Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Newberry Township Trench Rescue
While any call can be “Monday Morning Quarterbacked” it is the few and often widely varied special operations calls that tax the departments, their personnel and resources the most due to their complexity and infrequency. There are several key points to this call that we would like to look into; if for no other reason than safety and training aspects. Interviews of several initial responders proved fruitful in details of each ones aspect. While attempting to describe the incident as it progressed I will also try to interject accepted protocols for such a rescue. The variation between the actions of those on scene and these guidelines are not an indemnification, but a foothold for thought to be discussed in your own departments for future handling of technical rescue incidents.
Tuesday December 14th @ 16:06hrs a special rescue was put out on Old Trail Rd in Newberry Township’s 31-06 box. While operating in an estimated 15’-25’ deep by 60’ unguarded trench descending down a bank for installation of a storm water drain there was a catastrophic failure of the earthen walls. Trapped were two local men, one man completely and one up to his chest. Crews from York, Cumberland, and Dauphin Counties were on scene totaling over 100 emergency services personnel; including fire, EMS and Advanced Technical Rescue Teams fighting the already bitter cold accompanied by cutting winds.
Trench rescue operations present a significant danger to fire personnel and may involve complex requirements for shoring, hand tools, earth-moving equipment and other specialized resources. The safe and effective management of these operations requires special considerations. Therefore, it highly recommended to NOT allow the entry of any personnel into an unsafe trench or excavation. There are critical issues that need to be recognized and addressed when managing these incidents.
For the purpose of emergency response, an excavation shall be defined by any depression, hole, trench or earth wall, man-made or natural, of four feet or greater. Cave-ins and collapses generally occur because of unstable soil conditions combined with improper or inadequate shoring. The potential for additional collapse must always be considered as a primary hazard and personnel must be aware that any action may disrupt the temporary stability and cause an additional collapse. The temporary stability, at any point in an operation, may be disturbed by removing soil or debris, by adding weight near the edge of an open cut, by vibration (such as vehicle movement), rain, or simply by the passage of time.
This particular incident was the result of a workplace incident that occurred. Conditions deteriorated in the blink of an eye causing this and were not any more stable upon arrival of police, fire or EMS.
As with any call size up starts at initial dispatch. The trench rescue incident is no different and given that information alone it is best to request resources that have equipment, manpower and experience in these situations. Tasks for initial fire personnel arriving on scene, initiating command, and performing a scene size up should start to paint the picture for next arriving units. Scene safety and responder safety is paramount to what has already happened.
The first arriving crew arrived on location to find a police officer already committed to the trench where victim #1 was requesting help and victim #2 was almost totally submerged in the slough of the trench walls. PD was attempting to remove soil bare handed to provided room around victim #1’s chest. Two members of the first arriving engine company joined the officer, followed at some point by two members of an EMS company. Even while trying to remove soil from victim #1 those in the trench experienced smaller cave-ins with more soil coming in as they removed it that was indicative of what could’ve happened.
First arriving company officer should take Command and begin an immediate size-up of the situation. The first-in company should spot the apparatus at least 150 feet from the location of the trench failure. Command should dictate Level 1 staging at least 150 feet from the scene.
The Primary Assessment
1. Command should determine exactly what has happened.
2. Assess the potential hazards to the rescuers.
3. Secure an RP (responsible party), job foreman, or witness to the accident.
4. An immediate assessment of the victim's injuries should be determined.
5. Determine how many victims are affected by the accident.
6. If no witness is present, Command may have to look for clues on the scene as to what has happened.
7. If there are victims, Command should determine how long the victim has been buried and if they are still viable
8. An early decision must be made as to whether this operation will be run in the rescue or recovery mode.
In this case the first portion the operation was run as a rescue and the latter as a recovery.
The Secondary Assessment
1. Assess on-scene capabilities
2. Assess the need for additional resource
3. Assign a Safety Officer
4. Establish Work Group
Both the primary assessment and ensuing secondary assessments are completed in a very short amount of time, maybe even under a minute by a well practiced commander.
Roughly 25 minutes into the Incident Command and ATR 1 ordered those in the trench out. At this point IC turned over rescue/operations and ATR 1 was group leader
Now, we all understand that jurisdictions are responsible for incidents in their area, however, when the situation becomes more that your resources and training allow it is pertinent to turn operations to those who possess those assets. Incident command, more to the point a unified command, should be expanded from initial considerations. As equipment rolls in and the scope of time is clearly pointing to an extended operation the command functions should be assigned. The Rescue /Operations should be given to the ATR teams and the assigned leader of those on sight to provide the technical lead for these rescues, with other personnel used in an equally as valuable support roles. The EMS group should not only provide care for victim(s) but aid in establishing a rehab area in prolonged operations and severe weather. Staging of all non-essential apparatus should be away from a route of travel, and man power to an area of safety and rehabilitation. Logistics/Resources for earth moving equipment, vac truck, and incidentals such as heating, lighting and shelter should be initiated.
Pre-entry considerations include making the general area safe, controlling traffic and crowds, and making the rescue area safe.
1. Make the general area safe. Create a hot, warm, and cold zone.
- Hot zone extends 0-50 feet
- Warm zone extends from 50-150 feet
- Cold zone extends from 150-300 feet
2. Control traffic movement by shutting down the roadway and re-routing all
nonessential traffic at least 300 feet around the scene.
3. Control the crowd. Remove all non-essential civilian personnel to at least 150
feet from the incident. Remove all non-essential rescue personnel at least
50 feet from the incident.
4. Shut down all heavy equipment operating within 300 feet of the collapse.
5. Make the rescue area safe by controlling all hazards in the area (i.e.- utilities,
electric, gas, water).
