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Questions and Answers
What is the Cold Zone in a rescue operation?
What is the Cold Zone in a rescue operation?
What defines a Competent Person on a rescue site?
What defines a Competent Person on a rescue site?
What classifies a space as a Confined Space?
What classifies a space as a Confined Space?
Which of the following is NOT an example of a Confined Space?
Which of the following is NOT an example of a Confined Space?
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What can contribute to a cave-in during excavation?
What can contribute to a cave-in during excavation?
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What is the purpose of a Ground Pad in rescue operations?
What is the purpose of a Ground Pad in rescue operations?
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What is a Fissure in the context of excavation?
What is a Fissure in the context of excavation?
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What does the term Surcharge refer to in trench rescue operations?
What does the term Surcharge refer to in trench rescue operations?
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What is one of the first actions the first responders or EMS units will take upon arrival?
What is one of the first actions the first responders or EMS units will take upon arrival?
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Who is responsible for directing and coordinating all emergency services during the incident?
Who is responsible for directing and coordinating all emergency services during the incident?
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What must the Incident Commander provide by the end of the scheduled workday?
What must the Incident Commander provide by the end of the scheduled workday?
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What distinguishes the Rescue/Extrication Officer's qualifications?
What distinguishes the Rescue/Extrication Officer's qualifications?
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What initial zones are established by incident responders?
What initial zones are established by incident responders?
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Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of the Rescue/Extrication Officer?
Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of the Rescue/Extrication Officer?
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What is the significance of selecting a qualified member for overseeing Hot Zone Safety?
What is the significance of selecting a qualified member for overseeing Hot Zone Safety?
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What component of the Incident Command does the First Arriving Captain play?
What component of the Incident Command does the First Arriving Captain play?
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What hand signal indicates a need for assistance?
What hand signal indicates a need for assistance?
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What is the required personal protective equipment (PPE) for all members operating at the scene?
What is the required personal protective equipment (PPE) for all members operating at the scene?
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When should ladder/towers not be deployed?
When should ladder/towers not be deployed?
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What action should be taken if a member identifies a safety hazard?
What action should be taken if a member identifies a safety hazard?
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What must be done to metal hardware that has been dropped from a height exceeding three feet?
What must be done to metal hardware that has been dropped from a height exceeding three feet?
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Which statement about trench incidents is true?
Which statement about trench incidents is true?
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What should members wear while working in confined spaces if bunker gear is not appropriate?
What should members wear while working in confined spaces if bunker gear is not appropriate?
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Who is responsible for giving all motion orders?
Who is responsible for giving all motion orders?
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What must be established before any underground entry can take place?
What must be established before any underground entry can take place?
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Who is permitted to enter a confined space with potential hazardous atmosphere?
Who is permitted to enter a confined space with potential hazardous atmosphere?
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What is the maximum depth for a trench that personnel should enter without proper shoring, shielding, sloping, or benching?
What is the maximum depth for a trench that personnel should enter without proper shoring, shielding, sloping, or benching?
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What should be requested to monitor personnel's medical and physical conditions?
What should be requested to monitor personnel's medical and physical conditions?
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What must be available for egress every 25 feet in trench operations?
What must be available for egress every 25 feet in trench operations?
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What is the role of a support firefighter in the hot zone?
What is the role of a support firefighter in the hot zone?
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What should the first arriving unit do upon arrival at the scene?
What should the first arriving unit do upon arrival at the scene?
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Who is responsible for scene management during a trench rescue operation?
Who is responsible for scene management during a trench rescue operation?
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Which role is specifically in charge of shoring equipment placement during a rescue operation?
Which role is specifically in charge of shoring equipment placement during a rescue operation?
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Which of the following is not a responsibility of the Incident Commander?
Which of the following is not a responsibility of the Incident Commander?
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What must be done if a toxic or combustible atmosphere is present?
What must be done if a toxic or combustible atmosphere is present?
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What should be kept clear of the hazard zone during a rescue operation?
What should be kept clear of the hazard zone during a rescue operation?
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What critical information does the confined space entry permit provide to responders?
What critical information does the confined space entry permit provide to responders?
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When should operations begin on a rescue scene?
When should operations begin on a rescue scene?
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What information should be obtained from evacuated victims whenever possible?
What information should be obtained from evacuated victims whenever possible?
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What should the Incident Commander designate if the event is high profile or attracts media attention?
What should the Incident Commander designate if the event is high profile or attracts media attention?
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Study Notes
Confined Space / Trench Rescue Operations
- First responders should determine if the incident is a rescue or recovery, contact management to find the victims, and notify North Comm for appropriate equipment.
- First responders should establish initial hot and cold zones and manage incident command until a District Chief or higher arrives.
- The IC should direct and coordinate all emergency services and outside agencies, providing a report about the incident to the Deputy Chief of Operations.
- The First Arriving Captain should direct their crew to ensure scene safety and prepare for the arrival of Technical Rescue personnel.
- The Rescue/Extrication Officer will be trained in confined space and trench rescue and be responsible for all rescue operations in the Hot Zone.
- The Rescue/Extrication Officer should coordinate with the IC to develop an action plan, determine the victim’s survival profile, and assign a Hot Zone Safety member.
- They are also responsible for supervising shoring and digging operations, assisting the IC, directing rescue operations, advising the IC on rescue mode, and acting as a liaison between the IC and facility representatives.
- For events with toxic or combustible atmospheres, underground entry should only be allowed after confirming the atmosphere is safe.
- If a toxic atmosphere is present, ventilation should be initiated before entry.
