OPERATING PROCEDURE NO. 6 TECHNICAL RESCUE TEAM RIGGING STANDARDS

Transcription

1 OPERATING PROCEDURE NO. 6 TECHNICAL RESCUE TEAM RIGGING STANDARDS Revision: Original Release Date: September 26, 2014 Approved by: /s/ William Daugaard WASART President /s/ Greta Cook, Operations Lead WASART Technical Rescue Team

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS TOPIC PAGE NO. 1.0 INTRODUCTION SAFETY FACTORS 2.1 Systems with Humans Attached Systems with No Humans Attached ROPE SYSTEMS CONFIGURATIONS Rope Rescue Systems Rappel Systems Connecting Ropes Prusiks Knot Safety Tying Off Brake Bar Racks Tying Off Scarabs Used in Lower Systems EQUIPMENT Carabiners Pulleys Descent Control Devices Rigging Plates O-Rings and Screw Links Ropes Prusiks Webbing EDGE TRANSITION Edge Protection Transition Over the Edge RESCUE PACKAGE System Attachment to Rescue Package Attendant Attachment to Litter 6 Revision: Original ii Date: 9/26/14

3 7.0 SAFETY Personal Protective Equipment TRT Safety Officer System Safety Checks COMMUNICATIONS CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE Rope Cleaning Hardware Prusiks and Webbing Maintenance and Storage EQUIPMENT RETIREMENT Ropes Hardware Prusiks Webbing REFERENCES 8 APPENDIX A: PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT A-1 APPENDIX B: SYSTEM SAFETY CHECKS B-1 APPENDIX C: COMMANDS FOR TECHNICAL ROPE RESCUE C-1 APPENDIX D: ROPE DAMAGE D-1 Revision: Original iii Date: 9/26/14

4 REVISION RECORD Revision Release Date Description Affected Sections Original 9/26/14 Initial release All Revision: Original iv Date: 9/26/14

5 1.0 INTRODUCTION Rope rescue of animals in hazardous situations is a unique and inherently dangerous undertaking. WASART s Technical Rescue Team (TRT) is committed to carrying out all rope rescues in a manner that maximizes safety and prevents or minimizes the hazards involved, both to the rescuers and the rescue subjects. This operating procedure provides the rigging standards by which the TRT will carry out its rope rescue operations. 2.0 SAFETY FACTORS Rope systems rigged by the WASART TRT shall have the following minimum safety factors. If these factors cannot be achieved with the planned system, additional systems shall be incorporated into the rigging. 2.1 Systems With Humans Attached Rope systems with humans connected in shall have a minimum safety factor of 10:1. If the 10:1 factor cannot be achieved because of the size of the load, human attendants shall be on separate systems that do provide a 10:1 factor. 2.2 Systems With No Humans Attached Rope systems that do not have humans connected in shall have a minimum safety factor of 5: ROPE SYSTEMS CONFIGURATIONS 3.1 Rope Rescue Systems All WASART rope rescue systems, raise and lower, shall utilize dual ( mirror image ) mainlines, regardless of the size of the load. Each mainline system shall be connected to a separate anchor, and the angle between the two systems shall be 10º or less Load Size Considerations For loads (subject plus attendant(s) plus litter/harness) less than 2 kn (approximately 450 lbs.), rope systems shall utilize Wrap 3, Pull 2 anchors or stronger, and single ratchet and grab Prusiks on the raise system. For loads greater than 2 kn, rope systems shall use Wrap 4, Pull 3 anchors and tandem ratchet Prusiks on the raise system. Revision: Original 1 Date: 9/26/14

6 3.1.2 Compound System Anchor Points When feasible and in the absence of mitigating circumstances, compound raise systems should utilize independent anchor points for the primary and compounding systems; i.e., both elements (primary and compounding systems) should not be connected to a single rigging plate or webbing anchor Mechanical Advantage Systems Standard mechanical advantage raise systems shall be 3:1 or 5:1 simple, or 9:1 compound, depending on the size of the load and hauling resources available Descent Control on Lowering Systems For loads less than 2 kn, a single ratchet Prusik shall be attached below the descent control device and connected to the anchor through a Radium Release Hitch. For loads greater than 2 kn, dual ratchet Prusiks shall be attached below the descent control device and attached to the anchor through a Radium Release Hitch 3.2 Rappel Systems All rappel systems shall be rigged so that the person on rappel is on two ropes at all times. 3.3 Connecting Ropes Ropes of Equal Diameters Ropes of equal diameters shall be connected with a figure eight bend Ropes of Unequal Diameters Ropes of unequal diameters shall be connected using a double fisherman s bend. 3.4 Prusiks Standard Prusik bend configuration shall be three-wrap. Four wraps should be used if needed to prevent slippage. 3.5 Knot Safety Knots of the figure eight family, alpine butterfly knots, and double fisherman s bends are inherently tight knots, and need not be secured by safety knots. Bowlines, clove hitches, half hitches and square knots are inherently loose (tend to loosen when being worked), and the Revision: Original 2 Date: 9/26/14

