SUMMIT COUNTY SPECIAL OPERATIONS RESCUE TEAM TRENCH RESCUE BRANCH TRENCH RESCUE OPERATIONS I. INTRODUCTION Summit County SORT Trench Rescue Branch shall assist the local jurisdiction with command and control of any incident involving the collapse or entrapment of individuals in a trench or excavation within Summit County. A. This SOG is designed to provide general guidelines when a trench accident is encountered, and to provide a safe resolution of the incident. It is understood that this SOG is in no way intended to be all-inclusive. B. Trench Rescue Operations expose personnel to significant danger. Victim removal may involve complex requirements for shoring, hand tools, earth-moving equipment and other special resources. C. An excavation shall be defined as any man-made cut, cavity, trench, or depression in an earth surface formed by the earth removal. D. Collapse and cave-ins generally occur because of a combination of unstable soil conditions and improper or inadequate shoring. The possibility of additional collapses must always be considered as a primary hazard. Therefore, it is the policy of the Summit County SORT team to not allow any personnel into an unsecured trench or excavation. Stability of the earthen walls may be disturbed by removing soil or debris, by adding weight near the edge of the open cut, by vibration (vehicle or machinery movement) changing weather conditions (rain, snow, freeze or thaw), or by simply the passage of time. II. RESPONSE A. Initial local Fire Department response to any reported trench emergency will be dictated according to their sop s. B. First Arriving Company Officer Considerations; 1. First arriving company officer should establish command with a visible command post 150 feet from incident. 2. Apparatus position. The first in company should park the apparatus at least 150 feet from the incident area. 3. All personnel should don proper protective equipment for the environment encountered. 4. Recognize general hazards. Stabilize the hazard only if it is within the scope of your training and equipment limitations. 1
5. Secure a responsible party, competent person, job foreman or witness to the incident. 6. Determine exactly what has happened. 7. Conduct size up of the incident. 8. Consider and utilize, as appropriate, procedures for rapid extrication of accessible victim(s). 9. If a witness is not present, look for clues on the scene as to what has happened. 10. Assess the scene. a. Assure that all workers have evacuated the trench and have left the immediate area. Hold all workers in a specific area as a resource pool. b. Secure all utilities if safe, and if able. Shut down all running equipment if safe to do so, (hydraulic equipment may leak and cause the bucket or arm to drift). De-watering equipment should be kept running. Do not attempt to move heavy equipment. 11. Create hot, warm and cold zones. a. Hot Zone extends 0 75 feet. Action area and immediate rescue team b. Warm Zone extends 75 150 feet. Non-essential rescue personnel Command Post Staging and rehab c. Cold Zone extends 150 300 feet. Non-essential civilian personnel News media 12. Prepare area and stage trench rescue vehicle 75 feet from trench lip. Establish equipment staging area at this location. 13. Assure ambulances are en route. (For victim(s) AND 1 ALS squad on scene dedicated to the TROT personnel). 14. Initiate MABAS 2 nd alarm for Summit County TROT-Trench Team. 2
III. VICTIM ASSESSMENT A. An immediate assessment of the number of victims. B. Determine condition of victim(s). C. If there are victims, determine how long the victim has been buried. D. Are they able to help themselves? Can they be talked through a self-rescue? E. An early decision must be made as whether this operation is conducted in a rescue or recovery mode. IV. SECONDARY ASSESSMENT and CONSIDERATIONS A. Assess on-scene capabilities. B. Assess need and confirm additional resources are en-route. This includes local resources, mutual aid, SCSORT, and other resources. C. Prepare for arrival of additional resources. 1. Support personnel. 2. Summit County Special Operations Response Team Staging. 3. ALS ambulances on scene. D. Consider Summit County Hazardous Materials Response Team for research of chemical and atmospheric contamination. E. Call OSHA representative and advise them of the situation. OSHA Cleveland District Office phone number is 1-216-522-3818. F. Control traffic movement. 1. Shut down roadway and other sources of vibration. 2. Establish an anti-vibration zone 300 feet in all directions. No movement of heavy equipment unless authorized by the Trench Safety Officer or the Rescue Control Officer. G. Crowd control. 1. Remove all non-essential civilian personnel to the cold zone. 2. Remove all non-essential rescue personnel to the warm zone or staging. 3
V. SCENE CONTROL A. The Incident Command System (I.C.S.) shall be established immediately upon arrival at the scene. The IC shall see that a qualified person is appointed Task Force Leader-Trench. (See definitions for qualifications.) 1. Task Force Leader-Trench is then responsible for filling the following positions. a. Assistant Safety Officer-Trench b. Trench Shoring Officer c. Trench Entry Officer d. Trench Panel Officer e. Trench Support Officer f. Trench Equipment Officer g. Trench Advisor *If manpower is short, consider combining positions. 2. Incident Commander should assure the following positions are filled. a. Staging Officer b. Rehab Officer c. EMS Sector Officer B. Command is strongly advised to secure the perimeters of the zones that have been established. This may need a strong police presence to maintain order. C. Trench and excavation incidents will be high profile events. Anticipate the needs of the news media. Establish a Public Information sector early in the incident. D. Consider the needs of family and friends that may show up at the incident. Be prepared to establish a victims assistance sector. VI. SAFETY A. At no time will anybody work in an unsupported or unsafe area. B. As soon as it is safe to approach the trench, place a ladder into the trench for egress. C. Make the trench lip safe. 1. Approach the trench from the ends if possible. Watch for undercut areas. 2. Recognize & identify dangerous soil conditions, (i.e., fissures, unstable spoil pile). 3. Assess spoil pile for improper angle of repose and general raveling. 4. Remove any tripping hazards (i.e., shovels, shores, ropes, tree roots). 4
