SLCFD Heavy Rescue Team Operations SOG PDF

Standard Operating Guideline (SOG) Heavy Rescue Team Operations Effective Date: 04/01/2024 Procedure Number 04-21 B Revised Date: Number of Pages...

Standard Operating Guideline (SOG) Heavy Rescue Team Operations Effective Date: 04/01/2024 Procedure Number 04-21 B Revised Date: Number of Pages 6 1. Overview: This guideline provides operational considerations for the first-arriving SLCFD unit at the scene of a technical/heavy rescue incident. It is not intended to be all encompassing, but rather, provides a general guideline for size-up considerations, tactical assignments, safety priorities and initial actions during the first phases of a technical/heavy rescue operation. 2. Definitions: A. Confined Space. A space that is large enough and so configured that a person can enter and perform assigned work, has limited or restricted means for entry or exit (e.g., tanks, vessels, silos, storage bins, hoppers, vaults, and pits), and is not designed for continuous human occupancy. B. Confined Space Entry. The action by which a person passes through an opening into a confined space. It includes ensuing work activities in a confined space and is considered to have occurred as soon as any part of the entrant’s body breaks the plane of an opening into the space. C. Excavation. Any man-made cut, cavity, trench, or depression in an earth surface, formed by the removal of earth. D. General Area. The area surrounding the incident site (e.g., collapsed structure or trench) whose size is proportional to the size and nature of the incident and, within the general area, access by people, heavy machinery and vehicles is limited and strictly controlled. E. Heavy Rescue Team (HRT). Members of the SLCFD who are trained and currently certified to the NFPA Technician Level (NFPA 1006 and 2500) in rope rescue, tower rescue, confined space rescue, heavy vehicle rescue, trench rescue and machinery rescue, and who currently hold a bid spot at the Heavy Rescue Station. F. Heavy/Technical Rescue. The application of special knowledge, skills, and equipment to safely resolve unique or complex rescue situations. G. Incident Action Plan (IAP). An oral or written plan containing operational period objectives, and the response strategy defined by Incident Command during response planning. It contains general tactics to achieve goals and objectives within the overall strategy, while providing important information on event and response parameters. H. Patient Survivability Profile. A general assessment of the survivability potential of a patient involved in an emergency incident. Factors may include but are not limited to, the mechanism of injury and/or the nature of the illness, patient down-time, the difficulty of access, the duration of rescue operations, injuries incompatible with life, etc. I. Recovery Mode. Nonemergency operations carried out by responders to retrieve property or the remains of a victim. The pace and tempo is typically slower than Rescue Mode. J. Rescue Area. Sometimes called the “hot,” “danger” or “collapse” zone, an area surrounding the incident site (e.g., collapsed structure or trench) that has a size proportional to the hazards that exist. K. Rescue Mode. Those activities directed at locating endangered persons at an emergency incident, removing those persons from danger, treating the injured, and providing for transport to an appropriate health care facility. The pace and tempo are typically faster than Recovery Mode. L. Risk/Benefit Analysis. A decision made by a responder based on hazed identification and situation assessment that weighs the risk likely to be taken against the benefits to be gained for taking those risks. 04-21B HRT Operations SOG, Page 1 of 6  M. Trench (Trench Excavation). An excavation, narrow in relation to its length, made below the surface of the earth. 3. Guideline: It is the policy of the Salt Lake City Fire Department Heavy Rescue Team (HRT) to broaden the safety margin of all fire and rescue personnel and to promote operational efficiency by establishing minimum operational guidelines for use during HRT responses that present unusual hazards. All SLCFD HRT personnel shall comply with the following procedures and, where applicable, with: NFPA 2500; NFPA 1500; NFPA 1006; and the OSHA Code of Federal Regulations Sec 29 CFR 1910.120; 1910.134; 1910.146; 1910.147; 1926.650, 651, 652. Failure to observe these guidelines (and all other SLCFD and/or Salt Lake City Corp. policies) may result in death and may render the supervisor (Incident Commander, HRT Captain) and/or SLCFD Member subject to action from the Salt Lake City Corp., the SLCFD, and/or OSHA. This may also include civil and criminal penalties as defined by law. A. Technical/Heavy Rescue Incident Priorities: Incident priorities during all SLCFD HRT operations shall be: 1. Life safety of the rescuers and patients. 2. Stabilization of the scene and rescue of the patients. 3. Property conservation. 