7 ends of these knots should all be secured by overhand safety knots. The standing ends of all ropes must be secured by a figure eight or fisherman s bend stopper knot. 3.6 Tying Off Brake Bar Racks Standard procedure for tying off brake bar racks shall be to take a bight of rope through the carabiner securing the rack to the anchor, then tying a half hitch followed by an overhand knot on the mainline below the rack. 3.7 Tying Off Scarabs Used In Lower Systems Standard procedure for tying off Scarab descent control devices when/if used for descent control in mainline systems shall be to wrap all four horns of the Scarab, then taking a bight with a twist over a forward horn, for an attended lock-off. For an unattended lock-off, an additional bight with a twist shall be added to the rear horn. Use of a brake bar rack is preferred over the Scarab for mainline descent control. 4.0 EQUIPMENT All equipment used for WASART rope rescue systems for loads greater than 2.0 kn shall be rated for NFPA General Use. No equipment used for rescue or training shall compromise the safety factors requirements of Section Carabiners All carabiners used for loads greater than 2.0 kn shall be steel, locking, with a major axis minimum breaking strength (MBS) of 46 kn or greater. 4.2 Pulleys All pulleys used with ratchet Prusiks shall be Prusik-minding. All pulleys used in rope rescue systems for loads greater than 2.0 kn shall have an MBS of 38 kn or greater. For loads less than 2.0 kn, pulleys rated for NFPA Light Use may be used. 4.3 Descent Control Devices All descent control devices used in mainline systems shall have an MBS of 40 kn or greater, and be capable of accommodating 12.7 mm rope 4.4 Rigging Plates Rigging plates used in mainline systems shall have an MBS of 40 kn or greater. Revision: Original 3 Date: 9/26/14

8 4.5 O-Rings and Screw Links O-rings and screw links used in mainline systems for loads greater than 2.0 kn shall have an MBS of 40 kn or greater. For loads less than 2.0 kn, O-rings and screw links shall have an MBS of 20 kn or greater. 4.6 Ropes Ropes used in mainline systems shall be static ropes of kernmantle construction, constructed of nylon and/or polyester. They shall be of sufficient diameter and MBS to provide the safety factors established in Section 2.0, accounting for a 30% reduction in strength for knots. 4.7 Prusiks Prusiks used in mainline systems shall be 8 mm on 11 mm and 12.7 mm ropes. Smaller diameters may be used on smaller diameter ropes so long as the safety factors of Section 2.0 are not compromised, but shall not be less than 6 mm in diameter. Prusik cord shall be 100% nylon. Prusik cord of various diameters shall have the following unknotted MBS: 4.8 Webbing Cord Diameter, mm MBS, kn All webbing used in mainline systems shall be 1 tubular nylon. Webbing lengths shall be color coded as follows: Webbing Length, feet Color 5 Green 12 Yellow 15 Blue 20 Red 25 Black 30 Orange 48 Purple Revision: Original 4 Date: 9/26/14

