Rescue Technician - Trench Rescue Operations: Note Taking Guide

Note Taking Guide
Rescue Technician—
Trench Rescue Operations
Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute

University of Maryland
Steven T. Edwards, Director
Spring 2016
Copyright 2015 by the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be copied or reproduced in any form
or by any means without written permission of the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute.
The Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute of the
University of Maryland is the State’s comprehensive
training and education system for all emergency
services.
The Institute plans, researches, develops, and

delivers quality programs to enhance the ability of
emergency service providers to protect life, the
environment, and property.
Lesson 1-2: Introduction to Trench Rescue
Student Performance Objective
 Given information from discussion, handouts,

and reading materials, the student will be able
to describe trench rescue operations.
RES 206-PPT-1-2-1
Overview
 Technical Rescue Disciplines

 The Big Three
 The Specialized Training Cycle
 Service Levels
 Additional Requirements for Certification
Levels
RES 206-PPT-1-2-2
Overview
 The Risk-Benefit Analysis

 The FAILURE Acronym
 Types of Service Levels
 The Team
 Getting Your Equipment to the Scene
RES 206-PPT-1-2-3
Overview
 OSHA Subpart P—Excavations, 29 C.F.R. §

1926
 General Requirements of Trench Rescue
 OSHA and Trench Rescue
 Trench Collapse Emergencies
RES 206-PPT-1-2-4
Overview
 The Trench Incident Management System

 Levels of the Incident Management System
 Logistics Support Functions
RES 206-PPT-1-2-5
Technical Rescue Disciplines

• Trench rescue
• Rope rescue
• Vehicle and machinery rescue
• Swift water rescue
• Confined space rescue
• Structural collapse rescue
RES 206-PPT-1-2-6
The Big Three
 Special people are

• Different from traditional fire and rescue
service providers
• Expected to operate in dangerous
environments
• Expected to think clearly in dire situations
• Required to participate in intense training
RES 206-PPT-1-2-7
The Big Three
 Special equipment is
• Vitally important to the rescue effort
• Required to do the job safely and effectively
• Specialized and highly technical
• Difficult to maintain
• Expensive to operate
RES 206-PPT-1-2-8
The Big Three
 Special training must be

• Solid, realistic, and practical
• Done often
RES 206-PPT-1-2-9
The Specialized Training Cycle
 Continuous recruitment, skill development, and equipment

evaluation and updates
RES 206-PPT-1-2-10
Service Levels
 Awareness responders are

• Able to identify hazards and dangers
• Able to use a decision-making matrix
• Not actively involved in the rescue operation
• Educated to avoid being part of the problem
RES 206-PPT-1-2-11
Service Levels
 Operations responders
• Are at the lowest level of certification
• May be responsible for initial and long-term
rescue operations
• Are called “support personnel”
• May place sheeting or shoring systems in
some trenches
• May function as sector officers
RES 206-PPT-1-2-12
Service Levels
 Technician responders have

• Additional trench rescue training
• Additional responsibilities
• Technical rescue skills package training
RES 206-PPT-1-2-13
Service Levels
 Instructors
• Have received certification
• Are certified in course development
• Should be active rescue team members
RES 206-PPT-1-2-14
Additional Requirements for
Certification Levels
 NFPA 1670, Chapter 11
• Awareness
– Trench rescue awareness
– Confined space rescue awareness
RES 206-PPT-1-2-15

• Operations
– Trench rescue operations
– Rope rescue operations
– Vehicle and machinery rescue operations
RES 206-PPT-1-2-16

• Technician
– Trench rescue technician
– Confined space technician
– Vehicle and machinery rescue technician
RES 206-PPT-1-2-17
 NFPA 1006, Chapter 8
• Job performance requirements
• Knowledge, skills, and abilities for fire service
personnel who perform trench rescue
operations
RES 206-PPT-1-2-18

RES 206-PPT-1-2-19
The Risk-Benefit Analysis
 Is this a rescue or a recovery?

 What is the risk to the rescuer?
 What is the benefit to the situation?
 What is the difference between head versus
heart decision making?
RES 206-PPT-1-2-20
The FAILURE Acronym
 “F”
Failure to understand the environment
 “A”
Additional medical implications not considered
 “I”
Inadequate rescue skills
 “L”
Lack of teamwork and experience
“U”
Underestimating the logistical needs of the
operation
 “R” Rescue – recovery mode not considered
 “E” Equipment not mastered
RES 206-PPT-1-2-21
Types of Service Levels
 The self-sufficient team

• Commits to many hours of training
• Must have a considerable amount of
specialized equipment
• Must have a means of transporting the
specialized equipment
• Is the most expensive method of service
RES 206-PPT-1-2-22
 The community-dependent team utilizes

• Those with construction and excavation
experience
• A “call-back” list
• A logistical needs and supply list
RES 206-PPT-1-2-23
 The regional approach team

• Is the most cost-effective
• Spreads the cost over several jurisdictions
• Requires written mutual aid agreements
• Is very hard to organize and maintain
RES 206-PPT-1-2-24
The Team
 The team members must be:

• Physically fit
• Mentally fit
 The team must have:

• Members that are proficient in construction skills
• Medical personnel as members
• People that “think on their feet”
• People in the best positions for their abilities
RES 206-PPT-1-2-25
Getting Your Equipment to the Scene
 A squad truck
 A dump truck or a flat-bed vehicle
 A trailer configuration
 A custom or converted vehicle
 A pod system
 A rescue truck
RES 206-PPT-1-2-26
Getting Your Equipment to the Scene
RES 206-PPT-1-2-27
OSHA Subpart P—Excavations,

29 C.F.R. § 1926
1926
• Provides data and information on appropriate
protective systems
• Can be universally applied in a rescue situation
• Provides the requirements to qualify the user
as a competent person
• Was originally part of the “Contract for Hours
Worked Standard Act”
RES 206-PPT-1-2-28
The General Requirements of

Trench Rescue
 The general requirements of trench rescue
• Are the same as the guidelines used in
construction operations
• Include rescue safety and operational
guidelines
– Protection exceptions: All trenches must be
protected before entry except
– Those made entirely of stable rock
– Those less than five feet in depth
RES 206-PPT-1-2-29
Trench Rescue
• Protection: Any trench five feet deep or more
must be protected (may include the height of
the spoil pile)
• Spoil pile: must be set back two feet from the
lip
• Egress: Trenches 4 feet deep or greater in
depth must have a means of egress every 25
feet
RES 206-PPT-1-2-30

Trench Rescue
• Atmospheric hazards: All trenches should be
tested for
– Oxygen deficiency or enrichment
– Hazardous atmosphere
– Flammable gases
RES 206-PPT-1-2-31

Trench Rescue
• Water accumulation: employees need to
be protected from water by dewatering
operations and/or a lifeline
• A competent person must be able to
determine the soil classification
RES 206-PPT-1-2-32
Trench Rescue
• Inspection: A competent person must inspect
the trench for the following
– Secondary cave-in potential
– Protective systems failure
– Atmospheric monitoring or control
– Other hazardous conditions
RES 206-PPT-1-2-33
OSHA and Trench Rescue
 OSHA requires compliance under certain

conditions
• An employee/employer relationship exists
• Trench rescue operations are part of your job
• You are paid for your service
RES 206-PPT-1-2-34
OSHA and Trench Rescue
 OSHA’s view of trench rescue operations

• Trench rescue operations tend to over-
engineer protective systems
• Rescue protective systems are used for
hours, not days
• Rescue operations have a different mission
than construction
• OSHA will get involved in the operation for
certain reasons
RES 206-PPT-1-2-35
Trench Collapse Emergencies
 Emergencies due to noncompliance

 Accidents without a cave-in
• Medical emergency
• Trauma emergency
RES 206-PPT-1-2-36
RES 206-PPT-1-2-37
 Equipment failure and load management

• A backhoe- or excavator-caused problem
• Hydraulic failure
• Rigging failure
• Protective system failure
• Utility failure
RES 206-PPT-1-2-38
RES 206-PPT-1-2-39
 Atmospheric concerns
• Include buried hazardous materials
• Require monitoring of the atmosphere
• Require situational awareness
More than one ill victim in a trench
One or more victims “down” in a trench
• May require a hazmat team response
RES 206-PPT-1-2-40
The Trench Incident Management System
 The trench incident management system

• Is like any other IMS
• Requires an incident commander
• Decreases the organizational span of control
• Provides on-scene accountability
• Is dependent on the magnitude of the problem
and the number of resources
RES 206-PPT-1-2-41
The Trench Incident Management System
RES 206-PPT-1-2-42
Levels of the Incident Management

System
The strategic level: The Incident Commander
– Is responsible
for developing
the strategic
goals for the
operation
– Is responsible
for all resources
RES 206-PPT-1-2-43

