CLASSIFICATION # SOP SP 04.1-2001 SUBJECT Rope Rescue Revised AUTHORITY Fire Chief Special and Technical Operations- Technical Rescue Policy (OFS) shall respond to incidents requiring the use of technical rope systems to access and/or retrieve victims. Rope rescue shall be accomplished through the use of a specifically trained and equipped Rope Rescue Team. Purpose To provide an operational framework for rope rescue incidents including safety guidelines for operations with identified fall hazards To ensure that sufficient trained and equipped personnel are available to operate effectively at rope rescue incidents Scope All OFS personnel Procedure RULES General: The criteria for identifying the need for rope rescue operations shall include, but not be limited to: When personnel are or may be exposed to a fall hazard of greater than 3 metres (10 feet). Operations beyond the reach/scope of normal fire fighting equipment and evolutions. Confined Space, Trench and Structural Collapse rescue incidents. Any incident where technical rope systems will provide the most efficient method of safe access or egress. Any operation where the slope or footing will expose personnel to the potential of a fall or uncontrolled slide, including low-angle situations. Any time that a victim must be raised above shoulder height. Any time Command deems that the Rope Rescue Team would be advantageous to the safe mitigation of an incident. Issued: August 23, 2001 Last Revision: March 30, 2009 Page 1 of 8
High angle and medium angle rope rescue systems shall include a mainline and belay system. Rescuers must maintain two points of contact at all times. Operations shall be treated as rescue situations unless death is obvious or highly probable. No rescuer or equipment shall be put in danger to recover a body in which signs of death are obvious. An OFS-certified Rope Rescue Technician shall be on duty at each designated rope rescue station. OFS-certified Rope Rescue Technicians shall be on-scene and designated as the Rescue Team Leader and Rescue Safety Leader for all rope rescue operations. Universal personal protection shall be used before handling a victim (latex gloves, face shields etc.). Elevated Areas: All personnel operating in proximity to an identified fall hazard shall be made aware of the hazard and wear appropriate protective equipment. A properly anchored travel restraint or fall arrest system shall be mandatory for all personnel working within 2 metres (6 feet) of a fall hazard of 3 metres (10 feet) or more. Only personnel trained to operations level or higher in rope rescue procedures may work unsupervised in areas requiring travel restraint or fall arrest. Water: If the incident is over water, a vessel-based Water Rescue unit shall be deployed. If the victim(s) are in an area near swift water or a frozen body of water, Command shall request a Swift-water/Ice Rescue response. If the potential to slip or fall into swift moving water exists, personnel shall utilize a travel restraint system to prevent water entry. The Water Rescue Team Leader, in conjunction with the Rope Rescue Team Leader, Tech Rescue Sector Officer, Safety Branch Officer and Incident Commander shall establish a Hazard Control Zone. All persons operating inside the designated Hazard Control Zone shall wear an appropriate personal floatation device. Confined Space: Rope rescue operations within a confined space shall be performed in accordance with Confined Space SOP SP 04.2 2004. Issued: August 23, 2001 Last Revision: March 30, 2009 Page 2 of 8
Moveable Machinery: Machinery used as an anchor point must be locked out to prevent all movement. Use of moveable booms/ladders to move life loads shall be done under the strictest of control. If the load will pass through an opening, the opening must be at least two times the lift height e.g. 3 metres (10 feet) lift requires a minimum 6 metres (20 feet) clear opening. Boom/Ladder operator must have a clear and unobstructed view of the load at all times. Training: Rope Rescue Team members shall receive a minimum of one day (8 hours) of practical training time per month. Technical rescue station officers shall monitor training of their crews to ensure all Operations Level skill sets are covered by all members on a regular basis. New members of the team shall demonstrate proficiency in all Operations Level (NFPA Technician One) competencies within