Captain Stephen M. Hardesty

Howard County

Department Of Fire & Rescue Services Special Operations

Introduction

Trench and Excavation Safety

Laws, Regulations and Standards

Handling Trench Emergencies

Question / Answer Review

Equipment Display

We are a combination system of nearly nine-hundred career and volunteer providers operating from twelve stations across the County.

The Department is statutorily responsible for the administration of the affairs for the County in fire suppression and prevention, fire training, arson investigation , rescue services and emergency medical services.

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The mission of our Special Operations team is to organize, train, educate, staff, equip, fund, administer, mobilize and sustain a highly

trained and motivated force to successfully handle all operations, across the range of high

risk low frequency events , in support of incident commanders,

and

other agencies as directed.

Over 100 members, Firefighter/EMT’s – Deputy Chief’s

Primary team and two satellite company’s

Technicians and Specialist Hazmat

Transportation Fixed Facility Terrorism and WMD

Technical Rescue Swift Water/Flood , Ice Building and Trench Collapse Technical Rope Rescue and Access Confined Space Machinery Rescue

Lost Person Search Mass Casualty Support Training, Training, Training

Excavations remain a national special

emphasis for OSHA

Because of the continuing incidence of

trench/excavation collapses and

accompanying loss of life, the agency has

determined that an increased enforcement

presence is warranted.

Almost 75% of deaths annually in trench

accidents are caused by cave-ins.

Over 45% worked for companies employing

less than 10 people.

60% are would be rescuers Civilians

Fire dept personnel

Co-workers

Cave-ins can happen without warning

All of the fatalities and

injuries could have been prevented

24 inches of soil on a person’s chest weighs

750-1000 lb.

18 inches of soil covering a body weighs

1800-3000 lb.

Shear wall collapse speed

45 mph

1 cubic foot of soil can weigh from

100 to 125 lb

1. Cave – ins

2. Overhead Electric Line Contact

3. Falls into Excavations

4. Equipment Falling into Excavations

5. Explosion / Fire / Electrocution

“I Know what I’m doing.”

“It can’t happen to me.”

“I’ve been doing it that way for years.”

“I’d sleep in that hole!”

“Don’t worry, we’ll watch the walls and tell you if you need to get out.”

Poor Planning

Misjudgment of soil type.

Inadequate, or incorrect installation of protective devices.

Defective protective devices.

Failure to adjust for changing conditions

OSHA [29 CFR 1926.650 - 652] Excavation standard applies to all open excavations

made in the earth’s surfaces including trenches, all surface encumbrances that would create a hazard, and protective systems

Scope, application and definitions

Job Site Hazard Listing

Requirements for Protective Systems

Appendixes that detail:

Soil Classification

Sloping and Benching

Timber and Aluminum Hydraulic Shoring

Protective System Selection Decision Tree

What's the Emergency

Collapse

Medical Emergency

How many people are in the trench ? Can you see them ?

Are they talking ?

Are there Hazardous materials involved ?

What to expect when calling 911:

Stop all work on the site. NO VIBRATION

Remove everyone from the hole.

Stay away from the lip

Ladder / Shovel for self rescue.

What to do before the fire department arrives:

We want to meet the competent person.

Nobody In an Unsecured Trench !

We make the trench safe for Us…

Hazard Mitigation

Shoring and Stabilization

Ventilation

What to expect when The Fire Department Arrives :

Digging operations at a Trench Collapse usually take one hour per foot of dirt to remove !

Incident Commander Special Operations

Team Leader Safety Technical Info

Mutual Aid/Other Assistance Mutual Aid Highways / Utilities BG&E MOSHA HoCo Police Spray and Pray

What to expect when the Fire Department arrives:

Introduction Trench Excavation Safety

Laws, Regulations and Standards

Tragic Facts Soil Facts Top 5 Hazards Unsafe Attitudes Most common causes of cave-ins

Emergency Response Review What to do before the Fire Department

arrives What to expect after the Fire Department

arrives

Questions / Answers