System
• The safety officer
– Is able to spot unsafe acts
– Is able to anticipate activities which will lead
to accidents
– Is able to control the “big picture”
– Is familiar with the environment and its
potential hazards
– Conducts pre-operational briefings
RES 206-PPT-1-2-44
System
• The liaison officer
– Handles multiple agency interaction
– Buffers the IC from being overwhelmed
RES 206-PPT-1-2-45

System
• The public information officer
– Provides the media with a direct point of
contact
– Provides frequent updates to the media
RES 206-PPT-1-2-46

System
 The tactical level
• The operations officer
– Actually runs the incident
– Is responsible for overall coordination of the
rescue
– Implements tactical decisions
– Is responsible for all groups providing direct
emergency support
RES 206-PPT-1-2-47
System
• The logistics officer is responsible for
– Procuring equipment
– Procuring personnel
RES 206-PPT-1-2-48

System
 The task level
• The medical officer
– Reports to the operations officer
– Is responsible for establishing a medical
control area
– Is responsible for establishing a transportation
section
– Is responsible for the rehabilitation section
RES 206-PPT-1-2-49

System
• The extrication officer is responsible for
– The actual extrication of the victim
– All activities required to facilitate the rescue
– The pre-entry briefing
RES 206-PPT-1-2-50
System
 Emergency support functions
• The air supply operations team
– Oversees pneumatic air shores and air bags
– Ensures proper operation of equipment
– Secures air supply
RES 206-PPT-1-2-51

System
• The cutting team
– Is responsible for
all cutting and
manufacturing of
wood systems
– Must have
members who
are competent
with saws
– Operates at a
cutting station
RES 206-PPT-1-2-52

System
• The panel team
– Sets up, carries,
and installs all
shields or panels
– Must have at least
four hard workers
– May be
reassigned after
the panels are set
RES 206-PPT-1-2-53
System
• The shoring team
– Assembles and
installs all shores
and wales of the
protective system
– Has members who
– Have manual
dexterity
– Are efficient with
hand tools
RES 206-PPT-1-2-54

System
• The rigging team
– Establishes lifting systems
– Must have systems ready to use
RES 206-PPT-1-2-55

System
• The heavy equipment
operator
– Must have experience
and talent
– May be needed to
create a slope or a
bench system
– Must position carefully so as not to cause a
secondary collapse
– Must understand hand or communication
signals
RES 206-PPT-1-2-56
System
• The rapid intervention team/crew members
– Must be ready before stabilization activity
– Must be equipped for medical emergencies
and secondary collapses
– May be rotated to gain experience in the
actual rescue
RES 206-PPT-1-2-57
Logistics Support Functions
 Logistics Support
Functions
• Are responsible for
equipment storage
and dissemination
• Use a
predetermined
location
• Employ a staging
officer
RES 206-PPT-1-2-58

to describe trench rescue operations.
RES 206-PPT-1-2-59
Review

 The Big Three
 The Specialized Training Cycle
 Service Levels
 Additional Requirements for Certification
Levels
 The Risk-Benefit Analysis
RES 206-PPT-1-2-60
Review
 The FAILURE Acronym

 Types of Service Levels
 The Team
 Getting Your Equipment to the Scene
1926
 The General Requirements of Trench Rescue
RES 206-PPT-1-2-61
Review
 OSHA and Trench Rescue

 Trench Collapse Emergencies
 The Trench Incident Management System
 Levels of the Incident Management System
 Logistics Support Functions
RES 206-PPT-1-2-62
Lesson 2-1: Soil Assessment and Types of Trench Collapse

and reading materials, the student will be
able to describe soil physics and conditions
that lead to collapse.
RES 206-PPT-2-1-1
Overview
 Soil Physics
 Non-Entry Rescue Scenario
 Physical Forces Associated with Collapse
 Conditions and Factors that Lead to Collapse
RES 206-PPT-2-1-2
Overview
 Spoil Pile Slide

 Slough Failure
 Rotational Failure
 Shear Wall Collapse
 Toe Failure
 Bell Pier Condition
 Wedge Failure
RES 206-PPT-2-1-3
Overview
 The Importance of Soil Classification

 Types of Soil
 Soil Testing Procedures
RES 206-PPT-2-1-4
Soil Physics
 Gravity is the force that draws everything to

the center of the earth
 Hydrostatic pressure is the increased
pressure caused by the addition of water to
the soil profile
• Dry soil weighs between 60 and 80 lbs per
cubic foot
• Water-saturated soil may weigh up to 150 lbs
per cubic foot
RES 206-PPT-2-1-5
Soil Physics
 Unconfined compressive strength (UCS) is

the amount of resistance the soil has to
pressure
• A higher UCS reflects a more cohesive soil
• A lower UCS reflects a less cohesive soil
RES 206-PPT-2-1-6
Soil Physics
 Active soil has a tendency to move due to

• The failure or removal of a protective system
• The inability of the soil to hold its own weight
 Passive soil does not have a tendency to
move
RES 206-PPT-2-1-7
Non-Entry Rescue Scenario
 A worker has fallen from a ladder and broken his leg

 A spoil pile is next to the trench
 The trench walls are of concern
 The collapse potential is very high
 The victim is offered a ladder and a rope
 The victim climbs the ladder while tied to the rope
 The trench wall collapses after the victim is out
 No rescuers were injured while performing this
rescue
RES 206-PPT-2-1-8
Physical Forces Associated with
Collapse
 Weights
• A cubic foot of soil weighs between 85 and 150
lbs with an average weight of 100 lbs
• A cubic foot of water weighs 62.4 lbs
• A cubic foot of rock weighs 165.36 lbs
• A cubic foot of 1/2 rock and 1/2 air mix weighs
about 82.68 lbs per cubic foot
• A cubic foot of 1/2 rock and 1/2 water mix
weighs about 113.85 lbs per cubic foot
RES 206-PPT-2-1-9

Collapse
 Forces
• Vertical pressure
– Represents forces that may compress a victim
– Causes wall failure when tension overcomes
cohesion
RES 206-PPT-2-1-10

Collapse
• Lateral pressure
– Is about 33% of the vertical pressure at a given
depth
– Is 132 pounds per square foot at four feet deep
– Is distributed at about a 45º angle from the
bottom of any given plane
– Is responsible for rotational failure
RES 206-PPT-2-1-11
Collapse
• Rotational failure
– Is the most prevalent type of collapse
– Is caused by lateral pressure
– Is most dangerous 1/4 of the depth up from the
bottom of the trench
RES 206-PPT-2-1-12

Collapse
• Shoring pressure
– Acts to transmit pressures from one side of the
trench to the other
– Acts to equalize pressures
– May be overcome by lateral pressure, causing
– A collapse
– Shoring failure
RES 206-PPT-2-1-13
Conditions and Factors that Lead to

Collapse
 The addition of water
• Adds weight to the soil
• Presents an absorption rate issue
• Causes a loss of strength of the soil
– Initially the soil may gain strength
– When saturated the soil will lose strength
RES 206-PPT-2-1-14
Collapse
 The freestanding time allows
• Environmental issues to become a concern
• Compressive forces to cause failure
• Time for nature to attempt to fill the trench
back in
RES 206-PPT-2-1-15

Collapse
 The varying soil profiles
• Cause problems determining the classification
of the soil
• Cause problems determining the soil’s
potential for collapse
• Have different soil coefficients
– Sand may be layered between clay
– There may be a slip potential
RES 206-PPT-2-1-16

Collapse
 Water may
• Provide a slip fault
• Be running water
Underground streams
Aquifers
• Be released from saturated soil
RES 206-PPT-2-1-17
Collapse
 The water table may
• Dictate the rescue situation
• Be just below the surface
• Be quite deep
RES 206-PPT-2-1-18

Collapse
 The previously disturbed soil may be easy to
spot because it may contain bottles, bricks,
manmade objects, landfill, etc.
 The soil may be difficult to interpret because
it lacks cohesiveness
RES 206-PPT-2-1-19

Collapse
 The location of heavy equipment may cause
pressure on unprotected trench walls
 The placement of
emergency
equipment should
be kept back 300
feet and should not
add to surface
weight or scene
vibration
RES 206-PPT-2-1-20
Collapse
 The spoil pile may
• Be less than two feet from the lip
• Cause multiple problems
– Vertical and lateral pressure due to weight
– Active soil sliding down the trench wall
– A restricted work area
RES 206-PPT-2-1-21

Collapse
 Vibration
• From road traffic
• From machinery
RES 206-PPT-2-1-22
Spoil Pile Slide
 Spoil pile slide due to overburden pressure

