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Practical Operational

Considerations

Jez Hunter MIOSH IRATA L3

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Fire-fighters at Height

• Roof top fire-fighting• Large vehicle extrication• Suicide intervention• Crag, cliff, crane and building rescue• HP/ALP operation• Animal rescue• Non-operational tasks – engineering

tasks

3

Sources of Training Best Practice

• Industry best practice – IRATA– PASMA– Aboriculture Association

• British Standards– BS7985:2002 – Code of practice for the use of rope access

methods for industrial purposes– BS 8437:2005 Code of practice for selection, use and

maintenance of personal fall protection systems and equipment for use in the workplace

• Fire Service Manual Volume 4 – Guidance, compliance and Training Framework for Rope Working

• Fire Service Manual Volume 2 – Rope working• CFOA WAHR 2005 Guidance for the Fire and Rescue

Service

4

Competence

• Combination of practical and theoretical knowledge, experience, skill and judgement

• Test of competence…– Able to assess the risks effectively– Able to devise and implement a safe

system of work– Able to identify and stop dangerous

situations

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Safety at Height

Training

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Different Ways to Skin a Cat!

• CCFB First Response – All personnel trained in working at height– All personnel trained to effect simple team

lift and lower 2 person rescues– 2 x Wholetime Specialist Rescue Team

capable of heavy animal extrication, confined space and advanced rescue

– Training delivered by 8 (6 wholetime) SRT instructors and audited annually by RIG Systems

7

Different Ways to Skin a Cat!• DFRS call safety at height: SHACS• Training divided into 2 Levels • All personnel trained to Level 1• Only IRMP identified Stations trained

to Level 2• Clear link to 2 Specialist Rope Rescue

Teams• SHACS training delivered by 15 SHACS

instructors (3 of these SRT Instructors)

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SHACS PACK

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DFRS SHACS Level 1• Level 1 NORMAL capability:

– Provide security at height (Restraint and Fall Arrest) only if a rescue can be mounted from the ground

– Secure casualty until SRT or Level 2 Team arrive

– Provide a simple rescue in conjunction with a 135 Ladder (replacing lowering using line underfoot drill)??

• Level 1 Packs EXCEPTIONAL capability:– Lower a suspended rescuer to the ground

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First Response Level 2

• Level 2 capability carried on IRMP identified stations

• Level 2 Packs NORMAL capability:– Facilitate rescuer access into and egress from

Confined Spaces– Lower a rescuer to a stricken casualty to render

first aid and stabilise until SRT arrival

• Level 2 packs EXCEPTIONAL capability– Undertake a lower rescue with Attendant and

casualty

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Strategic Synergy

1. L Locate Level 1

2. A Access Simple – Level 1

Complex – Level 2

3. S Stabilise Simple – Level 2

Complex – SRT

4. T Transport SRT

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Specialist Rescue Teams

• Levels of competence– Technician – 4 days training– Supervisor – 5 days further training– Instructor – 5 days further training

• SRTs augmented capability– Move 2 person loads– Mount an individual-based rescue– Advanced casualty packaging

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Reg 6 – Hierarchy of Controls• Avoid

– Hose mounted ALP– Removing access to jumpers

• Prevent using suitable and sufficient measures– Use an existing place – difficult when responding to

spontaneous events – Use an existing means of access – this could have been

structurally undermined– Select collective prevention measures over personal

measures eg. guard rails in ALP as opposed to restraint lanyards

• Minimise– Minimise distance and consequences - Nets / Fall arrest

with anchor point high – Minimise consequence - Soft Landing Systems / Fall Arrest

with anchor point low / ALJs– Provide information, training or other measures to minimise

effects of a fall

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Individual Fall Prevention and Protection Systems

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Work Restraint

“A specific form of personal fall prevention system by which a person is prevented from reaching zones where a risk of a fall exists"

                                                                                    

                

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Limitations of Restraint

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Work positioning“A personal fall protection system that enables a user to work while supported in tension or suspension in such a way that a fall is prevented or restricted"

Max fall less than 0.5m

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Roped Access

• A personal fall protection system that specifically uses two “static” separately secured sub-systems – one as a means of support and the other as a safety back up. This is used to get to and from the place of work and to undertake work positioning

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Fall Arrest“A personal fall protection system by which a fall is arrested to prevent the

collision of the user with the ground or structure"

Max fall less than 4m and 6kN

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More flexible than restraint but the flight path must be clear and

the rescue is problematic?

Life-lining

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Working Safely on Roofs• Avoid – do not fight fire from roof• Prevent

– Use ALP– Access using 135/105 ladder with restraint strap and

top tie off– Secure roof ladder using tethers– Rig an anchor line if rapid manoeuvrability is required– Ensure fragile roofs are identified and avoided if

possible

• Mitigate– Fall arrest / ALJs

• Information, instruction and training

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PPE and Lifting Equipment Competent Persons

• PPE custodians must be competent to thoroughly examine equipment according to an inspection schedule.

• They should be aware of:– Legislative requirements – How and why equipment fails– How to systematically examine equipment– How to quarantine, maintain, repair and

dispose– How to record findings (Schedule 7 WAHR

and Reg 10 LOLER)

Ind

ividu

al R

escue

Integrating Rescue Capabilities

Swiftwater Flood Rescue Operator

Swiftwater Flood Rescue Safety

Officer

Swiftwater Flood Rescue

Awareness

Swiftwater Flood Rescue

Technician

Swiftwater Flood Rescue Instructor

Swiftwater Flood Rescue ERB

Competent Crew

Moving Water 3D Rescue

PPE / Lifting Equip Competent

Person

First Response Operator

First Response Awareness

Height Safety Officer

First Response Technician

First Response Instructor

Confined Space Training (USAR)

Ropework Operator

Ropework Technician

Ropework Instructor

Animal Extrication

Structural Anchor Installation Technician

Team

Re

scue

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CPD

• Logbooks linked to IPDS and Electronic Database

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Maintaining skill currency

• Logbooks linked to IPDS and Electronic Database

• Development of Field Operations Guides• Establishment of consistent currency

requirements• Annual refresher and revalidation training• Audits, Exercises and CPD opportunities

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Recruit Initial Training

Wholetime Training

Retained TrainingSession 1

Retained TrainingSession 2

Retained TrainingSession 3

CPD 1

CPD 2

CPD 3

AUDIT

Technician or

Instructor

CPD

STAGE 1 STAGE 2

Semester 1 Semester 2 Semester 1 Semester 2

Incident Management, Command and Control (20)CCFB

Management of HAZMAT Incidents (20)CCFB

Management of Vertical-related Incidents (20)Rig Systems

Research Project (20)Duchy College

Management of Water-related Incidents (20)Rig Systems

Medical Support Planning and Management (20)WAST

Professional Development (20)Duchy College

Co-ordinating Search Operations (20)Devon and Cornwall Police Constabulary

Management of Confined Space-related Incidents (20)Rig Systems

Risk Management for Safety Critical Environments (20)Rig Systems

Management of Urban Search and Rescue (20)DFRS

Training Strategy Development, Implementation and Review (20)Duchy College

Flood Planning and Coastal Incident Management (20)Rig Systems

Industrial Placement (20)

BSc Technical Rescue

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Summary

• WAHR is not new, we just need to carry on applying best practice

• An organisation-wide solution is the most effective in order to standardise technology, methodology and competencies

• Techniques are constantly evolving – networks are increasingly valuable

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www.rigsystems.co.uk

01208 81453807967 584251

jez@rigsystems.co.uk