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Ground Ladders: The Forgotten Art

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

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  1. Ground Ladders: The Forgotten Art • Lieutenant Todd Wernet • Seattle Fire Department

  2. What do we need to know • Ladder Uses • Ladder Construction • Ladder Tactics • Ladder Safety

  3. Ladder Uses • Rescue • Access to upper floors • Ventilation • Bridging • Make-shift structures

  4. Rescue & Access

  5. Ventilation & Bridging

  6. Make-Shift Structures

  7. Ladder ConstructionAluminum or Wood

  8. Wooden Ladders • DISPELL THE URBAN MYTHS ABOUT WOODEN LADDERS • DISCUSS DIFFRENCES IN: • SAFETY • WEIGHT • MAINTENANCE • DESIGN • COST

  9. 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

  10. Aluminum Ladders • Metal ladders can suddenly fail if exposed to heat or flame over 200° F (annealing)

  11. 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#

  12. 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

  13. Design • Truss beam • Solid beam • Straight • Extension

  14. 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

  15. Ladder Tactics • Positional Assignments • Complement • Selection • Carries • Approaches • Raises • Placement

  16. Positional Assignments • Roles & responsibilities of crew members • Two, three, or four person operations • Tools & equipment • PPPN: Company discipline

  17. Ladder Complement • NFPA 1904 (1991 edition) requires a minimum complement of 115-feet of ground ladders • Multiple configurations are acceptable

  18. Ladder Selection • When in doubt, go with the larger ladder • Your application may change • 5 rung rule

  19. Ladder Placement • Type of Structure • Weather Conditions • Operation • Staffing • Fire Forecast

  20. West Coast & East Coast Loads

  21. Carries • Low Shoulder & High Shoulder

  22. Carries • Flat & Beam

  23. Approach • Diagonal or Perpendicular

  24. Raises • Beam & Flat

  25. Raises

  26. Footing the Ladder • Old School & New School

  27. Roof Package • Extension Ladder • Roof Ladder • Chainsaw • 6’ Roof Hook

  28. Roof Package

  29. Safety • Everyone’s Responsibility • Proper PPE • Adequate Personnel • Training • Placement

  30. Proper PPE • For drilling this includes a helmet, gloves, and steel toe boots. • For all responses it includes all protective equipment

  31. Adequate Personnel • Staffing is part of your initial size-up in the morning. Pre-assign positions (tool assignments) to maximize your effectiveness

  32. Training • Make it real: The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in war

  33. Securing your Fly

  34. Visual Acuity • At night you lose 50% of your ability to see hazards

  35. 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

  36. 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

  37. Incident Commanders • Always be aware of what is going on around you • Your people will thank you

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