 Spoil pile slide due to the angle of repose
• The angle is too steep
• The soil has dried, becoming less cohesive
• The soil is active
RES 206-PPT-2-1-23
Spoil Pile Slide
RES 206-PPT-2-1-24
Slough Failure
 Slough failure
• Is a loss of part of the trench wall
• Is a type of rotational failure
• May have a scoop-shaped appearance
• May be a result of unconfined hydrostatic
pressure
RES 206-PPT-2-1-25
Slough Failure
RES 206-PPT-2-1-26
Slough Failure
 Slough failure
• May be due to the spoil pile being too close to
the trench lip, causing vertical and lateral
pressure
• May be indicated by cracks in and around the
surface
• May be indicated by multiple soil layers
• May occur suddenly and without warning
RES 206-PPT-2-1-27
Rotational Failure
 Rotational failure
• May have a half-moon shape that starts back
from the trench lip
• May result in large sections of trench wall
falling
• May appear to have been dug by a spoon
• May create a very difficult problem to
overcome with a rescue system
RES 206-PPT-2-1-28
Shear Wall Collapse
 Shear wall collapse

• Occurs when a section of the wall loses its
ability to stand
• Usually happens across a vertical plane
• May be caused by cracks in the surface
Water may wash out dirt
Washing and drying create deeper cracks
• Is normally associated with cohesive soils
• May cause a larger collapse
RES 206-PPT-2-1-29
Shear Wall Collapse
RES 206-PPT-2-1-30
Toe Failure
 Toe failure
• Is a slough that occurs at the bottom of
the trench
• Is characteristic of a cantilever
• May be caused by a sand pocket
RES 206-PPT-2-1-31
Toe Failure
 Toe failure
• May be caused by the effects of water at the
bottom of the trench
• May not be detected if a rescuer is standing
above it
• Is hard to correct until a protective system is in
place
RES 206-PPT-2-1-32
Toe Failure
RES 206-PPT-2-1-33
Bell Pier Condition
 Bell pier condition

• Is a toe failure on both sides of the trench
• Is the result of water conditions
• Is usually a slow process
RES 206-PPT-2-1-34
Bell Pier Condition
RES 206-PPT-2-1-35
Wedge Failure
 Wedge failure
• Occurs in intersecting trenches
• Is characterized by an angle section of the
trench wall falling from the corner of two
intersecting trenches
• Can be sudden
• Can be catastrophic
RES 206-PPT-2-1-36
Wedge Failure
RES 206-PPT-2-1-37
The Importance of Soil Classification
 Soil classification
• Determines the performance of a soil
• Is based on a decreasing order of stability
• Is conducted in each of the layers of soil
• Is determined by the least stable soil
• Is used to determine the protective system
RES 206-PPT-2-1-38
The Importance of Soil Classification
 Soil classification must be based on

two tests
• A visual test
• A manual test
RES 206-PPT-2-1-39
Types of Soil
 Stable rock
• Is the least dangerous
• Is a natural solid material that can remain standing
after excavation
• May fall on a worker
after being excavated
and set in a loose pile
• May present with other
emergencies (falls,
equipment failure)
RES 206-PPT-2-1-40
Types of Soil
 Type A soils
• Are cohesive
materials with an
unconfined
compressive
strength of 1.5 tons
per square foot or
greater
RES 206-PPT-2-1-41
Types of Soil
• Type A soils include

– Clay
– Silty clay
– Clay loam
– Sandy clay loam
– Cemented soils
RES 206-PPT-2-1-42
Types of Soil
• Type A soils are not classified as type A if they

have any of the following conditions
– The soil is fissured
– The soil is subject to vibration
– The soil has been previously disturbed
– The soil is part of a sloped soil layer that is
steeper than 4 horizontal to 1 vertical
– The material is subject to other factors that
would require it to be classified as a less stable
material
RES 206-PPT-2-1-43
Types of Soil
RES 206-PPT-2-1-44
Types of Soil
 Type B soils
• May be cohesive materials with an unconfined
compressive strength greater than 0.5 tsf but
less than 1.5 tsf
RES 206-PPT-2-1-45
Types of Soil
• Type B soils may be granular “cohesionless”

material
– Angular gravel
– Silt
– Silt loam
– Sandy loam
– Sandy clay loam
RES 206-PPT-2-1-46
Types of Soil
• Type B soils
– May be previously disturbed soil
– May be downgraded type A soil
RES 206-PPT-2-1-47
Types of Soil
 Type C soils
• Are cohesive
materials with an
unconfined
compressive
strength of 0.5 tsf
or less
RES 206-PPT-2-1-48
Types of Soil
• Type C soils include

– Granular soils
– Sand
– Soils from which water is freely flowing
– Submerged rock that is not stable
– Sloped or layered systems where the layers dip
into the excavation at a slope of 4 horizontal to 1
vertical or steeper
RES 206-PPT-2-1-49
Types of Soil
 C-60 soil
• Was designated by Speed Shore
• Is a moist cohesive soil or a dense granular soil
that does not fit into type A or type B
classifications
• May be cut near vertically and will stand long
enough to allow shoring to be properly installed
• Is permitted because OSHA allows for other
classification tables
RES 206-PPT-2-1-50
Soil Testing Procedures
 The visual test

• Visually inspect
– Excavated
material
– Soil from the
trench wall
– The excavation
site in general
RES 206-PPT-2-1-51
• Look for the following

– Layers that change with depth
– The weakest soil
– Soil that has been previously disturbed
– The soil make up
– The presence of utilities, mixed soil, similar
particles of soil, fissures, spalling, cracks,
hydrostatic forces
RES 206-PPT-2-1-52
 The manual test is used to

• Determine soil characteristics
• Learn relative strength under force
• Formulate the material’s ability to free stand
RES 206-PPT-2-1-53
 The plasticity test

• Is used to see if the soil may be deformed or
molded without a change in total volume
• Is done by molding a wet or moist sample into
a ball and then attempting to roll it into a thread
1 ⁄ 8 of an inch in diameter and two inches long
• Is used to consider a soil’s cohesiveness if the
threads do not crumble or if a two-inch thread
can be held at one end without tearing
RES 206-PPT-2-1-54
 The Ribbon Test

• Is used to determine how muck clay or silt the
soil contains
RES 206-PPT-2-1-55
 The dry-strength test

• The dry strength test is performed to
determine the propensity of the soil to
fissure
• If the soil is dry and crumbles on its own
into individual grains or fine powder it is
granular
RES 206-PPT-2-1-56
 The dry-strength test (continued)

• If the soil is dry and falls into clumps and then
smaller clumps that are difficult to break down,
then it may contain
Clay and gravel
Clay and sand
Clay and silt
• If the dry soil breaks into clumps that do not
break into smaller clumps without difficulty, it
may be considered unfissured
RES 206-PPT-2-1-57
 The thumb penetration test

• Is used to estimate the unconfined
compressive strength of cohesive soils
• Is performed by extending a thumb against an
exposed sample and attempting to push
through it
• Indicates type A soil
– By a ready indention
– By a difficult penetration
RES 206-PPT-2-1-58
RES 206-PPT-2-1-59
• The thumb penetration test indicates type C

soil
By easy penetration of several inches by the
thumb
By molding the soil with little effort
• The thumb penetration test should be done as
soon as possible after excavation to prevent
the environment from affecting the sample
RES 206-PPT-2-1-60
 The drying test

• Is used to determine the difference between
cohesive material with fissures, unfissured
cohesive material, and granular material
• Is performed by drying a sample of soil that is
6 inches long and 1 inch thick
– Fissured material behavior
– Unfissured cohesive material behavior
– Granular material behavior
RES 206-PPT-2-1-61
 Penetrometer and shear vane tests

• Are performed by field instruments that may be
used to determine unconfined compressive
strength
• Are performed by applying force into the trench
wall
• Work accurately when the soil has some
moisture content
• Are read numerically
RES 206-PPT-2-1-62
RES 206-PPT-2-1-63
 Laboratory testing
• Is not practical on scene
• Is complicated but
accurate
• Helps develop
mathematical
determinations
• Uses samples from
varying depths obtained
with an auger
RES 206-PPT-2-1-64

able to describe soil physics and conditions
that lead to collapse.
RES 206-PPT-2-1-65
Review
 Soil Physics
 Non-Entry Rescue Scenario
 Physical Forces Associated with Collapse
 Conditions and Factors that Lead to Collapse
RES 206-PPT-2-1-66
Review
 Spoil Pile Slide

 Slough Failure
 Rotational Failure
 Shear Wall Collapse
 Toe Failure
 Bell Pier Condition
 Wedge Failure
RES 206-PPT-2-1-67
Review
 The Importance of Soil Classification

 Types of Soil
 Soil Testing Procedures
RES 206-PPT-2-1-68
Lesson 2-2: Trench Rescue Equipment/Trench Rescue Assessment

able to describe trench rescue equipment
and trench rescue assessment.
RES 206-PPT-2-2-1
Overview
 Personal Protective Equipment

 Development of a Safe Culture
 Equipment for Trench Rescue Operations
 Calculating the Weight of an Object
 Gravity
 Movement
 Mechanics
RES 206-PPT-2-2-2
Overview
 Air Bags for Trench Rescue

 Cribbing
 Wedges
 Time of Alarm
 Arrival at the Scene
 Assessment During the Emergency
RES 206-PPT-2-2-3
Personal Protective Equipment
 Standard issue equipment