six months of joining the team. Rescuer training shall meet the requirements outlined in NFPA 1006 Chapters 5 and 6. Rope Rescue Technicians must demonstrate competency in all requirements under NFPA 1006, Chapter 5 and 6 on an annual basis. Prior to being added to the on-duty technicians list, Rope Rescue Technicians must demonstrate the ability to lead and direct crews in a safe and efficient manner. Two Rope Rescue Technicians must be present anytime technical rope systems are to be used to support life loads. An operational summary of all rope rescue incidents and training shall be recorded in the station s Technical Rescue Logbook. Equipment: Life safety rope usage shall be logged immediately following all training and rescue operations. Rope rescue hardware shall be inspected for damage after each use. Life safety rope and all nylon software shall have a shelf/usage life of not more than ten (10) years. All equipment (hardware/software) subjected to shock loading shall be immediately and permanently removed from service and destroyed by the rope rescue Equipment Manager. Damaged equipment shall be immediately removed from service, tagged (brown tape) and sent to the rope rescue Equipment Manager for inspection/repair and or disposal. Issued: August 23, 2001 Last Revision: March 30, 2009 Page 3 of 8
An Equipment Damage/Inspection Report shall be submitted to the Equipment Manager with all rope rescue equipment removed from service. Rope team members shall be issued PPE for their exclusive use while on the team. Station officers shall collect PPE from personnel leaving the program. Returned PPE shall be forwarded to the Equipment Manager for inspection/disposal. rappel gloves eye protection low profile helmet headlamp approved footwear coveralls bag for PPE ACTIONS 1.0 Dispatcher shall: 1.1 Normal Response - Dispatch: Rope Rescue team and vehicles Closest Pump to the incident Closest Elevating Device to the incident District Chief (Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) District Chief and Sector Chief (Districts 6, 7, 8, 9) Safety Officer Chief of Special Operations Notify Police and Ottawa Paramedic Service Water Rescue Team if the incident is over, or adjacent to, water 1.2 Confirmed Death - Dispatch: In instances where reports of confirmed death are received from reliable sources (ambulance crew or police on scene), the response may be downgraded to Priority 2. Closest Pump Rope Rescue Team and vehicles. District Chief (Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) District Chief and Sector Chief (Districts 6, 7, 8, 9) Safety Officer Chief of Special Operations Water Rescue Team if the incident is over, or adjacent to, water 1.3 Ensure that the Rope Rescue Team receives all information updates while en route. Issued: August 23, 2001 Last Revision: March 30, 2009 Page 4 of 8
2.0 First Arriving Crews shall: 2.1 Identify/confirm the need for the Rope Rescue Team to safely mitigate incident. 2.2 Initiate call for Rope Rescue Team if not already en route. 2.3 Establish Hazard Control Zone/s and remove bystanders from places of danger. (Do not allow anyone to walk under the victim/s location.) 2.4 Establish Exclusion Zone around rigging/fall arrest systems supporting the victim(s). 2.5 Transmit location/number of victims to the Rope Rescue Team. 2.6 Overcome obstacles that will impede the progress of the Rope Rescue Team (locked doors, locked gates, control of elevators etc.). 3.0 First Arriving Technical Rescue Officer shall: 3.1 Obtain incident update from command. 3.2 Assume the role of Technical Rescue Sector Officer. 3.3 Designate the Rescue Team Leader and Rescue Safety Leader. 3.4 Adjust Hazard Control Zone(s) with the assistance of the Safety Branch Officer. 3.5 Assist the Rescue Team Leader with formulation of rescue action plan. 3.6 Communicate the rescue action plan to Command. 3.7 Direct Rescue Team Leader to enact the rescue action plan. 3.8 Ensure the required equipment/personnel are available to enact the rescue action plan. 4.0 Rescue Team Leader shall: 4.1 Develop the rescue action plan with the Rescue Safety Leader. 4.2 Communicate the rescue action plan to team members. 4.3 Select the technical systems required to enact the rescue action plan. 4.4 Control the Technical Rope Rescue operations. 4.5 Ensure all rope operations are carried out in a safe manner. 4.6 Ensure that all life loads are protected by a redundant belay system. Issued: August 23, 2001 Last Revision: March 30, 2009 Page 5 of 8
