Captain Stephen M. Hardesty Howard County Department Of Fire & Rescue Services Special Operations

Transcription

1 Captain Stephen M. Hardesty Howard County Department Of Fire & Rescue Services Special Operations

2 Introduction Trench and Excavation Safety Laws, Regulations and Standards Handling Trench Emergencies Question / Answer Review Equipment Display

3 We are a combination system of nearly nine-hundred career and volunteer providers operating from twelve stations across the County. The Department is statutorily responsible for the 2 administration of the affairs 5 7 for the County in fire suppression and prevention, 11 6 fire training, arson investigation, rescue services and emergency medical services. 4

4 The mission of our Special Operations team is to organize, train, educate, staff, equip, fund, administer, mobilize and sustain a highly trained and motivated force to successfully handle all operations, across the range of high risk low frequency events, in support of incident commanders, and other agencies as directed.

5 Over 100 members, Firefighter/EMT s Deputy Chief s Primary team and two satellite company s Technicians and Specialist Hazmat Transportation Fixed Facility Terrorism and WMD Technical Rescue Swift Water/Flood, Ice Building and Trench Collapse Technical Rope Rescue and Access Confined Space Machinery Rescue Lost Person Search Mass Casualty Support Training, Training, Training

6 Excavations remain a national special emphasis for OSHA Because of the continuing incidence of trench/excavation collapses and accompanying loss of life, the agency has determined that an increased enforcement presence is warranted. Almost 75% of deaths annually in trench accidents are caused by cave-ins. Over 45% worked for companies employing less than 10 people.

7 60% are would be rescuers Civilians Fire dept personnel Co-workers Cave-ins can happen without warning All of the fatalities and injuries could have been prevented

8 24 inches of soil on a person s chest weighs lb. 18 inches of soil covering a body weighs lb. Shear wall collapse speed 45 mph 1 cubic foot of soil can weigh from 100 to 125 lb

9 1. Cave ins 2. Overhead Electric Line Contact 3. Falls into Excavations 4. Equipment Falling into Excavations 5. Explosion / Fire / Electrocution

10 I Know what I m doing. It can t happen to me. I ve been doing it that way for years. I d sleep in that hole! Don t worry, we ll watch the walls and tell you if you need to get out.

11 Poor Planning Misjudgment of soil type. Inadequate, or incorrect installation of protective devices. Defective protective devices. Failure to adjust for changing conditions

12 OSHA [29 CFR ] Excavation standard applies to all open excavations made in the earth s surfaces including trenches, all surface encumbrances that would create a hazard, and protective systems Scope, application and definitions Job Site Hazard Listing Requirements for Protective Systems Appendixes that detail: Soil Classification Sloping and Benching Timber and Aluminum Hydraulic Shoring Protective System Selection Decision Tree

13 What to expect when calling 911: What's the Emergency Collapse Medical Emergency How many people are in the trench? Can you see them? Are they talking? Are there Hazardous materials involved?

14 What to do before the fire department arrives: Stop all work on the site. NO VIBRATION Remove everyone from the hole. Stay away from the lip Ladder / Shovel for self rescue.

15 What to expect when The Fire Department Arrives : We want to meet the competent person. Nobody In an Unsecured Trench! We make the trench safe for Us Hazard Mitigation Shoring and Stabilization Ventilation Digging operations at a Trench Collapse usually take one hour per foot of dirt to remove!

16 What to expect when the Fire Department arrives: Incident Commander Special Operations Team Leader Safety Technical Info Mutual Aid/Other Assistance Mutual Aid Highways / Utilities BG&E MOSHA HoCo Police Spray and Pray

17 Introduction Trench Excavation Safety Laws, Regulations and Standards Tragic Facts Soil Facts Top 5 Hazards Unsafe Attitudes Most common causes of cave-ins Emergency Response Review What to do before the Fire Department arrives What to expect after the Fire Department arrives Questions / Answers

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