• Should minimize the effects of weather
• Should minimize trauma around machinery
and tools
• Includes a jumpsuit or long-sleeve shirt and
pant combination, gloves, steel-toed boots,
helmet, eye protection, hearing protection,
safety vest
RES 206-PPT-2-2-4
 Clothing
• Turnout gear
• Jumpsuits
• Long-sleeved shirt and pant
RES 206-PPT-2-2-5
 Gloves
• Firefighting gloves
• Standard leather garden gloves
• Vehicle extrication gloves
• Nomex flight gloves
RES 206-PPT-2-2-6
 Head protection
• A firefighting helmet
• A heavy-duty construction helmet
RES 206-PPT-2-2-7
 Eye protection
• Helmet mounted protection (not
recommended)
• Full-face goggles
• Standard safety glasses
RES 206-PPT-2-2-8
 Foot protection
• Steel toed
• Steel shanked
• A high top boot
RES 206-PPT-2-2-9
 Specialty items
• Respiratory Protection
– Dust mask
– Self-contained breathing apparatus
– Supplied air breathing apparatus
RES 206-PPT-2-2-10
• Hearing protection
– Blocks out high frequencies
– Allows for communication
RES 206-PPT-2-2-11
• Skullcaps
– Are worn under the helmet
– Allow for the cooling action of sweat
– Are cooled with water
RES 206-PPT-2-2-12
• Leather chaps
– Should be used in the cutting area
– Might prevent or deflect a chain saw injury
RES 206-PPT-2-2-13
Development of a Safe Culture
 Development of a safe culture

• Does not happen over night
• Requires hours of training and discipline
RES 206-PPT-2-2-14
Equipment for Trench Rescue Operations
 Ground pads
• Distribute weight over a greater area
• Help to prevent secondary collapse
• Come in different types
– 4’  8’  ½” sheets of plywood
– 2”  12”  10’ or
– 2”  12”  12’ pieces of lumber
RES 206-PPT-2-2-15
 Types of Sheeting
• Interconnected steel uprights
• Sheets of plywood/timber
• Manufactured panels
• Homemade panels
– ShorForm
– FinForm
– Plywood
RES 206-PPT-2-2-16
RES 206-PPT-2-2-17
• Facilitating ease of use and storage of

sheeting
– Cut off the corners of the sheeting at a
45° angle
– Drill hand holds or holes for ropes
– Use strongbacks
RES 206-PPT-2-2-18
RES 206-PPT-2-2-19
• Placement
– Tie a rope through the panel holes and
lower the panel vertically
– Form a loop through which the strongback
can be vertically lowered
RES 206-PPT-2-2-20
 Timber shores
• Are made in many dimensions
• Are made from Douglas Fir
• Must have a bending strength of not less than
1500 pounds per square inch
• Must not exceed 20 feet in width
• Are relatively low in cost
• Can be cut to varying lengths
• Are selected by a process
RES 206-PPT-2-2-21
 Screw jacks
• Have a boot end which fits over a piece of
wood
• Are tightened by a thread and yoke
assembly
• Are relatively inexpensive
• Are not as strong as other shores
• Must not be overextended
RES 206-PPT-2-2-22
 Hydraulic shores
• May have the shore and uprights as one unit
• Are lowered into the trench and set entirely
from above
• Are expanded using a five-gallon reservoir of
fluid
• Are shut off from fluid and pump after
expansion
• Do not work well if the walls of the trench are
not vertical or near vertical
RES 206-PPT-2-2-23
 Pneumatic air shores

• Come in a variety of lengths
• Are made from lightweight tubular aluminum
• Are quick, strong, and dependable
• Have a multitude of extensions and
attachments
• Are extended by using compressed air
• Have a few disadvantages
RES 206-PPT-2-2-24
 Tools and appliances

• Shovel
• Entrenching tool
• Hammer
• Duplex nails
• Chain saw
• Electric powered ventilation equipment
• Ladders
• Dewatering devices
RES 206-PPT-2-2-25
Calculating the Weight of an Object
 Multiply the width by the depth by the length:

4’  2’  20’ = 160 cubic feet
 Multiply the cubic feet by the weight per

cubic pound:
160  150 = 24,000 pounds
RES 206-PPT-2-2-26
Gravity
 Gravitational terms
• Gravity—The tendency of an object to be
attracted to another object in direct
proportion to its mass
• Lifting—the action necessary to move
anything
• Lowering—controlling the descent of an
object
RES 206-PPT-2-2-27
Gravity
• Moving—exerting enough force on an object

to move it
• Stabilizing—keeping the object from moving
by applying a counterforce
• Friction—a measure of the amount of force
it takes to move an object across the
surface of another object
RES 206-PPT-2-2-28
Gravity
 Center of Gravity
• The point on a body around which the body’s
mass is evenly distributed
• The point on a body where all forces of the
earth’s gravitational pull are equal
• The junction of the horizontal, vertical, and
diagonal axes of an object
• The absolute center of an object
RES 206-PPT-2-2-29
Movement
 Moment of force
• Is mass multiplied by the distance away
from the turning point or fulcrum
• Is the amount of force rotating around the
fulcrum times the distance from the fulcrum
RES 206-PPT-2-2-30
Movement
 The teeter-totter
• The balance can be determined by multiplying
the bigger child’s weight by the distance he is
from the fulcrum (100 lbs  4 feet equals 400
lbs)
• The smaller child’s weight is divided into the
400 lbs to determine the distance he should
sit from the fulcrum (400 lbs divided by 50 lbs
equals 8 feet)
RES 206-PPT-2-2-31
Mechanics
 The Theory of Mechanics

• Energy
– Is the capacity for doing work and
overcoming resistance
– Is how hard it is to push or pull something
a distance
– Is measured in feet/pounds, either in
kinetic or potential energy
– Is what it takes to accomplish work
RES 206-PPT-2-2-32
Mechanics
• Work
– Is the distance times force or force as it
is applied to set it in motion
– Is explained by the climbing of a
mountain—the climbing is the work
RES 206-PPT-2-2-33
Mechanics
 Application of Mechanics
• The creation of a positive output in a given
situation (mechanical advantage)
• The ratio of the output of force a machine
exerts compared with the input force
furnished to that machine to do the work
RES 206-PPT-2-2-34
Mechanics
 Types of Machines
• A Class 1 lever
– Has the fulcrum placed between the force
and the load
– Has a calculated mechanical advantage
RES 206-PPT-2-2-35
Mechanics
RES 206-PPT-2-2-36
Mechanics
• A Class 2 lever
– Is most effective when moving objects on a
horizontal plane
– Has the load between the force and the
fulcrum
RES 206-PPT-2-2-37
Mechanics
RES 206-PPT-2-2-38
Mechanics
• A Class 3 lever
– Is the hardest to understand
– Has the force located between the load and
the fulcrum
RES 206-PPT-2-2-39
Mechanics
RES 206-PPT-2-2-40
Mechanics
• Inclined planes
– Are a form of simple machine
– Work by reducing the required force over time
– May be ladders in the trench rescue
environment
RES 206-PPT-2-2-41
Mechanics
RES 206-PPT-2-2-42
Air Bags for Trench Rescue
• Low pressure bags use 7 psi

Limited lift capacity
Higher lift ability in height
• Medium pressure bags use 22 psi
• High pressure bags use 80 to 120 psi
– Lift a greater amount of weight
– Are unable to lift as high as a low pressure bag
RES 206-PPT-2-2-43
 How air bags work

• Air bags must have an air source
• Air bags must have a regulator
• The effectiveness of air bags is limited by the
compressibility of air and the inside surface
area of the bag
• The lifting capacity of air bags is limited by the
amount of bag surface area that can contact
the object
RES 206-PPT-2-2-44
 Using air bags

• Determine the lift
– Multiply the length of the bag times the width
by the recommended operation pressure to
obtain maximum lift capacity
– Determine the weight of the object to be lifted
and the surface area of the lift point
– Calculate the lift capacity based on the
contact surface area
RES 206-PPT-2-2-45
 Using air bags (continued)

• Determine if a greater surface area is
needed
• Determine if the lift is possible with the
available equipment
RES 206-PPT-2-2-46
RES 206-PPT-2-2-47
 High pressure air bags

• Design
– Rubber or neoprene material
– Steel bands or Kevlar
– A coarse surface
– A working capability of 80 to 120 psi
RES 206-PPT-2-2-48
• Drawbacks of high-pressure air bags

– Do not lift very high
– May need to be stacked only up to two
• Always put the larger bag on the bottom
• The lift capacity is that of the smaller bag
RES 206-PPT-2-2-49
• Durability of high-pressure air bags

– Very durable
– Not field repairable
RES 206-PPT-2-2-50
 Low-pressure air bags

• Are flexible rubber bags
• Are used to fill voids in trench walls
• Are used to lift some objects
• Operate at 7 to 12 psi
• Will lift an object higher than a high-pressure
bag
RES 206-PPT-2-2-51
 Low-pressure air bags

