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Ground Ladders: The Forgotten Art. Lieutenant Todd Wernet Seattle Fire Department. What do we need to know. Ladder Uses Ladder Construction Ladder Tactics Ladder Safety. Ladder Uses. Rescue Access to upper floors Ventilation Bridging Make-shift structures. Rescue & Access.
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Ground Ladders: The Forgotten Art • Lieutenant Todd Wernet • Seattle Fire Department
What do we need to know • Ladder Uses • Ladder Construction • Ladder Tactics • Ladder Safety
Ladder Uses • Rescue • Access to upper floors • Ventilation • Bridging • Make-shift structures
Wooden Ladders • DISPELL THE URBAN MYTHS ABOUT WOODEN LADDERS • DISCUSS DIFFRENCES IN: • SAFETY • WEIGHT • MAINTENANCE • DESIGN • COST
Electrical Safety • FEMA statistics indicate that metal ladders cost the U.S. fire service approximately one firefighter fatality a year. • These totals do not reflect non-fatal injuries attributed to these ladders
Aluminum Ladders • Metal ladders can suddenly fail if exposed to heat or flame over 200° F (annealing)
Weight • The common perception is that aluminum ladders are lighter weight than comparable wood or fiberglass ladders • Example: 24’ extension • Wood 110# • Metal 75-142# • Fiberglass 99-133#
Maintenance • NFPA 1932 requires ground ladders to be visually inspected at least monthly, and after every use • Aluminum & fiberglass require waxing of beams • Wooden ladders require spot finishing • All ladders require minor bolt, rivet and halyard checks
Design • Truss beam • Solid beam • Straight • Extension
Cost • Wooden ladders are more expensive up front • -24’ Extension Ladder • Material Cost Life • Wood $1,600 Indefinite • Fiberglass $ 750 Unknown • Aluminum $ 680 15 years
Ladder Tactics • Positional Assignments • Complement • Selection • Carries • Approaches • Raises • Placement
Positional Assignments • Roles & responsibilities of crew members • Two, three, or four person operations • Tools & equipment • PPPN: Company discipline
Ladder Complement • NFPA 1904 (1991 edition) requires a minimum complement of 115-feet of ground ladders • Multiple configurations are acceptable
Ladder Selection • When in doubt, go with the larger ladder • Your application may change • 5 rung rule
Ladder Placement • Type of Structure • Weather Conditions • Operation • Staffing • Fire Forecast
Carries • Low Shoulder & High Shoulder
Carries • Flat & Beam
Approach • Diagonal or Perpendicular
Raises • Beam & Flat
Footing the Ladder • Old School & New School
Roof Package • Extension Ladder • Roof Ladder • Chainsaw • 6’ Roof Hook
Safety • Everyone’s Responsibility • Proper PPE • Adequate Personnel • Training • Placement
Proper PPE • For drilling this includes a helmet, gloves, and steel toe boots. • For all responses it includes all protective equipment
Adequate Personnel • Staffing is part of your initial size-up in the morning. Pre-assign positions (tool assignments) to maximize your effectiveness
Training • Make it real: The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in war
Visual Acuity • At night you lose 50% of your ability to see hazards
What to take with you • We are all professionals, volunteer or career • Its not enough to just get a ladder vertical • Safety should always be your main concern • We all deserve a round trip ticket
What to take with you • When we do our job right, people live to see another day • We need to pass the importance of the “not-so-glamorous” jobs to the next generation
Incident Commanders • Always be aware of what is going on around you • Your people will thank you