4. Environmental protection. B. General Safety: Technical/Heavy Rescue operations require Technician Level skills and involve varying degrees of risk. SLCFD personnel should understand the situational hazards and take the appropriate steps to safeguard themselves, their team members, and the public/patients. All SLCFD members, including HRT members, shall operate only within their specified/documented level of training. HRT personnel must be 100% proficient in their performance of the skills, processes, and evolutions as described in the SLCFD HRT approved texts and as taught during training. Since the preservation of life is the number one goal, there is little room for error. During all SLCFD HRT operations, Command, in conjunction with the Safety Officer, shall ensure that the following general safety practices are observed throughout the entire operation or incident. (Note: Each type of rescue/operation will have other, more specific safety practices.) 1. The Incident Management System shall be implemented with a visible and strong Command presence. 2. A trained and designated Safety Officer (SO) shall be assigned early in the incident. Ideally, this Safety Officer should have HRT training (i.e., Technical Safety Officer - TSO). 3. All personnel shall wear the appropriate level of PPE based on the rescue situation and environment. This may include, but is not limited to: Helmet, gloves, safety glasses, second layer protective clothing such as fire-retardant coveralls, brush gear or turnouts, safety footwear, SCBA, harnesses, intrinsically-safe headlamp, etc. 4. Operational Zones shall be established if needed and all nonessential personnel backed away from the rescue scene. Rescuers shall wear the appropriate PPE based on their Operational Zone assignment. 5. Command and/or the Rescue Group Supervisor/Rescue Officer (RO) should conduct a Patient Survivability Profile (PSP) and a Risk/Benefit Analysis early in the incident. The decision to run the incident in the Rescue Mode or Recovery Mode, as well as the overall operational strategy, should be clearly defined and communicated to all involved personnel. 04-21B HRT Operations SOG, Page 2 of 6  6. A trained Rapid Intervention Team (backup personnel) should be in place prior to any rescue attempt or as soon as is practically and logistically possible. 7. Rescuers should work in pairs, with a qualified and equipped backup person for each rescuer where and whenever possible. 8. A Personnel Accountability Report (PAR) system shall be implemented. 9. All hazards shall be identified and minimized/controlled prior to the deployment of rescue personnel. 10. Establish and maintain an effective communication system/plan. 11. All systems, rigging, shoring, equipment, etc. shall be safety checked prior to usage or the deploying of rescuers. 12. Create a rehab plan early and rotate personnel efficiently. 13. Identify an equipment cache and/or staging area. 14. Prepare for decontamination as needed. 15. When necessary, a personnel evacuation signal and plan shall be established and communicated to all operational personnel. C. Time Management: Once the decision has been made to run the operation in the Rescue Mode, time management becomes a crucial factor in the successful outcome of a Heavy Rescue incident. A step-by-step, sequential approach to the accomplishment of the operational goals has historically consumed the greatest amount of time and slows the efficiency of the rescue effort. To assist in the safe and rapid outcome of the situation, the HRT should apply the following time management concepts: 1. Individuals/Groups/Divisions should work as rapidly as is safely possible in the accomplishment of their assigned tasks. Command should give them an assignment, ensure that they have the proper skills and equipment needed to accomplish that assignment, then step out of their way and allow them to complete the assignment. Micromanaging slows the operation. 2. If it can be done safely, persons and different Groups/Divisions should perform their tasks individually and simultaneously. “Multi-tasking” leads to speed and efficiency. 3. Assign personnel to best utilize their strengths and abilities. Inefficient or improperly trained or inexperienced personnel should be removed or reassigned. 4. The Rescue Operations Officer and where possible, the Group/Division Supervisors, should avoid becoming too involved in “hands-on” tasks. They should remain available for Group/Division control, supervision and “trouble shooting.” 5. Consider the use of 5 and 15-minute notifications from Dispatch. D. Operational Goals: The overall operational goals of every technical/heavy rescue operation shall be to safely: 1. Establish Command, implement the Incident Management and Accountability (PAR) Systems. 2. Stabilize the scene (General Area and Rescue Area). 3. Identify, locate and mitigate/minimize hazards. 4. Locate and access the patient(s). 5. Stabilize and extricate the patient(s). 6. Provide medical care for the patients including transport to a medical facility. 