- Only members trained in using Supplied Air Respirators (S.A.R) are allowed to enter a confined space with a hazardous atmosphere.
- A designated rehab area needs to be set up with HCESD11 personnel to monitor medical and physical conditions of personnel.
- Hot zone access should be controlled by a support firefighter or designated responder who is responsible for recording entry and exits
- The IC should request law enforcement to establish police lines, maintain egress routes, direct traffic and ensure unauthorized entry into the cold zone is prohibited.
- The first arriving unit at a confined space incident should establish incident command and size-up the situation, gather information, assess immediate and potential hazards to personnel, determine if additional resources are needed, determine if the situation is a rescue or recovery, keep non-essential personnel and civilians out of the hazard zone, and locate and secure the job site supervisor or other company representative.
- The first arriving unit should also obtain a confined space entry permit from site management to identify potential hazards.
- All confined space and trench rescue operations will follow department incident command procedures and will include the following identified command/operations positions: Incident Commander, Safety Officer, Rescue/Extrication Officer, and rescue trained members for rescue and safety team functions if needed.
- Operations should be conducted with as little risk to SFD personnel as possible and Special Operations Team personnel should be used for critical command and operational positions.
- Once victims are on the ground or at a safe location, they must be medically evaluated and transported by EMS if necessary.
- The Incident Commander should designate a specific media operations area if an event is extended or considered “High Profile.”
Safety
- All members involved in rescue functions should utilize SFD owned equipment at all times.
- Members in elevated positions should don a department issued harness and be tied off to a fixed shock proof anchor point when working within 3 ft.of a building edge, hole, trench, or other elevated area.
- Members should avoid wearing bunker gear or other firefighting PPE while working in a confined space or trench. Members may wear station uniforms, jumpsuits, duty boots, structural firefighting boots, and a department-issued firefighting helmet or rescue helmet.
- No untrained personnel are permitted to operate lowering, hauling, shoring, or safety systems.
- All motion orders (lower, raise, stop, etc.) will be given by the Incident Commander, Rescue/Extrication Officer or specific designee. Any member identifying a safety hazard shall notify the IC, Safety Officer or shout “Stop” if such a situation arises.
- Required PPE for all members operating at the scene will be a minimum of helmet, eye protection, and gloves.
- The integrity of all knots and safety knots must be continually checked throughout the rescue. Personnel shall not work under a suspended Stokes basket load
- Ladders and towers should not be deployed in winds greater than 35 MPH.
- Any drops of metal hardware over three feet requires the equipment to be removed from service, tagged “DROPPED”, and turned in to the Quartermaster. Metal fatigue due to drops over three feet can lead to catastrophic failure under load.
- Not all trench incidents are cave-ins. Injured workers can be found within a trench that has not caved in.
- Rescuers and EMS personnel must use extreme caution any time they need to enter a trench over 4-feet deep. They shall not enter a trench that is over 5- feet deep unless it is properly shored, shielded, sloped, or benched. Also, there must be a good atmosphere and at least one ladder for egress every 25 feet.
Area Definitions
- Cold Zone: Areas within 100 feet of the warm zone that contain Command, Support, Resource, Rehab, and non-essential firefighters.
- Competent Person: A person who is in charge or familiar with all operations at the incident site.
- Rescue Rope: 300 or 400 ft section x ½ inch static kernmantle constructed rope used for rescue only.
- Confined Space Entry: A member’s body breaking the imaginary plane of an opening within an enclosure with limited ingress or egress points that isn’t suitable for human inhabitants.
- Confined Space: A space with limited means of egress, not designated for prolonged worker occupancy, and where a dangerous air contamination or oxygen deficient atmosphere can result from accumulating hazardous dust, mists, gases, or vapors.
- Excavation: Any man-made cut, cavity, trench, or depression in the earth’s surface formed by the removal of earth.
- Fissure: A large crack in the earth, either horizontal or vertical, that is symbolic of the movement of unstable ground.
- Ground Pad: A 2’ x 4' sheet of 3/4 " thick plywood to be laid at the trench lip to disperse the weight of rescuers.
- Sloping: Cutting back or angling the side of a trench to reduce the risk of collapse.
- Spoil Pile: Soil removed during excavation that is piled along the trench wall. This is the primary cause of initial and subsequent cave-ins if placed too close to the trench lip.
- Surcharge: Any type of excess weight that may be added to the trench lip, including rescuers.
- Warm Zone: Area where personnel enter and exit the Hot Zone and should have access to rescue equipment, a decontamination area, breathing air, and the ability to monitor the environment.
- Hot Zone: Area directly around the hazard containing the victim. Only properly trained and equipped personnel should enter the Hot Zone.
Emergency Operations
- The first arriving officer should perform a size up of the scene, gather information, assess immediate and potential hazards to SFD personnel, assess the need for additional resources, determine if the situation is a rescue or recovery, keep non-essential personnel out of the hazard zone, and keep civilians out of the hazard zone.
- The Rescue/Extrication officer is in command of all shoring equipment placements, shoring strut settings, excavation, raising, lowering, and safety functions while rescuers are in the hot zone.
- Evacuated victims shall be removed in the safest matter possible. Once on the ground or at a safe location, evacuated persons shall be medically evaluated and transported by EMS if necessary. Evacuee names, date of birth, and addresses should be obtained if possible.
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Description
Test your knowledge on confined space and trench rescue operations. This quiz covers key responsibilities of first responders, incident command, and coordination of rescue operations. Understanding these concepts is crucial for ensuring safety and effectiveness in rescue scenarios.
