Contents

2. Contents • Standard Operating Guidelines • Equipment Review • Practical Application

3. Confined Space Standard Operating Guidelines • A confined space shall be defined as a space that is large enough and configured so that an employee can enter it, has limited means of access and egress and is not designed for continuous occupancy. • A permit required confined space meets all of the same requirements of a confined space plus one or more of the following: contains or has a potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere, contains a material that has the potential for engulfing an entrant, has an internal configuration such that an entrant could be trapped by inwardly converging walls or by a floor which slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross section and/or contains any other recognized serious health hazards . • Any incident requiring rescue or removal of a victim from a confined space shall require the response of the Technical Rescue Team.  • No personnel shall enter a confined space without certified training and equipment to do so. 

4. Confined Space Standard Operating Guidelines • In general Operations level personnel shall be trained in recognizing a confined space, identifying hazards associated with a confined space and appropriate corrective measures to be taken to minimize the hazards of a confined space incident.  • Operations level personnel shall employ the following guidelines when faced with a confined space rescue incident: • Request a technical rescue response from dispatch. • Initiate the Incident Management System (IMS)- including the establishment of a staging area for incoming units and personnel, as well as the implementation of the passport accountability system. • Isolate the scene and deny entry to prevent further danger to victim(s), personnel and bystanders.

5. Confined Space Standard Operating Guidelines • Gather information: • Rescue -vs- Recovery • Cause of incident • What function was the victim(s) performing in the confined space • Nature of injury or problem • Structural • Mechanical • Atmospheric • Personal • Number of victims • Specific victim information • Location of victim(s) • Location of alternative entry/access points • Permit required or non-permit required space • Identity of attendant or reporting party

6. Confined Space Standard Operating Guidelines • Advise dispatch and incoming units of updated, detailed information. • Attempt to obtain: • Blueprints of facility • Drawing or cross sections of actual confined space in question • Copy of victim’s entry permit • Begin filling out the Fire Department Confined Space Entry Permit. • Identify any possible or potential hazards and take the appropriate steps to minimize or remove them. • Lock-out Tag-out procedures for utilities and machinery • Structural collapse or instability issues • Atmospheric conditions

7. Confined Space Standard Operating Guidelines • Assist the Technical Rescue Team as directed, staying within the scope of Operations Level training. Tasks to include: • Serve as a haul team member • Operate safety lines • Set-up and operate ventilation and other rescue equipment • Monitor and run the air supply and communication systems • Air monitoring

8. Confined Space Standard Operating Guidelines 10) Operations level personnel may attempt to perform a rescue if ALL of the following criteria are met: • It is a rescue, not a body recovery • The victim is visible • Victim is within 25’ of the entry point, straight access • Entry is a horizontal access • SCBA is utilized and is able to remain on the firefighter’s back at all times • Appropriate level of turnout gear is worn. (i.e hood, gloves, pants, coat, helmet, boots, etc.) • A tagline is attached to the rescuer • All hazards have been addressed • 11) Keep all unnecessary communications to a minimum during rescue operations.

10. Ventilation Equipment • “The purpose of ventilation in a confined space is to replace the oxygen-deficient, flammable, or toxic environment with clean air, and ultimately to eliminate the atmospheric hazards.” CONINED SPACE RESCUE, Sargent,Chase. 2000, Fire Engineering Books & Videos

11. Ventilation Equipment • The primary piece of ventilation equipment is the electric powered, positive pressure blower with ducting • The electric blower should be placed as close to the entry point, of the confined space, as possible. Make note of the wind direction and ensure that fresh air is being introduced to the space.

12. Supplied Air Breathing Apparatus SABA • The supplied air breathing apparatus, in contrast to our SCBA, supplies the rescuer with a near endless supply of air in which to enter the confined space and perform work. This is accomplished through the use of a manifold system and the use of standard SCBA bottles. This system is used in conjunction with an escape bottle for the rescuer

13. Supplied Air Breathing Apparatus SABA • The manifolds are stored on the drivers side of L42. Check with your TRT member for location and familiarity. • You will find two complete, and separate manifolds for use. One for the Entry Team - The other is for the stand-by/ back-up team.

14. Supplied Air Breathing Apparatus SABA • Begin set-up by identifying the manifold to be used by the entry team. Either can be used for this purpose. • Retrieve two bottles, plus as many spares as possible, and attach the two bottles to the hose fittings located on the manifold. Do not begin operations until a cache of spare bottles have been secured. • Once the bottles have been attached you may turn on one of the bottles to charge the system. Please note that the manifold system operates from only one bottle at a time. Do not operate with both bottles on at the same time.

15. Supplied Air Breathing Apparatus SABA • Internal to the manifold system is a check valve. This allows for the highest air pressure to provide the air to the system. • By charging the system with one bottle the valve allows air to enter from this side. Once this bottle is low we may charge the second bottle, thus overriding the valve and allowing the second bottle to provide the air for the system. • Once we are operating off of bottle #2 we may bleed off and disconnect bottle #1; then replace with a fresh bottle. • Repeat the above steps to ensure that there is always a fresh bottle to charge the system when the one you are operating from has been depleted.

16. Supplied Air Breathing Apparatus SABA • Once the system has been charged we may attach the air line portion of the “umbilicus”. • To do this- find the “male” end of the air line, from the “umbilicus” or the patient line, and insert it into one of the “female” ports on the manifold. Please note that Locking Foster fittings are utilized on the manifold • To connect to the “locking Foster fitting” align the “notch” in the female fitting with the “raised point” on its post and press down on the “female” fitting. Insert the “male” end and release. Now turn the “female” fitting so it is no longer aligned and duct tape the connection for safety.

