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Home My WebLink About202.014e - Trench Rescue STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES MANUAL TACTICAL OPERATIONS 202.014e TRENCH RESCUE EFFECTIVE: AUGUST 2009 Current Revision Date: 4/9/19 Next Revision Date: 4/9/22 Author’s Name/Rank: Peter Dodson, Firefighter Review Level: 1 Administrative Support: Sherrie L. Badertscher Management Analyst II PURPOSE To provide guidelines for the safe and effective operations in and around a trench rescue environment. APPLICATION This policy is to be applied by the Fresno Fire Department (FFD or Department) when working in or around a trench rescue environment. California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 1540, Construction Safety Orders, Article 6, Excavations, states: A trench excavation is a narrow excavation made below the surface of the ground. The depth is greater than the width, but the width of a trench (measured at the bottom) is not greater than 15 feet. If forms or other structures are installed or constructed in an excavation so as to reduce the dimensions measured from the forms or structure to the side of the excavation to 15 feet or less, (measured at the bottom of the excavation) the excavation is also considered to be a trench. OPERATIONAL POLICY All shoring systems for the purpose of a trench rescue operation will be constructed per the Tabulated Data Sheets completed by State Fire Training, CER, Inc., and provided by CMC Rescue at https://www.cmcpro.com/forms/. 1. All soil encountered in a trench collapse rescue will be treated as Type C soil. 2. Edge protection will be placed on every lip of the trench that will be access by rescue personal. Section 202.014e Page 1 of 7 3. Spoil piles of dirt will be moved away from the lip of the trench at least two (2) feet and no greater than three to four (3-4) feet in height. 4. A ladder will be placed into the trench at each end of the trench or within 50 feet of each other if the trench is greater in length than 50 feet long. 5. Atmosphere monitoring, although it is not a code requirement, is a good practice and will be performed. A monitor reading will be taken at the bottom of the trench as close to the victim as possible, and at the lip of the trench. Atmosphere monitoring will be performed the duration of a trench rescue operation at regular intervals. 6. Ventilation will be performed throughout the duration of a trench rescue operation. 7. All apparatus, heavy equipment, and vehicles will be placed 150 to 300 feet away from the lip of trench. All non-essential vehicles will be shut down. 8. An evaluation of any possible underground installations and the need for Lock-Out Tag-Out procedures will be performed. 9. Any rescuer that is operating/working on a ladder that is located in the trench will be wearing a minimum of a rated class 1 harness and will be secured to a utility search rope or life rope that will be wrapped around two (2) rungs, near the top of the ladder, and managed by a rescuer at the lip of the trench. 10. The rescuer, while working off of the ladder, will never remain in the trench any lower then hip level at the lip of the trench or at the lowest pressurized strut. 11. Any rescuer that is working at the bottom the trench will keep their head and body inside their shoring system. The rescuer may reach outside of the safety system only. 12. A site/operational safety officer will be assigned to the rescue operations. This safety officer will be a competent individual that is trained in trench rescue operations. OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE TYPICAL ASSIGNMENT 1. First in engine company 2. First in truck company Section 202.014e Page 2 of 7 3. Engine 11 4. Truck 11 5. Rescue 11 6. Battalion chief 7. EMS unit/ambulance PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Protective clothing is to be worn as required by the situation, depending on the evaluation of the hazards and the products, which may be in and around the trench rescue site. The following is the appropriate level of protection to be utilized at a trench rescue: 1. Steel-toed boots 2. Long pants, long sleeved shirt, gloves 3. Eye protection 4. Helmet COMMAND STRUCTURE The first officer to arrive at the scene should assume command of the incident and is to be the incident commander until relieved by a higher-ranking office or a more qualified officer. The first arriving Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) officer at the scene should assume the role of rescue group supervisor. Primary Assessment 1. Scene safety a. Are members and others in the area in a safe location? (1) Out of and/or away from the trench (2) Away from any hazards (3) Establish command post and control zones Section 202.014e Page 3 of 7 2. Information gathering. What happened, what events lead up to the trench collapse? a. Find a sight supervisor and/or witness and keep them with you b. Approach the trench from the ends; try to locate the victim(s) c. If possible, try to place a ladder next to or over the victim 3. What is the condition of the victim(s)? a. Level of consciousness b. Injuries c. How long has the victim(s) been in the collapse d. How many victim(s) 4. Rescue or a recovery? a. Perform a survival profile assessment b. Perform a risk assessment First-Arriving Company Upon arriving the first company is to establish command and should make contact with the responsible party. 