Title: Subject:
Author: Addison Fire Department
Last saved by: DC

M.A.B.A.S Division XII
Policies and Procedures

Date Approved: | 05/29/97 | Part: | Technical Rescue
Date Revised: | 03/28/02 | Number: | 6.1
Replaces: | 05/29/97 | Page: | of
Source(s):  MABAS Division XII

Subject: 	Trench Rescue

Purpose:	To provide guidelines during entry and rescue operations in a trench or excavation.

Scope:	These guidelines are designed to provide guidance for the M.A.B.A.S. Division #12 Technical Rescue Team and other Fire Department personnel during all phases of trench / excavation entry and rescue operations.

Form(s):

1.	Definition

OSHA Regulation 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P defines excavations, trenches 	and support systems as follows:

	1.1	Excavation means any man-made cut, cavity, trench, or
		depression in an earth surface, formed as by earth removal.

	1.2.	Trench means a narrow excavation (in relation to its length)
		made below the surface of the ground.
		a) In general, the depth is greater than the width but;
		b) the width of the trench (measured at the bottom)
		is not greater than 15 feet

1.3	Protective System means a method of protecting employees
from cave-ins, from material that could fall or rool from an
excavation face or into an excavation, or from collapse
adjacent structures.
                    
2.	Classifications

For purposes of this standard and to correspond with current Office of the State Fire Marshal certification training and those established by the National Fire Protection Association #1670, the following operational levels are hereby established:

OSFM Technical Rescue Awareness	
OSFM Trench I	

3.	Standard  Operating  Guidelines
		
3.1	The stricken agency shall assume command and control of any 
incident involving confined space entry, rescue or recovery within the Department’s boundaries.

	3.2	Any incident in which a person is trapped, injured, experiencing a 	  	     	medical emergency, or is deceased in a trench or excavation shall 	   	     	require the response of the Department’s Technical Rescue 	 	 	     	Specialists Team or the closest properly trained Team.

3.3	Only personnel who are trained, authorized, and possess the
     	specialized rescue equipment needed to perform the rescue, shall
    	be assigned to Entry or Technical Rescue Branch/ Sector.

3.4	Entry into a trench or excavation requires the installation of a proper protective system, according to OSHA’s 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P.

3.5	The trench or excavation must be monitored prior to entry and 
continuously during all phases of the rescue. Rescuers are required to follow OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146 standard governing the monitoring of a confined space.

	3.6	If the readings of an Oxygen enriched/deficient, flammable and / or
Toxic atmosphere exists, all entry teams shall be immediately removed from the space, until ventilation reverses the condition.

3.7	Water accumulation in the trench must be controlled following proper dewatering techniques. If rescuers are unable to control water accumulation, entry personnel are required to wear Class lll harness with lifeline. 

	3.8	A Trench Rescue or Recovery Requires the Establishment of the 	 	      	Following Six (6) Sectors:

3.8.1 	Technical Rescue Branch/ Sector (Team Leader) 
Responsible for coordination of the actual rescue operation and the sectors associated with all activity in the “rescue area.” Reports directly to Operations (Ops).  In the absence of an Operations Sectors he / she reports directly to Incident 	                Command (IC).

		3.8.2 	Site Control (3 ff)
		    	Responsible for establishing control zones, fire suppression, 	  	              	logistics of incoming resources, placement of resource
apparatus and lighting systems.  Reports directly to Technical Rescue Branch/ Sector.

		3.8.3	Equipment / Rigging Sector (1 ff / 1 trs)
Responsible for the establishment of an equipment sector site,  and the physical stockpile of equipment necessary to perform the rescue.  Rigging may become a separate sector responsible for installation of the protective system.  Reports directly to Technical Rescue Branch/ Sector.

		3.8.4	Air Quality Sector (2 ff / 1 tech rescue or hazardous material)
Responsible for continuous atmospheric monitoring / ventilation of the trench / excavation. Reports directly to Technical Rescue Branch/ Sector.

		3.8.5 	Entry Sector (all technical rescue)
Responsible for being properly equipped to enter the trench to perform digging and prepare victim(s) for removal from trench, Reports directly to Technical Rescue Branch/ Sector.

		3.8.6 	Technical Rescue Safety (1)
Responsible for observing and checking all technical aspects of the rescue.  Works directly with the Fire Department’s Safety Officer.  Reports to IC, Safety and to the Technical Rescue Branch/ Sector.

Initially limited technical rescue personnel may perform multiple tactical/task assignments.  The use of fire suppression personnel is an integral part of a successful rescue.  As the incident escalates in size or complexity, the command organization should also increase in size.