Heavy Rescue Team Standard Operating Guideline PDF

Standard Operating Guideline (SOG) Heavy Rescue Team Effective Date: 01/23/2014 Procedure Number 04-21 B Revised Date: Number of Pages 4...

Standard Operating Guideline (SOG) Heavy Rescue Team Effective Date: 01/23/2014 Procedure Number 04-21 B Revised Date: Number of Pages 4 1. Overview This guideline provides Salt Lake City Fire Department personnel with a reference that establishes and outlines operationally effective procedures based on safety, efficiency, and ease of application for use during the initial phases of a technical/heavy rescue operation. 2. Definitions 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. Confined Space Entry. 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. Excavation. Any man-made cut, cavity, trench, or depression in an earth surface, formed by the removal of earth. General Area. An 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. Heavy/Technical Rescue. The application of special knowledge, skills, and equipment to safely resolve unique or complex rescue situations. 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. Trench (Trench Excavation). An excavation, narrow in relation to its length, made below the surface of the earth. 3. Guideline All SLCFD HRT personnel shall comply with the following procedures and, where applicable, with: NFPA 1983; NFPA 1670; 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. A. Technical/Heavy Rescue Incident Priorities: Incident priorities during all SLCFD HRT operations shall be: 1. Life safety of the rescuers. 2. Stabilization of the scene and rescue of the patients. 2. Property conservation. 3. Environmental protection. 4. System restoration (when and where applicable). 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 should operate only within their specified/documented level of training. 04-21B HRT SOG, Page 1 of 4  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 points.) 1. A trained and designated Safety Officer shall be assigned early in the incident. Ideally, this Safety Officer should have HRT training. 2. 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 safety headlamp, etc. 3. The Incident Management System shall be implemented with a visible and strong Command presence. 4. Command and/or the Rescue Group Supervisor 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. 5. 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. 6. Rescuers should work in pairs, with a qualified and equipped backup person for each rescuer where and whenever possible. 7. A Personnel Accountability Report (PAR) system shall be implemented. 8. All hazards shall be identified and minimized/controlled prior to the deployment of rescue personnel. 9. Establish and maintain an effective communication system/plan. 10. All systems, rigging, shoring, equipment, etc. shall be safety checked prior to usage or the deploying of rescuers. 11. Create a rehab plan early and rotate personnel efficiently. 12. Identify an equipment cache and/or staging area. 13. 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. 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. 2. If it can be done safely, persons and different Groups/Divisions should perform their tasks individually and simultaneously. 3. The Rescue Operations Officer and where possible, the Group/Division Supervisors should not participate in task-level assignments. 4. 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: 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. Terminate the incident. 04-21B HRT SOG, Page 2 of 4 E. Operational Phases and Tactical Procedures: All technical/heavy rescue incidents can be divided into the following Operational Phases, each with its specific Tactical Procedures: Phase I: Arrive, Establish Command and Size-up the Situation Phase II: Pre-Rescue Operations Phase III: Rescue Operations Phase IV: Termination of the Incident 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 safely and efficiently perform Phase I operations. Phase I procedures are Awareness Level skills. Phases II-IV require specialty, Technician Level skills/procedures and in turn are specific to the HRT as well as the given operational environment and rescue/recovery situation. Consequently, they are not outlined here within this general SOG and are contained within the SLCFD Heavy Rescue Team Manual. 1. Phase I – Arrive, Establish Command and Size-up All non-SLCFD HRT personnel shall operate under the supervision of an SLCFD Incident Commander. Primary Assessment 1. 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). 2. Secure the calling party, site supervisor, job foreman, or witness to the accident to determine exactly what has happened. 3. Immediately assess obvious and imminent hazards to rescuers and patients (electrical, mechanical, chemical, atmospheric, secondary collapse, unsupported/exposed utilities, water, etc.). 4. A remote assessment of the area/patient should be done from a safe location or protected position. 5. Command should determine how many patients have been affected. Command should conduct a Risk/Benefit Analysis and a Patient Survivability Profile. Determine how long the patient(s) has been down/trapped, the mechanism of injury, entrapment type, nature of illness, products/atmosphere involved, etc. 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. − Establish communication with the patient if possible. − Locate any construction plans, blue prints, work permits, cut sheets, diagrams, MSDS paper, etc. Utilize co-workers as required. − Move all nonessential personnel back away from the rescue scene. Secondary Assessment 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 04-21B HRT SOG, Page 3 of 4  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. 04-21B HRT SOG, Page 4 of 4