7. Terminate the incident. E. Operational Phases and Tactical Procedures: All technical/heavy rescue incidents can be divided into the following Operational Phases, each with its own set of specific Tactical Procedures: Phase I: Arrive, Establish Command and Size-up the Situation 04-21B HRT Operations SOG, Page 3 of 6  Phase II: Pre-Rescue Operations Phase III: Rescue Operations Phase IV: Termination of the Incident All SLCFD HRT responses will progress through the four Operational Phases outlined above. Based on the situation, some phases may be compressed or extended, or even performed simultaneously. It is important to note that Phase I procedures are consistent with every technical/heavy rescue situation. All members of the SLCFD can and should be able to perform Phase I Operations safely and efficiently. Phase I procedures are Awareness Level skills. Phases II-IV require specialty, Technician Level skills/procedures and in turn, are specific to the given operational environment and rescue/recovery situation. Consequently, they are not outlined here within this general SOG. 1. Phase I – Arrive, Establish Command and Size-up Phase I Operations are considered Awareness Level skills and all SLCFD members shall be capable of conducting Phase I operations at the scene of a technical/heavy rescue incident. Upon arrival, the first-in Company Officer shall establish Command, conduct an initial size-up, verify the dispatcher's pre-arrival information, and amend the response as necessary. If the SLCFD Heavy Rescue Team is not part of the initial dispatch assignment, the IC shall request the HRT as soon as possible to facilitate a timely HRT response. All non-SLCFD HRT personnel shall only operate at the Awareness Level as defined by the NFPA and the SLCFD. Upon arrival of the HRT, the HRT Officer shall report to Command to receive a situation assessment and assist in the development and implementation of an Incident Action Plan. It is not necessary (or even recommended) that overall incident command be transferred to the HRT Officer. Regardless of “who” takes Command, Rescue Operations, Rescue Group Supervisors, and Technical Safety Officers should be HRT trained Technicians. a. Primary Assessment The first-due Company Officer should consider splitting his/her crew and making initial assignments using the SLCFD HRT H.A.T.S. acronym. H = Hazard identification and control. A = Assessment of the situation. T = Traffic control (vehicular and personnel). S = Safety Officer (initial). Secure the calling party, site supervisor, job foreman, Competent Person, or witness to the accident to determine exactly what has happened. Immediately assess obvious and imminent hazards to rescuers and patients (electrical, mechanical, chemical, atmospheric, secondary collapse, unsupported/exposed utilities, water, etc.). If no witness is present, rescuers may have to look for clues at the scene to determine what has happened. A remote assessment of the area/patient should be done from a safe location or protected position. Command should determine how many patients have been affected. Command should conduct a Risk/Benefit Analysis and a Patient Survivability Profile. i. Determine how long the patient(s) has been down/trapped, the mechanism of injury, entrapment type, nature of illness, products/atmosphere involved, etc. ii. Check with Dispatch for alarm, arrival, and scene times. An early decision must be made as to whether the operation will be run in the Rescue Mode or the Recovery Mode. Announce this decision. 04-21B HRT Operations SOG, Page 4 of 6  Establish communication with the patient and give verbal guidance from a safe position if possible. Locate any construction plans, blueprints, work permits, cut sheets, diagrams, MSDS paper, etc. Utilize co-workers as required. Establish Operational Zones if needed and move all nonessential personnel back away from the rescue scene. If not yet on-scene, update the HRT via the radio or cell phone as to the situation, patient condition, hazards, and any initial actions taken by the first due companies. b. Secondary Assessment Based on the type of response and/or incident, Command and the SLCFD HRT shall follow the appropriate Secondary Assessment procedures as outlined in the SLCFD HRT Initial Arriving Apparatus Command Checklist contained within this document. The Secondary Assessment of Phase I Operations is specific to the incident type and outlined for the following types of situations: Rope Rescue Confined Space Rescue Trench Rescue Structural Collapse Rescue Machinery Rescue 2. Phase II – Pre-Rescue Operations The first section of Phase II Operations, Make the General Area Safe, is considered an Awareness Level skill and all SLCFD members shall be capable of making the General Area safe during the initial steps of Phase II Operations at the scene of a technical/heavy rescue incident. If safe and appropriate to do so, Awareness-Level trained responders should initiate a Non-Exposed Rescue attempt. This may include: Preforming a Circle Check to identify hazards. Initiating limited search effort in safe terrain. Deploying a “safety/stabilization line” to a victim from a safe position with appropriate PPE (helmet, gloves, etc.). Atmospheric monitoring and appropriate ventilation. Making the trench lip and surrounding area safe. Lockout/Tag-out of machinery and processes. 04-21B HRT Operations SOG, Page 5 of 6 04-21B HRT Operations SOG, Page 6 of 6