• Will not lift the weight of a high-pressure bag
• Are field repairable
• Require a lot of air to accomplish a lift
• May be used outside of the trench to lift
RES 206-PPT-2-2-52
RES 206-PPT-2-2-53
Cribbing
 Cribbing
• May become brittle when natural moisture
content is lost
• Is required for anything being lifted in a
rescue
• Should be no more than an inch from the
item being lifted
RES 206-PPT-2-2-54
Cribbing
 Cribbing may be made from construction

grade lumber
• 2”  4”
• 4”  4”
• 6”  6”
RES 206-PPT-2-2-55
Cribbing
RES 206-PPT-2-2-56
Cribbing
 Cribbing
• May be cut in varying lengths
• May be used in a cribbing system
– 4-point crib system
– 9-point crib system
– Full-box crib system
RES 206-PPT-2-2-57
Cribbing
 Cribbing will support varying amounts of

weight
• 4”  4” cribbing will support 6,000 lbs per
contact point
• 6”  6” cribbing will support 15,000 lbs per
contact point
RES 206-PPT-2-2-58
Cribbing
RES 206-PPT-2-2-59
Cribbing
 Cribbing
• Is dependent on the quality of the ground
• Is used by stacking timbers in alternating rows
to build systems
– The rows should have a slight overhang to the
previous row
– The height should be no more than three times
the diameter of the base
RES 206-PPT-2-2-60
Wedges
 Wedges
• Are cut pieces of lumber that form an inclined
plane
• Are used to fill voids of varying sizes
• Are used until a full piece of lumber will fit in
the cribbing system
RES 206-PPT-2-2-61
Wedges
RES 206-PPT-2-2-62
Wedges
 Wedges
• Are used to tighten objects
• Are used to take up space between wales
and uprights
• Are used to tighten shores to uprights
RES 206-PPT-2-2-63
Time of Alarm
 What happened?
 Why was the excavation work being done?
 Is the victim completely buried?
 Is the situation a trench collapse or some
other form of injury in the trench?
 Will I have access problems?
 How is the weather?
RES 206-PPT-2-2-64
Arrival at the Scene
 Who is in charge and what happened?

 Is there a language barrier?
 Is the collapse within your scope of
operations?
 What are the injuries?
 What is the victim’s survivability profile?
RES 206-PPT-2-2-65
Arrival at the Scene
 What type of protective system is/was in

place?
 Do I have the resources to accomplish this
mission successfully?
 Do I have a solid rescue plan?
 Have I given a preincident briefing to rescue
personnel?
 Can I mitigate this rescue with a rapid non-
entry rescue technique?
RES 206-PPT-2-2-66
Assessment During the Emergency
 Evaluate constantly
 Anticipate problems
 Consider the following when looking for
buried victims
• The victim may be at the end of a pipe
string
• A flagstick may indicate trench depth
RES 206-PPT-2-2-67

buried victims (continued)
• Laser target may provide helpful information
• A competent person may know the location the
victim was last seen
• Tapping sounds may be heard when listening in
the pipes for signs of life
• Determining what the victim was doing at the time
of the incident may help determine his location
RES 206-PPT-2-2-68

buried victims (continued)
• Exposed limbs may not be in normal orientation
• A cell phone call to the victim may help in
locating him
• Listening devices may be used to help locate
the victim
RES 206-PPT-2-2-69
 Develop a rescue plan for the incident

 Hold a pre-entry briefing
• Involve all members
• Brief on safety matters
• Brief on tactics and strategies
RES 206-PPT-2-2-70
 The pre-entry briefing (continued)

• Identify all known hazards
• Explain emergency signals
• Identify the command structure
• Explain radio frequencies
• Explain tactical objectives
RES 206-PPT-2-2-71

able to describe trench rescue equipment
and trench rescue assessment.
RES 206-PPT-2-2-72
Review
 Personal Protective Equipment

 Development of a Safe Culture
 Equipment for Trench Rescue Operations
 Calculating the Weight of an Object
 Gravity
 Movement
 Mechanics
RES 206-PPT-2-2-73
Review
 Air Bags for Trench Rescue

 Cribbing
 Wedges
 Time of Alarm
 Arrival at the Scene
 Assessment During the Emergency
RES 206-PPT-2-2-74
Lesson 3-1: Hazard Control and Victim Considerations
■ Given information from discussion,

handouts, and reading materials, the
student will be able to describe hazard
control and victim considerations.
RES 206-PPT-3-1-1
Overview
■ Hazard Categories
■ Hazard Control Phases
■ Atmospheric Monitoring for Trench Rescue
■ Action Guidelines
■ Specific Monitoring Measurements
■ Standard Operating Guidelines
■ Hazard Control Using Ventilation
■ Atmospheric Monitoring Concepts
RES 206-PPT-3-1-2
Overview
■ Non-Entry Rescue and Victim Self-Rescue

■ Pre-entry Briefing
■ Gaining Access to Your Victim
■ Patient Care Considerations
■ Termination and Post-Incident
Considerations
RES 206-PPT-3-1-3
Overview
■ Ground Pads
■ Sheeting
■ Shoring
■ Isolation Tunnels, Shafts, and Engineered
Systems
■ Commercial Techniques
RES 206-PPT-3-1-4
Hazard Categories
■ Mechanical hazards
• Mechanical hazards may involve machines
or other entrapping mechanisms
• Everything must be brought to “zero
mechanical state”
– Removing the keys
– Locking out electrical devices
– Removing machines from the collapse zone
RES 206-PPT-3-1-5
Hazard Categories
■ Chemical hazards
• May have been unearthed during
digging operations
• May have been carried into the trench
by a worker
RES 206-PPT-3-1-6
Hazard Categories
RES 206-PPT-3-1-7
Hazard Categories
■ Manmade hazards
• Are usually the reason for the collapse
• Are part of the normal work that takes
place
• May be the spoil pile and equipment
location
RES 206-PPT-3-1-8
Hazard Categories
■ Electrical hazards
• Should be controlled by a professional
• Come in many forms
– Power lines
– Telephone lines
• Should be clearly marked by a utility location
service
RES 206-PPT-3-1-9
Hazard Categories
■ Water hazards (from groundwater or rain)

• Build a cover for the trench
• Divert rain
• Dewater
• Deploy an inflatable tent to cover trench
RES 206-PPT-3-1-10
Hazard Categories
■ Hazard markings
• Red
• Orange
• Yellow
• Green
• Blue
• Violet
• Pink
• White
RES 206-PPT-3-1-11
Hazard Control Phases
■ Hazard control phases

• Follow a logical order
• Address the greatest hazard first
• Address hazards that are not readily
apparent
• Use standard nomenclature
– Hazmat
• Hot
• Warm
• Cold
RES 206-PPT-3-1-12
RES 206-PPT-3-1-13
• Perform the following activities in the

general area
– Staging
– Cutting
– Logistical support
– Rehab
– Vehicle parking
RES 206-PPT-3-1-14
• Perform the following activities in the

rescue area
– Air supply
– Panel construction
– Shoring
– Safety monitoring (safety officer)
RES 206-PPT-3-1-15
Atmospheric Monitoring for

Trench Rescue
■ Atmospheric monitoring in confined spaces is

required by OSHA
■ Confined spaces have features that are similar
to the features of a trench
■ Atmospheric monitoring should be performed
by trained personnel
• Hazmat personnel
• Support function personnel
RES 206-PPT-3-1-16

Trench Rescue
■ Monitor the atmosphere to

• Detect the presence of an IDLH
atmosphere
• Gauge the ventilation of the trench
RES 206-PPT-3-1-17
Atmospheric Monitoring for Trench
Rescue
RES 206-PPT-3-1-18

Trench Rescue
■ Consider the following when monitoring:

• What is the nature of the hazard that I am
monitoring?
• Are there sources of electrical interference
around?
• What are the environmental site conditions
that you are operating in?
• Are there gases and vapors interfering with
your monitor?
RES 206-PPT-3-1-19
Action Guidelines
■ Guidelines outlined in OSHA 1910.146

• Indicate that you should take specific actions
when monitor readings reach certain levels
• Are based on preset alarms on your monitors
that will alert when a certain level, parameter,
or product is detected
RES 206-PPT-3-1-20
Action Guidelines
■ General monitoring guidelines

• Rule 1—Monitor in order
– Oxygen
– Flammability/combustibility
– Toxicity
RES 206-PPT-3-1-21
Action Guidelines
■ Rule 2—Always monitor at multiple levels in

the trench
• Mixtures of gases may accumulate at different
levels depending on their vapor density
• Different products have different vapor
densities
– Methane is lighter than air and may leave the
trench
– Carbon monoxide is about the same density as
air and will diversify with the air
– Hydrogen sulfide is heavier than air and will
settle on the bottom of the trench
RES 206-PPT-3-1-22
Action Guidelines
■ Rule 3—Know your monitor’s limitations