5. Place ground pads as necessary. a. Provide level area for ground pads. b. Assure ground pads will function as desired to support and distribute weight. c. Mark stress cracks and trip hazards with paint or marker. D. Nobody will walk on the spoil pile unless cleared by the Rescue Safety Officer. E. Personal protective equipment will be worn at all times as a function of the work being performed; 1. In trench minimum equipment will consist of helmet, eye protection, gloves and safety boots. 2. Rescue Safety Officer will oversee wearing of P.P.E. and usage of other safety equipment as necessary. F. Atmospheric monitoring. 1. Monitoring will occur prior to and during any work done in the trench. Readings will be recorded every 20 minutes or more often if needed on the Support Officer form. 2. Monitoring should be done in 4-foot increments of elevation into the trench. 3. Atmosphere should be tested for; a. Oxygen deficiency b. Flammability c. Toxicity 4. The following shall be considered ventilation action levels and require immediate intervention to clear the atmosphere so operations may resume. a. O2 deficiency <19.5% b. O2 enriched >23.5% c. L.E.L. >10% d. CO >35 ppm TLV- 8 hour exposure 5. If ventilation is indicated do not use gas powered fans. 6. Lockout/tagout and Utility control if indicated. 7. Reassess all utilities; water, electric, gas, sewer, either by contacting local utility company to assist with shut off or, if safe, control by local means. Call Ohio Utility Protection Service, (OUPS) at 1-800-362-2764. 8. De-watering systems. a. Establish and maintain a de-watering system to remove water from trench. b. If on-site de-watering system is running, do not shut it off. c. Consider obtaining back up system for de-watering. 9. During trench operations a Rapid Intervention Team shall be assigned. 5
VII. OPERATIONS A. Trench shall to be rendured safe before entry of rescuers by one or a combination of the following methods; 1. Sheeting and Shoring 2. Shielding 3. Sloping B. Second ladder is placed in the trench at a different point from the first ladder. Travel distance to a ladder must not exceed 25 feet. C. Measurement of trench, (width and length) is taken from ground pads. D. If shoring is to be used, decide on the type of system to be used, hydraulic, timber, pneumatic shore- (Airshore or Paratech). ***All shoring systems will be placed in accordance with either OSHA tables or manufactures tabulated data.*** E. First panels should be placed around or in an area to best protect the victim. Once a safe zone has been created the rescuer can begin digging from within the safe area. This can occur as other panels are placed and shored. F. Secure or support all utilities, pipe, or any other obstruction in the trench. G. Inclement weather 1. Trench will need to be protected from rain and snow. 2. Use a salvage cover, cover trench in a canopy like fashion. 3. Direct surface water away from the trench. H. Mechanical equipment use will be decided on a case by case basis. Strong consideration must be given to the great surcharge loads and vibration created using heavy equipment in the area of the collapse and the ultimate effect these factors have on the continued safety and condition of the victim and rescuers at the incident. I. Entry team 1. Entry officer will decide entrants. (Do a quick physical evaluation to determine suitability. 2. Rotate entrants every 20 minutes. (Sooner in severe weather conditions). The Rescue Control Officer, Safety Officer and Entry Officer consensus can alter this timetable. 3. Remember trench operations are time consuming and strenuous. J. Digging 1. Use small hand shovels. 2. Work on freeing entire chest and head areas first. Dig as close to victim as possible. Avoid creating a Hole around the victim. Clear enough soil from around the victim to work efficiently and to facilitate removal. 3. If after digging with shovels, victim remains partially buried, dig around victim 6
with hands or other small tools. 4. Continue digging until victim is completely uncovered. 5. Do not push shovel into earth with foot, it can cause injury to victim. 6. Do not pull victim, it can cause or exacerbate injuries. Completely uncover the victim. 7. Continually assess need for supplemental shoring once 2 feet of soil is exposed below the bottom of the last panel. 8. Consider the use of a vacuum truck to remove dirt from around the victim. K. If an object or machinery traps a victim in the trench, the trench must be made safe before entry of rescuers. L. Victims 1. Give BTLS treatment to the victim as soon as possible. This can be accomplished while they are still trapped in the collapse area. This includes: a. ABC s of primary survey b. C- Spine protection c. Secondary survey d. If possible, remove patient from danger area prior to definitive care. e. Follow local protocol especially for crush syndrome. 2. Package patient using appropriate equipment and techniques. 3. Hauling systems should be used for lifting. Keep victim in a safe area at all times. 4. Provide transport to appropriate care facility. M. Recovery operations will be determined on a case by case basis. Generally, heavy equipment will be directed to dig a parallel trench to the collapsed trench. The existing trench walls will be pulled into the new trench. After the area is safe, rescue personnel can enter the trench and complete the digging and removal of the victim. VIII. TERMINATION A. Account for all personnel. B. Remove all tools and equipment from trench. If there has been a fatality, consult with OSHA representative prior to removing any equipment. C. Remove material in reverse order, in which it was installed. (Last shore in is the first shore out.) D. Must work in a protected area at all times. E. May be feasible to rotate crews that are fatigued for removal of equipment. F. Secure the scene as needed or turn the scene over to the responsible party. G. Inventory and replace all equipment, restock equipment. H. Provide CISD and rehabilitation to crews. 7
REFERENCES: B.E.R.T. training program - Marion County, 1994 Trench Rescue - James B. Gargan, 1996 Rescue Systems I - 1994 O.S.H.A. - 1926.652 Special Operations Section, Trench Rescue Operations - Phoenix Fire Department 1994 NFPA 1670- Standard on Operations -1999 Edition And Training for Technical Rescue Incidents NFPA 1006- Standard for Rescue -2000 Edition Technician Professional Qualifications 8
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