9 5.0 EDGE TRANSITION 5.1 Edge Protection All rope systems shall have protection against abrasion or shearing for transition over edges or across sharp or abrasive surfaces. 5.2 Transition Over the Edge Dual Mainline Transition For loads < 2.0 kn, at the point of load transition over the edge, one of the two mainlines shall be slightly slacked momentarily to prevent an incident that affects both ropes at once. As soon as the transition is complete, both lines shall be fully tensioned and remain tensioned for the duration of the operation. For loads > 2.0 kn, both mainlines shall remain tensioned High Angle Redirect Dual mainlines for loads greater than 2 kn shall not share the same high-angle redirect to facilitate edge transition Edge Transition for Loads < 2 kn The Edge minder(s) shall vector the lines (raise them above the edge to approximately waist high) while the Attendant and rescue package transition over the edge. Alternatively, use of high angle redirects for loads < 2 kn is acceptable. 6.0 RESCUE PACKAGE 6.1 System Attachment to Rescue Package Dual mainlines shall be attached to the litter (if used), the rescue subject and to the Attendant, with or without a litter, using interlocking long-tail bowlines, interconnected with a steel O-ring or delta screw link. (O-ring or screw link may be part of the litter spider.) The bowline tails should be tied into the Attendant s and patient s harnesses with figure eight follow-through knots. Alternatively, if a litter is not being used for a small load such as a dog or other companion animal, the attendant may remain tied into both mainlines and clip the animal s rescue harness into a Prusik wrapped to one of the mainlines (patient beneath attendant), or into the loops of the figure eight knots connecting the attendant to the mainlines (attendant carrying patient). Revision: Original 5 Date: 9/26/14

10 6.2 Attendant Attachment to Litter The attendant(s) should tie into the O-ring/screw link with a 15 ft. length of 8 mm line, with a Purcell Prusik attached to the line and his or her harness, to allow adjustment on the 8 mm line. 7.0 SAFETY 7.1 Personal Protective Equipment The TRT will establish a set of personal protective equipment (PPE) required of each team member. The current PPE list is shown in Appendix A. Each member shall acquire the specified PPE and utilize it on each deployment and training session. 7.2 TRT Safety Officer The TRT Strike Team Leader (STL) shall appoint a Safety Officer (SO) for every TRT deployment and training session. Unless there are insufficient responders or trainees to allow it, the Safety Officer shall have no other responsibilities for the duration of the deployment or training session. If insufficient TRT members have responded, the STL may serve as Safety Officer. 7.3 System Safety Checks Prior to operating any system, the Safety Officer shall perform the safety checks shown in Appendix B. 8.0 COMMUNICATIONS Communications used for rescue operations, once the attendant is connected to the rope system, shall be in accordance with Appendix C. Attendants and Comms, at a minimum, shall carry either VHF or FRS radios and spare batteries. Both attendants and Comms shall carry the same type of radio. 9.0 CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE All rope rescue software shall be air-dried out of direct sunlight. 9.1 Rope Cleaning Ropes shall only be washed when visibly dirty. When they are washed, they shall be daisychained and washed in cold water, using specialized rope soap (neutral ph of ) or clear water in a front-loading washer, with an extra rinse cycle. They may be cleaned by running Revision: Original 6 Date: 9/26/14

11 through a specialized rope washer, with or without rope soap. After washing they shall be air dried out of direct sunlight. They shall not be machine dried. 9.2 Hardware After use, hardware shall be rinsed with cold water and air-dried. 9.3 Prusiks and Webbing Prusiks and webbing shall be cleaned in the same manner as rope. 9.4 Maintenance and Storage Wet rescue gear shall be removed from its gear bags, cleaned if necessary, and air-dried out of direct sunlight. Gear bags shall be emptied of debris and allowed to dry before being repacked. Ropes shall be inspected after each use and their condition noted in a log maintained for each rope. Once dry, they shall be flaked back into their rope bag, and the running end shall be tied with a figure eight knot. Ropes, Prusiks and webbing shall not be stored in close proximity to lead-acid batteries EQUIPMENT RETIREMENT Any equipment item that has been retired from use shall be permanently and conspicuously marked with red paint or permanent ink. No item so marked shall ever be used in a loaded rope system or rappel Ropes Ropes shall be retired after 5 years use, or whenever they exhibit damage to the extent shown in Appendix D. (Need to find the pictures of rope damage that Steve sent.) Any rope that has been shock-loaded, subjected to extreme loads (> 6 kn) or exposed to acids or caustic chemicals shall be retired immediately Hardware Any hardware item that has been dropped onto a hard surface (concrete, rock or metal) from a height of three feet or more shall be retired immediately. Unless dropped or otherwise damaged or exposed to acids or caustic chemicals, hardware has no mandatory retirement life. Revision: Original 7 Date: 9/26/14

