plan - Act Model

The Five Components of Size-Up FACTS WHAT IS HAPPENING ? Time of Day Day of Week Number of Victims The Victims Situation,Access, Egress Past Site History And Other Known Facts

The Five Components of Size-Up PROBABILITIES WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IF NOTHING IS DONE ? Determining the probable course of events allows the rescuer to make decisions about safety, resource needs and rescue methods

The Five Components of Size-Up OWN SITUATION WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE WITH EXISTING RESOURCES ? Should not be confused with the FACTS component. Your own situation may be adequate for a simple victim assisted rescue but overwhelmed with multiple victims. When determining your own situation, consider: Resources on hand Your physical safety What other resources are available and how timely What training level do on site personnel posses

The Five Components of Size-Up DECISIONS CHOSE AN OPTION ? Controllable with on-site resources Request additional resources Situation is a recovery - slow down the operation Remember that size-up is on-going Remember that initial decisions and subsequent decisions will directly relate to the outcome of the overall incident success

Hazard Assessment ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE ALL HAZARDS THAT MAY EFFECT THE INCIDENT As an awareness level responder your job is to recognize the hazards, to avoid them, and to obtain the resources necessary to deal with them. The first responder WILL NOT MAKE ENTRY INTO THE TRENCH!

Equipment Used in Trench Rescue Ground Pads Air Monitors Shielding/Shoring Hand Tools Boom Truck Vactor Truck

Ground Pads

Trench Box

Shielding: Air Shore Struts

Initial Response Truck Company (s) TRT 81 Tech. Rescue Team Leader City ops trench rescue team, (including all equipment) Law enforcement Utility and/or locator company

Rules and Safety Non-essential personnel 50’ from edge Establish Hot and Warm zones With exception of essential apparatus, no vehicles allowed within 150’ of of the collapse area. Shut down apparatus if possible. Stop or re-route traffic a minimum of 300 feet from collapse area. Establish staging 150’ from collapse area.

Initial Rescue Actions SIZE-UP: Announce what you have: Open trench and size Number of Victims Heavy equipment on scene Utilities located Request an Operations Frequency Presence of sheeting, shoring, and coffin boxes Location of spoils pile

Initial Rescue Actions Location of command Assign responding units and request additional alarms if necessary Announce location of staging Number of bystanders and/or workers needed to be controlled. Obtain Tac. Frequency

Initial Rescue Actions Assess slope 45” slope T-intersections ? Type of soil

Large Spoil Pile

Risk Assessment A MEASURE OF THE PROS VERSUS THE CONS Is the risk to the rescuers worth the likelihood of a successful rescue. Is the anticipated rescue within the scope of the on scene personnel. Requires an honest look at on-scene personnel and equipment. Many rescuer fatalities are directly caused by a failure of the IC to realize that on-scene personnel were in “over their heads”. Performing a live rescue should never overshadow the basic goal of having all rescuers go home well and healthy.

Risk Assessment If the victim is visible are they in a stable situation, will they remain so? If buried, for how long? Do the on-scene resources have the training and equipment necessary? If not, as difficult as it may be, the rescue professional MUST wait for rescuers with appropriate level of training and equipment. Can a reasonably safe rescue attempt be performed? Is our response being driven by physical and emotional feelings and not education? There is a direct correlation between heightened emotions and rescuer fatalities. These guidelines are given for your consideration but there is no substitute for solid judgment on the part of the responder.

Trench Rescue Org Chart

On Scene Actions Command Control utilities Requests additional or specialized incident resources Assign Safety Officer (Should be TRTT or ops) Assign RIT Assign City Operations Group Supervisor Assign Medical Group Supervisor Assign Staging Officer Assign PIO

On Scene Actions Rescue Group Supervisor (RGS) Control utilities Monitor atmosphere in trench Supervise rescue and recovery operation Work in coordination with City Operations Group Supervisor

On Scene Actions City Operations Group Supervisor Assess soil and slope Monitor placement of ground pads and shoring Monitor boom truck operation Monitor vactor truck operation

Support Team Leader Place initial ladders Air monitoring Lock out/tag out Lighting Water Removal

Panel Team Leader Place edge Pro (ground pads/spoil piles) Prepare /Place Panels

Shoring Team Leader Assemble shoring Place shoring Removing

Rigging Team Leader Rope Systems Ladder gins Stokes rigging Haul systems Ladder slides

On Scene Actions Medical Group Supervisor Monitor patient condition Coordinate transportation Coordinate liaison with hospital Monitor medical equipment and supply needs Consider TIP or Chaplain for co-workers

On Scene Actions Staging Officer Stage apparatus and equipment Monitor equipment status

On Scene Actions Public Information Officer Establish press safe areas for audio/visual crews Establish Press area Coordinate press releases

Safety Statistics 90% fatal acc. Occurred in trench <20ft Majority were <12 ft / 16 “ wide Cubic ft soil weighs 100-125lbs 18” of soil removed from top of mannequin weighs 2500-3000 Soil conc. Around chest and back area weighs 700- 1000 Majority of trench collapses have secondary Avg. time to remove 2ft from victim >30 min. Avg. time to complete rescue 3 hrs

Safety Statistics Trench acc. Have 112% higher fatality rate than other construction jobs High % that a victim with soil up to waist will die in short amount of time due to asphyxiation/compartment/Crush Syndrome

Resources and Credit Thank you to Vancouver Fire Department for sharing their Technical Rescue Training