1. Perform a primary assessment. 2. Direct incoming apparatus to stage in the appropriate location 150 to 300 feet away from the lip of the trench. 3. Begin setting up the rescue site by moving equipment, moving the spoil pile away from the lip of the trench (if needed), evaluating the resource needs. 4. If the victim can self-extricate, while evaluating all hazards, assist the victim with ladders. Section 202.014e Page 4 of 7 First-Arriving Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Company Upon arrival, establish communications with command, reassess the situation, and establish a rescue group supervisor as well as a safety officer. 1. Perform a survival profile and risk assessment 2. Mark all areas around the trench that are a hazard area, fissures, Slough-In 3. Place ladders in the trench as needed 4. Place edge protection around the trench 5. Place victim protection over the victim 6. Clear the spoil pile if needed 7. Began monitoring and ventilating the trench site 8. Evaluate the need for extra equipment to be ordered Chief Officer Upon arrival, the battalion chief should: 1. Consult with the incident commander regarding status of incident 2. Assume command of incident 3. Redirect strategy mode as required 4. Consider additional resources 5. Direct or redirect actions of on-scene companies 6. Direct or redirect actions of incoming companies 7. Provide logistical support 8. Establish rehabilitation/rotation of companies as necessary Section 202.014e Page 5 of 7 SPECIAL-CALL/MULTIPLE-ALARM COMPANIES Unless otherwise directed, officers of special-called or multiple-alarm companies are to stage apparatus well clear of incident site and report to the incident commander for instructions. PRE-ENTRY BRIEFING 1. Identify the rescue group supervisor 2. Identify the site safety officer 3. Identify evacuation signal 4. Identify radio frequencies 5. Identify the shoring plan 6. Communicate all hazards 7. Identify the rescue teams 8. Identify the cut teams TRENCH RESCUE AND VICTIM EXTRICATION Execute the shoring plan and victim extrication while following all safety guidelines and building the trench shoring systems per the tabulated data sheets. Transfer patient care over to EMS. PROCESS This section left intentionally blank. INFORMATION This section left intentionally blank. Section 202.014e Page 6 of 7 DEFINITIONS Trench: A trench excavation is a narrow excavation made below the surface of the ground. The depth is greater than the width, but the width of a trench (measured at the bottom) is not greater than 15 feet. If forms or other structures are installed or constructed in an excavation so as to reduce the dimensions measured from the forms or structure to the side of the excavation to 15 feet or less, (measured at the bottom of the excavation) the excavation is also considered to be a trench. Type C Soil: Cohesive soil with unconfined compression strength of 0.5 tsf or less. Granular soils, including gravel, sand and loamy sand. Submerged soil or soil from which is freely seeping. Submerged rock that is not stable. Material in a sloped, layered system, where the layers dip into the excavation of a slope of four (4) horizontal to one (1) vertical or steeper. Edge Protection: Typically a 2x12 or 4x8 sheet of plywood placed along the lip of the trench end to end. The edge protection is placed to give the rescuers a secure place to stand and work from. Spoil Pile: Dirt that has been removed from the trench during excavation and placed in a pile next to, or in the area of, the trench. Trench Lip: Top edge of the trench. Class 1 harness: Class 1 body belts (single or double D-ring) are designed to restrain a person in a hazardous work position to prevent fall or to arrest a fall completely within three (3) foot of movement (OSHA). Utility Search Rope: Department RIT search rope located in the red bags. Strut: Horizontal component that pressurizes the shoring system. CROSS-REFERENCES CMC Rescue: cmcrescue.com/forms Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations Section 1540, Construction Safety Orders, Article 6, Excavations Section 202.014e Page 7 of 7