12 10.3 Prusiks Prusiks shall be retired after one year of use, or whenever damage or glazing is noted, or whenever they have been shock-loaded or exposed to acids or caustic chemicals Webbing Webbing shall be retired after two years of use, or whenever damage is noted, or whenever it has been shock-loaded or exposed to acids or caustic chemicals REFERENCES Brown, M.G Engineering Practical Rope Rescue Systems. Cengage Learning, Independence, KY. Frank, J.A., editor CMC Rope Rescue Manual. 3 rd Edition. CMC Rescue, Inc., Goleta, CA. Gimenez, R., Gimenez, T., and May, K., editors Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue. Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Ames, IA. Lipke, R Technical Rescue Rigger s Guide. 2 nd Edition. Conterra Technical Systems Inc., Bellingham, WA. McNutt, J Rope Rescue Notes I & II. Hope and Allen Publishing, Grants Pass, OR. Revision: Original 8 Date: 9/26/14

13 APPENDIX A PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Each team member must provide the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required for their level of qualification, as well as the equipment required for all lower levels: Awareness level (new members and guests): Sturdy boots Leather gloves Operator level: Suspension-type helmet or hard hat, with secure chin strap. Foam helmets (bicycle or swiftwater) are not acceptable. Helmets must be certified to meet CE EN Eye protection (safety glasses or eyeglasses) Seat harness Tri-lock carabiner (PMI Mate II Triplock, Petzl Am D Triact-Lock, or equivalent) 6mm Prusik loop, tied from approximately 55 of Prusik (accessory) cord. Do not use Spectra cord or dynamic rope. Whistle Knife Technician level: Technical Rescue Riggers Guide, Second Edition, by Rick Lipke Over-the-edge qualified Operators and Technicians: 6mm Purcell Prusik set (short, medium, and long) Rappel device (Rescue 8, brake rack, Scarab, or similar) Two additional locking carabiners (screw-lock OK) The following equipment is suggested, but not required: 12 (yellow) and 5 (green) 1 tubular webbing to tie personal chest harness Extra webbing, 6mm Prusiks, locking carabiners 50 of 8mm static safety line Revision: Original A1 Date: TBD

14 Visual inspection: APPENDIX B SYSTEM SAFETY CHECKS Are all required elements in place? E.g., are ratchet Prusiks installed on mainline raise systems? Are they bent onto the correct line to arrest a fall? Are anchors of the correct configuration for the load and are anchor knots correctly placed? Are anchors tied back when/where needed? Are brake bar racks reeved properly and tied off? Are all knots tied properly? Are Prusiks properly wrapped and dressed? Are carabiners oriented with gates up and closures oriented to vibrate closed? Are all pulleys closed, with both sideplates caught by the carabiner? Physical check: Check all carabiner gates to be sure they are locked Critical angle check: verify that anchor webbing included angles do not exceed 45º Whistle test : if someone blew a whistle and everyone took their hands off the system at the same time, would the load be arrested and remain secure without shock loading? Revision: Original B1 Date: TBD

15 A. VOCAL COMMANDS APPENDIX C COMMANDS FOR TECHNICAL ROPE RESCUE All vocal commands and responses must be shouted. Beginning Operations (after attendant is connected to rope system, before he or she approaches the edge): 1. Quiet on the set! (All operators quiet, with attention to Rigger or Control) 2. Ready! (Indicates that a package portion of the system is ready to operate.) Must receive a repeat Ready! from all four packages (both mainlines, edge and attendant) to proceed; e.g., Blue Line ready!, Edge Ready!, etc. 3. Approach the Edge! (Attendant brings patient package into operational position at the edge) 4. Prepare to Tension! (Mainline operators remove any slack from the system, and hold the lines tight) 5. Tension the System! (Force is applied to the mainlines by easing over the edge, vectoring or raising, as required) During Operations Vector! (Lateral force is applied to mainlines to aid in a transition) Release Vector! (Lateral force is slowly released) Down! (Lower the patient/rescue package. Speed of lower is dictated by cadence: DOWN DOWN DOWN) Down Slowly! (Slow and gentle lower) Up! (Raise the patient/rescue package) Reset! (Allow the mainline ratchet to set and the pulley system to be reset. No Stop command is needed here) STOP! (Stops the system in an emergency, or for a safety concern. Can be given by anyone in the system) Why Stop? (Asked by the package operators to get information after STOP command is given) ROCK! ROCK! ROCK! (Object, not necessarily a rock, is falling. DO NOT LOOK UP) B. WHISTLE COMMANDS One Long Blast: STOP! Two Short Blasts: System up! Three Short Blasts: System down! Three Long Blasts: HELP! Revision: Original C1 Date: TBD