Trench Awareness

1. Trench Awareness presented by the… Office of the State Fire Marshall of Illinois

2. Course Content • Introduction • Trench Rescue Hazards • OSHA Regulations • Protective Systems • Shoring System Design • Rescue Shoring • Trench Rescue Operations

3. Course Content • Introduction • Trench Rescue Hazards • OSHA Regulations • Protective Systems • Shoring System Design • Rescue Shoring • Trench Rescue Operations

4. Introduction • OSFM technical rescue certifications • Definition of a trench • Trenching operations • Trench accidents and statistics

5. Introduction • OSFM technical rescue certifications • Definition of a trench • Trenching operations • Trench accidents and statistics

6. OSFM Technical Rescue Specialist Certifications

7. Introduction • OSFM technical rescue certifications • Definition of a trench • Trenching operations • Trench accidents and statistics

8. Introduction • OSFM technical rescue certifications • Definition of a trench • Trenching operations • Trench accidents and statistics

9. Definition of a trench OSHA defines a trench as an excavation which is deeper and longer than it is wide and is less than 15 feet wide at the bottom.

10. Introduction • OSFM technical rescue certifications • Definition of a trench • Trenching operations • Trench accidents and statistics

11. Introduction • OSFM technical rescue certifications • Definition of a trench • Trenching operations • Trench accidents and statistics

12. Trenching operations • OSHA protection requirements are often ignored • Contractors are often family businesses

13. Trenching operations • OSHA protection requirements are often ignored • Contractors are often family businesses

14. Trenching operations • OSHA protection requirements are often ignored • Ignorance/complacency of risks • Economic factors • Contractors are often family businesses

15. Trenching operations • OSHA protection requirements are often ignored • Ignorance/complacency of risks • Inexperienced contractor • Experienced contractor with no history of problems • Complaints of inconvenience from workers • Economic factors • Contractors are often family businesses

16. Trenching operations • OSHA protection requirements are often ignored • Ignorance/complacency of risks • Inexperienced contractor • Experienced contractor with no history of problems • Complaints of inconvenience from workers • Economic factors • Contractors are often family businesses

17. Trenching operations • OSHA protection requirements are often ignored • Ignorance/complacency of risks • Inexperienced contractor • Experienced contractor with no history of problems • Complaints of inconvenience from workers • Economic factors • Cost of equipment • Labor cost to install equipment • Elimination of protection equipment to be awarded low bid • Contractors are often family businesses

18. Trenching operations • OSHA protection requirements are often ignored • Ignorance/complacency of risks • Inexperienced contractor • Experienced contractor with no history of problems • Complaints of inconvenience from workers • Economic factors • Cost of equipment • Labor cost to install equipment • Elimination of protection equipment to be awarded low bid • Contractors are often family businesses

19. Trenching operations • OSHA protection requirements are often ignored • Ignorance/complacency of risks • Inexperienced contractor • Experienced contractor with no history of problems • Complaints of inconvenience from workers • Economic factors • Cost of equipment • Labor cost to install equipment • Elimination of protection equipment to be awarded low bid • Contractors are often family businesses • Results in extremely emotional rescue scenes

20. Introduction • OSFM technical rescue certifications • Definition of a trench • Trenching operations • Trench accidents and statistics

21. Introduction • OSFM technical rescue certifications • Definition of a trench • Trenching operations • Trench accidents and statistics

22. Trench accidents and statistics • Trenching operations take place on a daily basis in almost all jurisdictions • Over 100 workers are killed annually in trench accidents • As much as 65% of those killed in trench collapses are rescuers

23. Introduction • OSFM technical rescue certifications • Definition of a trench • Trenching operations • Trench accidents and statistics

24. Course Content • Introduction • Trench Rescue Hazards • OSHA Regulations • Protective Systems • Shoring System Design • Rescue Shoring • Trench Rescue Operations

25. Course Content • Introduction • Trench Rescue Hazards • OSHA Regulations • Protective Systems • Shoring System Design • Rescue Shoring • Trench Rescue Operations

26. Trench Rescue Hazards • Trenches don’t appear dangerous • Understanding the hazards requires training • By-standers, co-workers, and even fire officers will not understand the inaction of trained rescuers until the trench is properly protected • Hazards are not obvious

27. Trench Rescue Hazards • Secondary collapse • Hazards are not obvious • Depends upon the type of collapse • Responsible for most deaths in trench collapses • Usually occurs just in time to trap a would-be rescuer

28. Types of collapses Slough-in Sidewall-in Shear-in Spoil-in

29. How rescuers become victims

30. Trench Rescue Hazards • Secondary collapse • The weight of dirt • Hazards are not obvious • 90-145 lbs. per cubic foot • Averages 100 lbs. per cubic foot • Average collapse is 1.5 cubic yards (about 4000 lbs.) • A victim under 2 feet of soil will be under about 3000 lbs. of soil, approximately 1000 lbs. of which will be on his chest

31. Trench Rescue Hazards • Secondary collapse • The weight of dirt • Hazards are not obvious • The speed that dirt can move • Trenches will often collapse within 1/10th of a second • There is often little or no warning of collapse • Spalling of soil or widening fissures are signs of eminent collapse • Escape is unlikely during a collapse • Victims are often “frozen” in place

