1. 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.

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

3. SOPs
Our Department SOP for Trench and Excavation Rescue is:

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

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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

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

14. 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

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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

18. The Rescue Triangle
Training
Equipment
Capabilities

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

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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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!

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

27. Ground Pads

28. Trench Box

29. Shielding: Air Shore Struts

30. 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

31. 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.

32. 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

33. 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

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

35. Large Spoil Pile

36. 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.

37. 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.

38. Trench Rescue Org Chart

39. 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

40. 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

41. 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

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

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

44. Shoring Team Leader
Assemble shoring
Place shoring
Removing

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

46. 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

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

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

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

50. 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

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