5.0 Rescue Safety Leader shall: 5.1 Double check all technical rescue systems. 5.2 Assist the Rescue Team Leader in monitoring the safety of the technical rescue operation. 5.3 Communicate Hot Zone conditions to the Safety Branch Officer RESPONSIBILITIES Dispatchers shall: Dispatch the identified resources Ensure that the Rope Rescue Team receives all radio updates while en route Provide site contact information if available Chief of Special Operations shall: Monitor all rope rescue incidents Respond to incidents as required Platoon Chief shall: Ensure appropriate personnel are assigned to technical rescue stations Facilitate on-shift training of the rope team Respond to technical rescue incidents as required Command shall: Assume command Designate Sector and Branch officers as required Provide strategic direction Authorize enactment of the rescue action plan Request additional resources as required (Ministry of Labour, Ottawa Police Service) Issue Notice to Occupant identifying scene hazards that require further attention of site staff Issued: August 23, 2001 Last Revision: March 30, 2009 Page 6 of 8
Incident Safety Officer shall: Report to Command Assume the role of Safety Branch Officer Communicate with Rescue Safety Leader(s) Maintain care and control of all lock-out/tag-out keys and devices Monitor personnel posted as guards as part of the lock-out procedures Rescue Branch Officer shall: Report to Command Assign tactical objectives to rescue teams Coordinate operations when multiple rescue teams/disciplines are deployed Ensure all technical rescue teams designate a Rescue Team Leader and Rescue Safety Leader for their section Rescue Sector Officer shall: Report to Command /Rescue Branch Officer as designated Designate a Rescue Team Leader and a Rescue Safety Leader Monitor progress towards completion of tactical objectives Communicate progress towards tactical objectives to Command/Branch Officer Coordinate equipment and personnel in support of the rescue action plan Rescue Team Leader shall: Assist in identifying hot zone hazards Develop rescue action plan Assign tasks to rescue team members Coordinate technical rope operations Monitor progress of rescue action plan toward completion of tactical priorities (L.A.S.T.) Modify rescue action plan as required Develop Hot Zone termination plan Coordinate Hot Zone termination activities Inform Sector/Branch Officer when Hot Zone activities are complete Brief senior officers/site personnel on remaining hazards within the Hot Zone. Issued: August 23, 2001 Last Revision: March 30, 2009 Page 7 of 8
Rescue Safety Leader Identify and communicate Hot Zone hazards to rescue team members Assist development of rescue action plan Monitor rescue team members safety Ensure all technical rope systems are double checked prior to life loading Communicate Hot Zone conditions to Safety Branch Officer Rescue Team Members Work in a safe manner within the limits of their training Report safety issues to Rescue Safety Leader Carry out tasks as assigned by Rescue Team Leader References and Related Areas Of Interest SOP FI 03.1-2002 Incident Management System SOP SA 02.1-2001 Fire Fighter Accountability and Entry Control SOP SA 03.2-2001 Hazard Control Zones SOP SA 03.3-2001 Incident Safety Officer Duties and Responsibilities Ontario Ministry of Labour, Section 21, Guidance Note # 6-4, Note # 6-5 NFPA 1500 Standards on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program NFPA 1670 Requirements for Rope Rescue Awareness and Operations Level NFPA 1006 Chapter 5, Chapter 6 NFPA 1983 Standard on Fire Service Life Safety Rope and System Components OHSA, Ontario Reg. 628/05 (Original signed by Fire Chief Larabie) R. Larabie Fire Chief Emergency & Protective Services It is understood that this procedure may not address all circumstances. Conditions may exist that require some type of deviation by the Incident Commander. Decisions should always be based on experience, the safety of the public and the safety of personnel. Issued: August 23, 2001 Last Revision: March 30, 2009 Page 8 of 8
SIGN OFF SHEET- STANDING OPERATING PROCEDURE SOP #: A Platoon B Platoon Print Name Signature Print Name Signature C Platoon D Platoon Print Name Signature Print Name Signature (Please sign after reading above noted SOP.)