■ Rule 4—Understand the relationship
between flammability and toxicity
■ Rule 5—Know that a substance that comes
after you is much more dangerous than one
that expects you to come to it
■ Rule 6—Know your monitor’s operational
parameters
RES 206-PPT-3-1-23
Action Guidelines
■ Rule 7—Check batteries every shift

■ Rule 8—Zero and field calibrate your
instrument in clean air
• Oxygen level should read 20.9%
• Flammability should read 0% of LEL
• Toxicity should read 0 PPM
RES 206-PPT-3-1-24
Action Guidelines
■ Rule 9—Sample from upwind

■ Rule 10—Always assign a competent
person to perform atmospheric
monitoring
RES 206-PPT-3-1-25
Specific Monitoring Measurements
■ Oxygen
• Is measured at between 0 and 25%
• Is considered deficient at levels of 19.5% or
below and will cause an alarm
• Is considered rich at or above levels of
23.5% and will cause an alarm
• Is considered a normal concentration at
20.9%
RES 206-PPT-3-1-26
■ Flammable and combustible readings

• Combustible gas indicators (CGIs) determine the
presence of flammable vapors of hydrocarbon
products
• Monitors are calibrated for certain flammable gases
• Tests for flammability should be conducted when it is
suspected that the trench is contaminated, to detect
leaks, or when investigating any unknown material
• Any concentration at 10% of the LEL will sound an
alarm
RES 206-PPT-3-1-27
■ Toxicity
• Toxicity is measured in parts per million
• Monitors have one or two toxic sensors
• Alarm settings are set at
– 35 ppm for carbon monoxide
– 10 ppm for hydrogen sulfide
• Time-weighted averages for an OSHA 8-hour
exposure
RES 206-PPT-3-1-28
Standard Operating Guidelines
■ Monitoring should be done

• Before entry
• Every five minutes
RES 206-PPT-3-1-29
RES 206-PPT-3-1-30
■ Monitoring should follow guidelines

• Collect and record monitor readings
throughout the entry and rescue/ recovery
operation
• Capture readings on the trench rescue
tactical worksheet
• Report readings to the extrication officer or
the operations officer on a continual basis
RES 206-PPT-3-1-31
■ Monitoring (continued)
• Report any fluctuations or changes in
readings immediately
• Report any alarm levels immediately and
take action
• Never leave the monitor unattended
• Always use the hazmat team to your
advantage
RES 206-PPT-3-1-32
Hazard Control Using Ventilation
■ Ventilation
• Is the first method of choice in trench
emergencies because it is fast and easily
monitored
• Does not work in every situation
• Is only as good as the technique used
RES 206-PPT-3-1-33
Hazard Control Using Ventilation
■ Ventilation (continued)
• Will not help if there is an off-gassing
product in the trench
• Is dependent upon weather and
environmental factors
• May require multiple fans
RES 206-PPT-3-1-34
Atmospheric Monitoring Concepts
■ Atmospheric monitoring:
• Read the instruction manual for your
device
• Practice, practice, practice
• Use the most competent person for the
job
RES 206-PPT-3-1-35
Non-Entry Rescue and
Victim Self-Rescue
■ Non-entry rescue and victim self-rescue

• Are the preferred methods for trench rescue
• Reduce risk to rescue personnel
• Should be considered in every incident
• May be accomplished by
– Providing a ladder for victims to climb out on
their own
– Supplying a harness or wristlets and lifting
victims out of the trench
• May require victims to dig themselves out
RES 206-PPT-3-1-36
The Pre-Entry Briefing
■ The pre-entry briefing

• Is based on a risk-benefit analysis
• Is the time when all rescue personnel hear
the rescue plan
• Allows the IC to think out loud
• Allows rescuers to openly question the plan
RES 206-PPT-3-1-37
The Pre-Entry Briefing
■ The pre-entry briefing must contain the

basics of the rescue
• The overall goal of the operation
• Position assignments
• Protective system design
• Safety requirements
• Accountability system
• Emergency procedures
RES 206-PPT-3-1-38
Gaining Access to Your Victim
■ Gaining access to your victim

• Is based on the type of emergency
• May be difficult due to substandard
protective systems already in place
RES 206-PPT-3-1-39
■ Tons of dirt may have to be removed by

using
• Hands and buckets
• Centrifugal vacuum trucks
• Positive displacement vacuum trucks
• Hydro Vac trucks
• Rescue Vac systems
RES 206-PPT-3-1-40
• When using vacuum systems, soil reduction

will likely have to be done. Air knives are
frequently used to break the soil into smaller
particles.
RES 206-PPT-3-1-41
Rule 1 – Never use a mechanical device or

backhoe to dig up or pull out a partially buried
victim
Rule 2 – Never attempt to pull out a partially
buried victim
Rule 3 – Dig by hand when you get near or
around the victim
RES 206-PPT-3-1-42
Patient Care Considerations
■ What is the victim survivability profile?

■ Who will provide patient care?
• A firefighter
• An EMT
• A paramedic
• A physician
RES 206-PPT-3-1-43
■ Determine whether patient suffered injury

■ Start ABC assessment
■ After the primary survey has been
completed, make a secondary survey and
check for additional life-threatening injuries
RES 206-PPT-3-1-44
■ Prepare to package the patient

■ Follow local and state protocols
■ Use a backboard as a full body splint
■ Treat minor or other life-threatening
injuries after removal
RES 206-PPT-3-1-45
■ Patient care involving a collapse

• Try to determine the location of the head
• Try to uncover the head and chest first
• Remove foreign matter from the airway
• Ventilate the victim
• Check for breathing
RES 206-PPT-3-1-46
■ Patient care involving a collapse (continued)

• Protect the c-spine
• Check circulatory status
• Ask victim about injuries
• Begin an IV if certified to do so
• Apply a cardiac monitor if certified to do so
RES 206-PPT-3-1-47
■ Hypothermia (a concern even in the

summer)
• Keep patient as dry as possible
• Use isothermal blankets
• Use hot packs if necessary
• Use portable lights to add heat
RES 206-PPT-3-1-48
■ Crush syndrome
• Is a condition common to trench collapse
victims
• Involves
– The crushing of body tissues
– The restriction of circulation
– Acidosis
– Acidotic blood being dumped back into the
bloodstream
RES 206-PPT-3-1-49
• Cardiac arrest
– Defibrillation
• Ensure that the atmosphere is clear of
flammable gases
• Dry the victim’s chest
– Asystole
• Consider termination protocol
• Contact medical control
RES 206-PPT-3-1-50
• Victim packaging and removal

– Do not dislodge shoring materials
– Preplan activities
– Retrieve using a mechanical advantage
system if the victim is large or the packing
device is cumbersome
– Use wristlets attached to an elevated
platform to secure victim during digging
– Find an elevated attachment point and
remove victim vertically
RES 206-PPT-3-1-51
Termination and Post-Incident

Considerations
■ Conduct a post-incident debriefing

■ Bring in fresh crews for breakdown if possible
■ Break down equipment in reverse order
■ Take your time
■ Work from outside of the trench
■ Clean all equipment
■ Offer a critical incident stress debriefing
■ Conduct a post-incident critique
RES 206-PPT-3-1-52
Ground Pads
■ Ground pads
• Are used to distribute the weight of rescuers
and equipment around the lip of the trench
• Come in varied sizes
– 2” × 12” boards
– 4’ × 8’ pieces of plywood
RES 206-PPT-3-1-53
Ground Pads
RES 206-PPT-3-1-54
Ground Pads
■ Ground pads
• Must be correctly placed
– Start at the corner of the trench
• Stand on a ground pad
• Level the ground in front of you
– Step back and move the ground pad forward
– Repeat the process of leveling the ground
and advancing the ground pads until all are
in place
– Do not step off of the ground pad
RES 206-PPT-3-1-55
Sheeting
■ Sheeting
• Is usually a Shorform or FinnForm panel
• May have a strongback attached
• Requires an almost vertical trench wall
• May not always be necessary
• Provides a level of comfort for the rescuer
• May eliminate running debris
• May be unattached from strongback for
storage
RES 206-PPT-3-1-56
Sheeting
■ Sheeting must be properly installed

• Same-side panel installation
– Place ropes on the panel and prepare for
installation
– Place the panel at the lip of the trench and
hold the ropes as the panel is advanced into
the trench
– Use ropes to slowly lower the panel into the
trench and then to adjust the panel
RES 206-PPT-3-1-57
RES 206-PPT-3-1-58
RES 206-PPT-3-1-59
RES 206-PPT-3-1-60
Sheeting
• Opposite-side panel installation