17. Supplied Air Breathing Apparatus SABA • Once the manifold has been charged and lines attached for the rescuers and patient you may begin to set up the back-up team manifold in the same manner as you had for the entry team. Please note that an additional rescuer line would be required in order to be fully prepared for entry, thus allowing for a two person team to make their entry. Rescuer “Umbilicus” Patient Line

18. Supplied Air Breathing Apparatus SABA • Some key points regarding the SABA manifold system: • Maximum length of airline allowed for a user on the system is 300’. • Operations are performed using only one SCBA bottle at a time. • Please keep the dust caps in place on all air line and communication cable fittings when not being used. • Two manifolds will be in use on every entry. One for the entry team and one for the back-up team.

19. SABA Escape Bottle • Used in conjunction with the supplied air breathing apparatus manifold is the emergency escape bottle. This bottle is a self contained 10 minute escape bottle for use in emergency situations only. • The bottle is worn by the rescuer via its attachment to a waist belt. On this waist belt you will find the attachment point for the SABA air line (1) and the mask mounted regulator for our SCBA masks (2). 1 2

20. SABA Escape Bottle • Please note that the escape bottle is not supplied by the SABA manifold. It is imperative that this escape bottle remain “off” until needed in an emergency, i.e. a malfunction with the SABA manifold. • If at any time the rescuer notes that his/her escape bottle has been turned on they must immediately leave the confined space and return to the outside for a bottle change.

21. SABA LinesUmbilicus • “Umbilicus” lines can be found in large, red and blue duffle bags. Contact your TRT member for location and familiarity. • Each bag is color coded to match the color of the umbilicus.

22. SABA LinesUmbilicus • In each of the color coded bags there is a 100” of red or blue “umbilicus”. • The “umbilicus” is simply a sheath that contains the air line and hardwire communication line.

23. SABA LinesUmbilicus • The “umbilicus” is stored coiled, using an over/under method of coiling to help ensure kink free deployment. • A close-up detail of the rescuer end of the “umbilicus” • Black line is the air line • Orange line is the hardwire communication line • Carabiner and tag-line is attached to the dorsal connection of the Class III harness

24. SABA LinesUmbilicus • Some key points regarding the “umbilicus” • Each bag contains one section of 100’. • Bag #1 also contains a 10’ black pigtail. (Pigtail allows communications and manifold to be in separate locations) • Coiled in an over and under method to keep the kinks out of the line when deploying. • Neatness and organization is the key to successful deployment of the “umbilicus”. • Connections utilize “Locking Foster” fittings.

25. Communication System • The Con-Space communication system is a hard wire system that allows for constant monitoring of communications with the entry team in a confined space incident. • The equipment for this system is stored in a “Pelican” type briefcase. Contact you TRT member for location and familiarity. • Components include: • 2 throat microphones with ear pieces • 1 headsets • 1 control box • 1 hard wire lines for headsets • 1 talk box • 1 hardwire line with mute switch • 1 mute switch pigtail

26. Communication System • Setting up the communication system for use will require multiple connections to be made to the control box (1). All connections in this system are made by aligning the raised point of the “female” (2) fitting with the accompanying orange dot on the “male” (3) fitting. Once connected turn the “female” fitting to the Right to lock-in. 1 3 2

27. Communication System • The headset for the Communications Operator is recognizable by the fact that in both of its ear portions it contains padding and speakers. This enables the Communications Operator to direct all of his/her attention to the team in the confined space. • The hard wire lines are also recognizable as they do not contain a “lock-out” device, pre-attached, on them. This allows the controller to be in constant contact with the entry team. • Green arrow shows talk box connection. • Ports are labeled talk box, red, blue, controller.

28. Communication System • The ear piece and throat microphone enable the rescuer to transmit and receive information in a hands-free manner. • Running from the control box, or splitter, to the rescuer is the communication hardwire line- contained in the umbilicus. This is then connected to the ear piece and throat microphone using the same type of connection described for the control box. • The ear piece fits over the ear allowing the speaker to rest inside the ear canal, and the microphone is placed on the throat and tested for clarity.

29. Dressing the Confined Space Rescue Technician • In most instances the Rescue Technician will be able to donn their confined space gear without assistance from others. However, there may be some need for help with SABA and communications line connections.

30. Dressing the Confined Space Rescue Technician • The first piece of equipment required is a full jumpsuit. Ours are made of Nomex material to protect against flash situations. • The second item will always be a standard Class III harness.

31. Dressing the Confined Space Rescue Technician • Once the Class III harness has been donned, the emergency escape bottle is donned and the waist belt secured. • The SABA air line, from the umbilicus, can then be attached to the port of the first stage regulator on the escape bottle’s waist belt.

32. Dressing the Confined Space Rescue Technician • Next, the carabiner and tag line may be attached to the dorsal connection point on the rescuer’s Class III harness. • The communications line can then be routed up over the right shoulder, secured with the attached clip to the right shoulder “D-ring” to provide strain relief, and the fitting draped over the shoulder for later connection to the ear piece and microphone.

33. Dressing the Confined Space Rescue Technician • Once the ear piece and the microphone have been properly donned, the connection to the communications line can be made. Please note that the wires for the ear piece and the microphone have small clips that may be used to secure them to the rescuers jumpsuit as strain relief.

34. Dressing the Confined Space Rescue Technician • Final preparations would include: a helmet, SCBA mask and gloves. • Once the rescuer has completely and correctly donned all gear, he/she must pass a safety inspection, including a check of the communications system and its operation, insuring that the air line is supplying air to the rescuer and that their escape bottle is turned off. As well as inspection of all connection points and safety systems.

35. Practical Application • Please arrange a time with your shift’s TRT crew to review the preceding equipment, its location along with proper operation and set-up. • Also review the protocols as they relate to confined space rescue.

36. This presentation was developed for you by C-42