32. Trench Rescue Hazards • Secondary collapse • The weight of dirt • Hazards are not obvious • The speed that dirt can move • Rescues are usually long-term operations • Trench rescues will often require in excess of 4-6 hours • The trench will become more unstable with time

33. Trench Rescue Hazards • Secondary collapse • The weight of dirt • Hazards are not obvious • The speed that dirt can move • Rescues are usually long-term operations • Backhoes are not safe for victim rescue • The operator is likely to inflict serious or fatal injury to the victim • The weight and vibration from the backhoe is likely to accelerate the occurrence of a fatal secondary collapse • Backhoes are an acceptable device for recovery operations

34. Trench Rescue Hazards • Secondary collapse • The weight of dirt • Hazards are not obvious • The speed that dirt can move • Rescues are usually long-term operations • Backhoes are not safe for victim rescue • Trenches exceed OSHA limits • OSHA provides guidelines for trenches up to 15 feet wide and 20 feet deep. Custom engineering is required beyond those limits • A contractor who did not provide proper protection for his employees is likely to not understand the limits

35. Trench Rescue Hazards • Secondary collapse • The weight of dirt • Hazards are not obvious • The speed that dirt can move • Rescues are usually long-term operations • Backhoes are not safe for victim rescue • Trenches exceed OSHA limits • Buried utilities • Many more injuries and deaths in trenches are caused by contact with buried utilities than are from collapse • Rescuers are not immune to this danger

36. Trench Rescue Hazards • Secondary collapse • The weight of dirt • Hazards are not obvious • The speed that dirt can move • Rescues are usually long-term operations • Backhoes are not safe for victim rescue • Trenches exceed OSHA limits • Buried utilities • Impact or entrapment from falling objects • This is the leading cause of death and injury in trenches • Rescuers must control this hazard prior to entry

37. Trench Rescue Hazards • Secondary collapse • The weight of dirt • Hazards are not obvious • The speed that dirt can move • Rescues are usually long-term operations • Backhoes are not safe for victim rescue • Trenches exceed OSHA limits • Buried utilities • Impact or entrapment from falling objects • Uncollapsed unprotected trenches still dangerous • Rescuers must be wary of apparently simple rescues from uncollapsed trenches

38. Trench Rescue Hazards • Secondary collapse • The weight of dirt • Hazards are not obvious • The speed that dirt can move • Rescues are usually long-term operations • Backhoes are not safe for victim rescue • Trenches exceed OSHA limits • Buried utilities • Impact or entrapment from falling objects • Uncollapsed unprotected trenches still dangerous • Inadequate equipment for shoring • Untrained rescuers may be lulled into false security by using inadequate shoring materials such as backboards • Shoring systems require extremely strong materials

39. Trench Rescue Hazards • Secondary collapse • The weight of dirt • Hazards are not obvious • The speed that dirt can move • Rescues are usually long-term operations • Backhoes are not safe for victim rescue • Trenches exceed OSHA limits • Buried utilities • Impact or entrapment from falling objects • Uncollapsed unprotected trenches still dangerous • Inadequate equipment for shoring • Possible legal liabilities for fire officers • Fire officers may face both criminal and civil charges for injuries to their personnel resulting from ignoring OSHA regulations

40. Trench Rescue Hazards • Hazards are not obvious • Secondary collapse • The weight of dirt • The speed that dirt can move • Rescues are usually long-term operations • Backhoes are not safe for victim rescue • Trenches exceed OSHA limits • Buried utilities • Impact or entrapment from falling equipment • Uncollapsed unprotected trenches still dangerous • Inadequate equipment for shoring • Possible legal liabilities for fire officers

41. Course Content • Introduction • Trench Rescue Hazards • OSHA Regulations • Protective Systems • Shoring System Design • Rescue Shoring • Trench Rescue Operations

42. Course Content • Introduction • Trench Rescue Hazards • OSHA Regulations • Protective Systems • Shoring System Design • Rescue Shoring • Trench Rescue Operations

43. OSHA Regulations • 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P (Excavations) • Applies to public sector and to Federal employees • Illinois has adopted 1926 by reference in the Illinois Register Part 350 Section 350.280 • Applies to municipal, fire district, and State employees • Applicable regulations

44. OSHA Regulations • Methods of providing worker protection • Applicable regulations • Sloping • Shoring • Shielding

45. Methods of providing worker protection Sloping Shoring Shielding

46. OSHA Regulations • Methods of providing worker protection • Applicable regulations • Soil classifications • Stable rock • Class-A • Cohesive soils • Clumps which are difficult to break apart • Class-B • Some cohesiveness • Clumps which are easily broken or molded • Class-C • Loose soils • Wet soils

47. OSHA Regulations • Methods of providing worker protection • Applicable regulations • Soil classifications • Soil classification tests • OSHA requires at least one visual & one manual test • Visual tests • Observe spoil pile and its clumping behavior • Observe sides and lip of trench for layers and tension cracks • Watch for seeping water • Determine likelihood of previously disturbed soil • Manual tests • Thumb penetration test • Pocket penetrometer • Shearvane

48. OSHA Regulations • Methods of providing worker protection • Applicable regulations • Soil classifications • Soil classification tests • Adjustments to soil classification • Wet soils are always Class-C

49. Dangers of wet soils Standing water undermines trench walls

50. Dangers of wet soils Water table Seeping water causes the soil to shift