– Place 4” × 4” runners to the opposite side
of the trench
– Flip the panel so that the strongback is
pointing down
– Advance the panel down the runners and
position in place with a pike pole or rope
RES 206-PPT-3-1-61
RES 206-PPT-3-1-62
Sheeting
RES 206-PPT-3-1-63
Sheeting
■ Sheeting
• Must be placed at the victim first
• Must extend one panel to either side of
the victim
RES 206-PPT-3-1-64
Shoring
■ Shoring
• Is the component of the system that
transfers forces across the trench, through
the strongback, and into the opposite
trench wall
• Completes the protective system
• Provides a safe area in which to work
RES 206-PPT-3-1-65
RES 206-PPT-3-1-66
Shoring
■ Pneumatic shores—installation
• Connect the air system to the shore
• Lower the shore using ropes at each end
• Position the shore
• Give the signal to shoot and hold
• Shoot and lock the shore
• Toe nail the shore to the strongback
– Air pressure is released and the hose
disconnected
RES 206-PPT-3-1-67
Shoring
■ Pneumatic shore placement

• Follow manufacturer’s recommendations
• Follow department SOGs
RES 206-PPT-3-1-68
Shoring
• Number of shores: Shoot three shores

for trenches 6 feet deep or more,
regardless of soil type
RES 206-PPT-3-1-69
Shoring
• Spacing of pneumatic shores

– 18” to 24” from the trench lip
– 18” to 24” from the trench bottom
– Not more than 4’ apart
RES 206-PPT-3-1-70
Shoring
RES 206-PPT-3-1-71
Shoring
■ Timber shores
• Measure, cut, and scab after placement
• Install
– Top shore first
– Middle shore next
– Bottom shore last
• Nail scabs above and below
• Tighten with wedges
RES 206-PPT-3-1-72
Shoring
RES 206-PPT-3-1-73
Shoring
■ Wales
• Are horizontal members that are used to
span openings along trench walls
• May be located inside or outside of the
strongback and panel system
• May be made of timber, metal, or ladders
RES 206-PPT-3-1-74
Shoring
• Inside wales
– Use in a “T” trench
– Lower inside the panel
– Place up against the strongback
– Shoot the shores
RES 206-PPT-3-1-75
RES 206-PPT-3-1-76
Shoring
• Outside wales
– Place against the trench wall before
placement of panels
– Use to span openings created by a slough
of the trench wall
– Backfill after installation of the wales and
panels but before the shores are shot
RES 206-PPT-3-1-77
RES 206-PPT-3-1-78
Shoring
■ Supplemental sheeting and shoring

• Is necessary to fill voids
• Is additional shoring
RES 206-PPT-3-1-79
Shoring
RES 206-PPT-3-1-80
Isolation Tunnels, Shafts, and
Engineered Systems
■ Isolation vessels
• Are cylinder objects
• Are placed over the victim
• Are strongest vertically
• Are weakest horizontally
• Allow the victim to be dug out
• May take time to place
• May be the victim’s only chance
RES 206-PPT-3-1-81
RES 206-PPT-3-1-82
Isolation Tunnels, Shafts, and

Engineered Systems
■ Engineered systems—designed by
engineers to address the worst type of soil
• Each 4’ × 8’ piece of sheeting has three
strongbacks
• Strongbacks are toe nailed to sheeting and
held in place using 6 × 6-inch wales
• Shoring is shot where the wale crosses the
center of each strongback
– The system uses many contact points
RES 206-PPT-3-1-83
Commercial Techniques
■ Consider using commercial techniques and

professional help if
• The trench is deeper than 15’
• There has been a massive cave-in
• Workers are trapped in running debris
• Environmental conditions prohibit the rescue
effort
RES 206-PPT-3-1-84
■ Commercial techniques are based on

certain factors
• Adjacent structures
• Existing hazards
• Soil type
• Water profile and hydraulic table
• Depth and width of the trench
RES 206-PPT-3-1-85
■ Commercial techniques may be

described as
• Sloping
• Trench box
• Rabbit box
• Soldier pile and lag shoring
• Sheet piling shoring
• Modular shoring
RES 206-PPT-3-1-86
■ Commercial techniques—sloping and

benching systems
• Sloping
– Decreases the angle of a wall to prevent
collapse
– Helps to prevent active soil movement
– Creates a safe opening
– Should be at least 1.5’ horizontal to 1’ vertical
RES 206-PPT-3-1-87
RES 206-PPT-3-1-88
• Benching
– Is similar to cutting steps
– Must follow parameters
RES 206-PPT-3-1-89
RES 206-PPT-3-1-90
■ Support, shield, and other systems

• A trench box or shield
– Is designed to be moved along the trench
with an excavator
– Allows walls to be cut at steeper angles
– Requires less backfill
– Is difficult to use around existing utilities
RES 206-PPT-3-1-91
RES 206-PPT-3-1-92
• Soldier pile and sheet pile (fixed shoring

systems)
– Sheet piles can be cantilevered, braced, or
tied back to provide ground support
– Piles can be pushed into the ground using
uprights made of steel plates or timber
– Piling is installed by
• Pushing it in with a backhoe
• Drilling a hole to fit the pile
• Using an impact, vibrating, or hydraulic
hammer
RES 206-PPT-3-1-93
RES 206-PPT-3-1-94
■ Modular aluminum or steel shoring

• May come in fixed sizes
• May be adjustable
• May come in various shapes and
configurations
RES 206-PPT-3-1-95
RES 206-PPT-3-1-96
■ Given information from discussion, handouts,

to describe hazard control and victim
considerations.
RES 206-PPT-3-1-97
Overview
■ Hazard Categories
■ Hazard Control Phases
■ Atmospheric Monitoring for Trench Rescue
■ Action Guidelines
■ Specific Monitoring Measurements
■ Standard Operating Guidelines
■ Hazard Control Using Ventilation
■ Atmospheric Monitoring Concepts
RES 206-PPT-3-1-98
Overview
■ Non-Entry Rescue and Victim Self-Rescue

■ Pre-entry Briefing
■ Gaining Access to Your Victim
■ Patient Care Considerations
■ Termination and Post-Incident
Considerations
RES 206-PPT-3-1-99
Overview
■ Ground Pads
■ Sheeting
■ Shoring
■ Isolation Tunnels, Shafts, and Engineered
Systems
■ Commercial Techniques
RES 206-PPT-3-1-100
Lesson 3-2: Protective Systems and Techniques

handouts, and reading materials, the student
will be able to describe protective systems
and techniques.
RES 206-PPT-3-2-1
Overview
■ Generic Steps for all Trench Types

■ Straight-Wall Trenches
■ Timber Shores
■ Pneumatic Shores
■ Outside Wales
RES 206-PPT-3-2-2
Overview
■ Inside Wales
■ The T-Trench
■ The L-Trench
■ The Deep Wall Trench
RES 206-PPT-3-2-3
Generic Steps for all Trench Types
■ Establish an Incident Command System

■ Provide hazard control
■ Begin air monitoring operations
■ Provide ventilation
■ Install ground pads
RES 206-PPT-3-2-4
Generic Steps for all Trench Types
■ Provide ladder access

■ Provide a pre-operational briefing
■ Begin documentation
■ Provide a post-incident critique
RES 206-PPT-3-2-5
Straight-Wall Trenches
■ Straight-wall trenches require a minimum of

three sets of panels
• One set protecting the victim
• A set on each side of the initial set
RES 206-PPT-3-2-6
RES 206-PPT-3-2-7
■ Procedure
• Using either the same side or opposite
side panel set, place first set of panels
directly over the victim
• Create a safe zone around the victim
RES 206-PPT-3-2-8
Timber Shores
■ Timber shores
• Are a minimum or 4” × 6” lumber
• Are set from the top down
RES 206-PPT-3-2-9
Timber Shores
RES 206-PPT-3-2-10
Timber Shores
■ Procedure
• Work from a ladder
• Never be more than waist deep
• Cut shores ½” longer than necessary
• Prenail the bottom scabs
• Apply 2” × 4” rails to the strongback
RES 206-PPT-3-2-11
RES 206-PPT-3-2-12
Timber Shores
■ Procedure (continued)
• Install the top shore at between 12” and 18”
of the top lip
• Add middle shore
• Add bottom shore
• Begin digging operation in protected area
RES 206-PPT-3-2-13
RES 206-PPT-3-2-14
Timber Shores
• Add next set of panels
– Middle shore
– Bottom shore
– Top shore
• Ensure all shores are tight
• Ensure all shores are wedged and scabbed
RES 206-PPT-3-2-15
Timber Shores
RES 206-PPT-3-2-16
RES 206-PPT-3-2-17
Pneumatic Shores
■ Pneumatic shores
• May be installed from outside of the trench
– Should be lowered into place
– Should be activated remotely
RES 206-PPT-3-2-18
Pneumatic Shores
RES 206-PPT-3-2-19
Pneumatic Shores
■ Follow manufacturer’s guidelines and