- De-water the trench if necessary
- Monitor the atmosphere in the trench
- Ventilate the trench if necessary
- Identify soil type and condition
6. Consider ambient conditions. Extreme heat or cold will require more rescuers.
7. Consider the affect on family and friends. Keep the family informed of
operations.
8. Assign a Public Information Officer to handle the news media.
9. Command should consider calling on OSHA representative to the scene if there
has been a serious injury or death.
Again a lot of set-up and work to be accomplished in a rapid amount of time.
At this point in the call is when things seem to slow as far as the actual rescue goes, but the work being done in preparation is at full speed. The operations at this point now become lengthy. As shoring was made ready it was strategically placed. Once all shoring was in place and the trench secure for rescue teams were sent in to start digging out victim #1. This task was long and drawn out as digging was done by pneumatic tools, hand tools and shop vac one 5 gallon bucket load at a time. Though an arduous process this is a necessary one due to possible outright injury to the victim and the hazard of compartment syndrome. Several times there were soil spills back into the work area delaying the already long efforts. Roughly five and a half hours into the incident Victim #1 was freed around 21:30hrs where he was airlifted to Hershey Medical where he is still listed in serious condition. The rescue portion ended here.
The entry of the trench and ensuing operations involved the task of removing the victim and all associated activities to assist in removing the victim. Some associated activities include: making the trench lip safe, making the trench safe, victim removal, and victim treatment. The following procedures should be followed when performing phase three of a trench rescue.
1. Make the trench lip safe.
- Approach the trench from the ends if possible
- Look for unidentified hazards (i.e., fissures, unstable spoil pile)
- Assess spoil pile for improper angle of repose and general raveling
- Remove any tripping hazards (i.e., shovels, shores, tree roots).
- Provide level area for ground pads
2. Make the trench safe. Rescue Group will be responsible for entry
operations.
Rescue Group shall ensure that all personnel operating in the hot zone are wearing steel-toed boots, helmet, eye protection, and gloves.
- Place ingress and egress ladders in trench. There should be at least 2 ladders placed in the trench no more than 50 feet apart.
- Decide on shoring system to be used (i.e., hydraulic shore, pneumatic shore, timber shore).
- Create a safe zone in the uncollapsed portion of the trench (possibly from both ends). This shall be accomplished using an approved shoring system, i.e., pneumatic, hydraulic, timber.
- Remove the dirt from the collapsed zone. Rescuer shall remain in the safe zone while removing the dirt from the collapsed zone.
- Secure all unsecured utilities, pipe, or any other obstruction in the trench.
3. Victim removal/accidents without cave-in
- Create a safe zone around the victim
- Remove objects trapping the victim (i.e., pipes, lumber, and machinery)
- Assess victim's condition
- Proper patient packaging
- Remove victim from the trench (vertical haul, horizontal haul)
4. Victim removal/accidents with cave-in
- Create a safe zone
- Begin dirt removal, operating from a safe zone (buckets, small shovels, by hand)
- Continue extending safe zone into collapse zone
- Continue dirt removal
- Uncover victim to below the diaphragm
- Begin patient assessment if possible (ABC's)
- Begin ventilation if possible
- Completely uncover the victim
- Proper patient packaging
- Remove the victim from the trench (vertical haul, horizontal haul)
5. Victim treatment
- Follow local protocol
The second and longer portion was the recovery of victim #2 which stretched in to the morning of the next day. Due to the condition of victim #2 the need for swiftness was removed and more safeguards and measures were performed to ensure the safety of those recovering. Victim #2, confirmed to have expired on scene, was recovered on the morning of December 15th around 06:30hrs.
Termination of the trench rescue is the preparation for and termination of the incident. The following procedures should be followed when performing phase four of a trench rescue.
1. Maintain personnel accountability
2. Remove tools and equipment from trench. If there has been a fatality,
Rescue Group may consider leaving tools and equipment in place for
investigative purposes.
3. Remove trench shoring system (last-in/first-out)
4. Re-stock vehicles
5. Consider debriefing
6. Secure the scene. This may include leaving the shoring system in place or
covering the trench.
7. Return to service.
Awareness for any ATR should be a staple in your departments training regimen. The ability to not only recognize the incident as such or having the potential to evolve into such is paramount. The willingness to yield a portion of your control is not only the correct move but shows the true depth of your knowledge. The assistance you provide as support staff to the ATR teams can prove to be invaluable.
We are emergency responders; however, they are not our emergencies. Know your protocols/SOPs and your anticipated responses to most incident. Rely on your training to respond and act accordingly in all situations and fall back on sound judgment when all else fails.
ALL CREWS DID AN EXCELLENT JOB AND ONE MAN CAN NOW SEE HIS FAMILY AGAIN DUE TO THESE PROFESSIONAL MEN AND WOMAN!
UNITS ON SCENE ARE AS FOLLOWS:
York Units:
R61
E61
E91
E19
E281
E41
E67
E682
R9
R26
R31
R36
R46
R68
R69
U9
U36
Collapse 36
A232
A312
A681
MICU31
MICU69
Mobile Communications Unit 91
York County Coroner
Stat Medivac 13
Life Lion
Dauphin Units:
Air 35
Rescue 1
Cumberland Units:
E21
Team 500 (Technical Rescue Team) consisting of:
R20
R27
R28
R30
R45
Cave In 45
U20
U28
U145
West Shore EMS Special Operations
Franklin County:
Squad 15
PHOTOS BY STAFF CORRESPONDENT DAN ROTHERMEL
STORY BY STAFF CORRESPONDENT JEFF SEVERANCE