SOGs
• Work may begin after first protected area is
in place
■ Begin the rescue effort or work from within
the safe area of the first set of panels to
set the outside panels
RES 206-PPT-3-2-20
RES 206-PPT-3-2-21
Outside Wales
■ Outside wales
• Use on a single-wall slough
• Use the following procedure
– Place pickets to hold wales
– Lower and tie off wales
– Apply panels to protect the victim
– Fill voids
– Set panels
– Fill existing voids
RES 206-PPT-3-2-22
Outside wales are used in systems where a single-wall slough has occurred
Outside Wales
RES 206-PPT-3-2-23
Inside Wales
■ Inside wales
• Are used to span a set of panels
• Are used to make room for digging and
equipment
• Are the preferred technique in recoveries
requiring a lot of digging
RES 206-PPT-3-2-24
Inside Wales
RES 206-PPT-3-2-25
Inside Wales
■ Procedure
• Secure wales to ropes and place in the bottom of the
trench
• Set all three sets of panels
• Tack a board to the strongbacks to hold them together
• Install middle shores on the outside panels
• Lift and place the bottom wales
• Install shores on the bottom wales
• Place the top wales and secure with shores
• Continue rescue or recovery operations
RES 206-PPT-3-2-26
The T-Trench
■ The T-Trench
• Is a very unstable trench
• Requires
– The quick capture of the corners
– The use of inside wales
– A minimum of seven panels
RES 206-PPT-3-2-27
The T-Trench
RES 206-PPT-3-2-28
The T-Trench
■ Procedure
• Set two panels at the top of the T’s leg
• Attach ropes to the bottom wale and place in
the bottom of the trench
• Place the remaining five panels
• Shoot the middle shores on the top of the T
with full pressure
RES 206-PPT-3-2-29
The T-Trench
• Raise and hold the bottom wale into position

and install shores
• Lower and shore the top wale
• Reshoot the original three shores and check
all shores to ensure that they are solid
RES 206-PPT-3-2-30
RES 206-PPT-3-2-31
RES 206-PPT-3-2-32
RES 206-PPT-3-2-33
RES 206-PPT-3-2-34
RES 206-PPT-3-2-35
RES 206-PPT-3-2-36
RES 206-PPT-3-2-37
The L-Trench
■ The L-Trench
• Is two trenches that intersect at the
ends and form a right angle
• Creates a difficult rescue scenario
RES 206-PPT-3-2-38
The L-Trench
■ Procedure
• Place wales in the bottom of the trench
secured to ropes
• Set the first panels at the inside L corners
and hold in place with pickets and shoot
with 50 to 75 lbs
• Use a thrust block in the outside corner for
shooting shores
• Toe nail thrust blocks to strongbacks
RES 206-PPT-3-2-39
The L-Trench
• Install kick plates on the outside panels

• Install outside panels
• Position and tie off the bottom wale
• Use a corner block in the outside corner at
the wales
• Secure the corner block in place
• Complete the trench
RES 206-PPT-3-2-40
RES 206-PPT-3-2-41
The L-Trench
RES 206-PPT-3-2-42
RES 206-PPT-3-2-43
RES 206-PPT-3-2-44
RES 206-PPT-3-2-45
RES 206-PPT-3-2-46
RES 206-PPT-3-2-47
RES 206-PPT-3-2-48
RES 206-PPT-3-2-49
RES 206-PPT-3-2-50
The Deep Wall Trench

• Is deeper than 10’ but not deeper than 15’
• Is a much more complex trench
• Is capable of creating forces greater than
rescue equipment can withstand
• May require commercial techniques
RES 206-PPT-3-2-51
■ Procedure
• Set ground pads while wearing fall
protection
• Set pickets to hold panels and wales in
place
• Set panels in place
RES 206-PPT-3-2-52
• Hold panels with ropes and pickets
• Set shores in the top horizontal plates to
secure them
• Install shores on wales and strongbacks
working from the top to the bottom of the
trench
• Complete the trench
RES 206-PPT-3-2-53
RES 206-PPT-3-2-54
RES 206-PPT-3-2-55
RES 206-PPT-3-2-56
RES 206-PPT-3-2-57
RES 206-PPT-3-2-58
RES 206-PPT-3-2-59
RES 206-PPT-3-2-60
■ In trenches deeper than 15’

• Call an excavation contractor
• Consult a registered engineer
• Consider benching or sloping
RES 206-PPT-3-2-61

handouts, and reading materials, the student
will be able to describe protective systems
and techniques.
RES 206-PPT-3-2-62
Review
■ Generic Steps for all Trench Types

■ Straight-Wall Trenches
■ Timber Shores
■ Pneumatic Shores
■ Outside Wales
■ Inside Wales
■ The T-Trench
■ The L-Trench
RES 206-PPT-3-2-63
Lesson 4-2: Incident Action Plan

to describe the trench rescue incident action
plan.
RES 206-PPT-4-2-1
Overview
■ Incident Action Plan

■ Command Structure
■ Knowing Your Group
■ Site-Specific Safety Concerns
■ Communications
RES 206-PPT-4-2-2
Overview
■ Personal Protective Equipment

■ Real Emergency
■ Debriefing
RES 206-PPT-4-2-3
Incident Action Plan
■ OSHA Incident Action Plan

■ AHJ Incident Action Plan
RES 206-PPT-4-2-4
Command Structure
■ IC—primary instructor
■ Operations—secondary instructor
■ Safety officer—tertiary instructor
■ All other positions as assigned by the IC
RES 206-PPT-4-2-5
Knowing Your Group
■ Divide into three equally sized groups

■ Remember your group number
Groups may be reassigned later if necessary
RES 206-PPT-4-2-6
Site Specific Safety Concerns
■ Known hazards
■ Common hazards
■ Freelancing
■ Horseplay
■ Hydration policy
RES 206-PPT-4-2-7
Communications
■ Advising the 911 center of training in a live

trench
■ Radio communications
■ Specialized communications
■ Using “FOR REAL” in the event of a real
emergency
RES 206-PPT-4-2-8
■ Helmet
■ Eye protection
■ Ear protection
■ Long sleeves
■ Gloves
■ Pants/jumpsuit
RES 206-PPT-4-2-9
■ Knee pads
■ Foot protection
■ Jacket/sweatshirt
■ Water bottle
■ Other
RES 206-PPT-4-2-10
Real Emergency
■ Medical/injury not in the trench will be handled

by standby crew
RES 206-PPT-4-2-11
Real Emergency
■ Trench collapse/incident requiring rescue

• IC will conduct a scene size-up
• IC will notify 911 communications of an
incident “FOR REAL”
• IC will manage the incident
• Students will follow directives of IC
RES 206-PPT-4-2-12
Debriefing
■ Concluding thoughts
■ Questions
RES 206-PPT-4-2-13

to describe the trench rescue incident action
plan.
RES 206-PPT-4-2-14
Review
■ Incident Action Plan

■ Command Structure
■ Knowing Your Group
■ Site-Specific Safety Concerns
■ Communications
RES 206-PPT-4-2-15
Review
■ Personal Protective Equipment

■ Real Emergency
■ Debriefing
RES 206-PPT-4-2-16

Rescue Technician - Trench Rescue Operations: Note Taking Guide

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Rescue Technician - Trench Rescue Operations: Note Taking Guide

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Note Taking Guide

Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute

The Institute plans, researches, develops, and

Student Performance Objective

 Given information from discussion, handouts,

 Technical Rescue Disciplines

 The Risk-Benefit Analysis

 OSHA Subpart P—Excavations, 29 C.F.R. §

 The Trench Incident Management System

 Technical Rescue Disciplines

The Big Three

 Special people are

The Big Three

 Special training must be

The Specialized Training Cycle

 Continuous recruitment, skill development, and equipment

 Awareness responders are

 Technician responders have

Additional Requirements for

Additional Requirements for

Additional Requirements for

The Risk-Benefit Analysis

 Is this a rescue or a recovery?

Types of Service Levels

 The self-sufficient team

Types of Service Levels

 The community-dependent team utilizes

 The regional approach team

 The team members must be:

 The team must have:

Getting Your Equipment to the Scene

OSHA Subpart P—Excavations,

The General Requirements of

The General Requirements of

The General Requirements of

OSHA and Trench Rescue

 OSHA requires compliance under certain

OSHA and Trench Rescue

 OSHA’s view of trench rescue operations

 Emergencies due to noncompliance

Trench Collapse Emergencies

Trench Collapse Emergencies

 Equipment failure and load management

Trench Collapse Emergencies

The Trench Incident Management System

 The trench incident management system

Levels of the Incident Management

Levels of the Incident Management

Levels of the Incident Management

Levels of the Incident Management

Levels of the Incident Management

Levels of the Incident Management

Levels of the Incident Management

Levels of the Incident Management

Levels of the Incident Management

Levels of the Incident Management

Logistics Support Functions

Student Performance Objective

 Given information from discussion, handouts,

 Technical Rescue Disciplines

 The FAILURE Acronym

 OSHA and Trench Rescue

Student Performance Objective