Confined Space Rescue: Reasons for Technical Rescue Operations Failures

Conducting a confined space rescue is a risky endeavor that requires great skill and patience.

Many times we have seen numerous rescue attempts fail due to the lack of patience and skill

being exercised by rescue personnel. In training of technical rescue operations, we instruct

upon how we want to avoid a failed rescue attempt by recognizing certain attributes that are

lending to the overall situation. The acronym FAILURE is used to describe these certain

attributes that can be present at each confined space rescue operation. The acronym FAILURE

stands for:

F – Failure to understand the environment

A – Additional medical implications not considered – dust, crush syndrome

I – Inadequate preparation

L – Lack of team work, training

U – Underestimating the logistical needs

R – Rescue vs. Recovery

E – Equipment not mastered

The first important consideration of the environment is the atmosphere inside and around the

confined space. Monitoring the atmosphere is sometimes overlooked by responding personnel

and thus leads them to become victims as atmospheric conditions overtake. The basic four gas

monitor will be a benefit as it will detect for percentage of oxygen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen

sulfide gas and lower explosive limits. Ideally, conditions should be 0 % for hydrogen sulfide, 0%

for carbon monoxide, 0% for LEL and 21% for oxygen. An increase/decrease of 1% in any

category is equivalent to 10,000 ppm of a contaminant in the ambient air. Even though there is

just a 1% difference between normal and acceptable limits, doesn’t mean that it is safe to

enter. Using hydrogen sulfide as an example, it only takes between 1000 to 2000 ppm to cause

death in a few minutes which is less than 1%.

The letter “A” represents a lack of consideration for additional medical implications that are not

being considered. The majority of confined space rescues involve a person who is overcome by

a toxic environment or a lack of oxygen within the space. Very few incidents involve medical

reasons as the catalyst for the rescue operation. When we think of medical reasons we are

considering falls, traumas, and cardiac arrest. These types of incidents represent a very low

number of why we have a confined space rescue. However, when there is a confined space

rescue operation initiated, these factors must be considered and answered.

The letter “I” is in reference to inadequate preparation. What makes a confined space rescue

incident worse is the lack of preparation for the worse to happen. Many workers will enter into

a confined space thinking that it is only another routine day. There has been no time taken to

prepare for the actual rescue of that worker. Gaining entry into a confined space is the easy

part, getting the entrant out of the confined space when something goes wrong is the hard

part. Adequate preparation must be taken to ensure that the question of “How do we get the

entrant out” can be answered before the entrant goes in.

The letter “L” is for a lack of team work. During a confined space rescue incident, there needs to

be one person one charge who will be your Incident Commander. This person will be the one

who will make the final decisions on how to affect the rescue, which person will do what tasks

and oversee the whole operation from start to finish. When you have emotions taking over

certain members of the team, they seem to want to control the operation and start to ignore

the Incident Commander and start to implement what they think is best and should be done. At

this point communications starts to break down, and mistakes start to occur.

The letter “U” is for understanding the logistical needs. It is wise to expect the worse and be

prepared for it rather than being unprepared and expecting the least. Many times rescue crews

are responding to a call not prepared for what they are going to be faced with. For a confined

space rescue incident, the crews responding need to expect the worse. This way they will be

prepared when arriving and ready to act without hesitation.

The letter “R” is for rescue vs. recovery. Establishing the mode of operation at the onset of the

effort is vital to the success of it. The Incident Commander needs to determine right away

whether they are going to be conducting a rescue or a recovery. This determination will set the

pace of the operation and it needs to be communicated to everyone on site very clearly..

Would be rescuers soon become the victim as they are overcome by toxic atmospheres found

within the space. According to statistics from NIOSH, 60% of confined space fatalities are would

be rescuers.

The letter “E” is for equipment not mastered. Confined space rescue teams use lots of different

equipment to aid them with their operations. The equipment used needs to be mastered by all

those who are expected to use it. This only occurs through training and practicing with the

equipment on a regular basis. The time to learn how to use a certain piece of equipment is on

the training grounds and not at the confined space incident.

About the Author:

Mark van der Feyst is a 25 year veteran of the fire service and is currently the Senior Battalion Chief at the Six Nations Fire & Emergency Services in Canada and a part time firefighter with the Fort Gratiot Fire Department in Michigan. He has worked in both the USA and Canada for various fire departments and holds a Masters of Science degree in Safety, Security & Emergency Management from Eastern Kentucky University.

Electric Vehicle Fires

By: Chief Hank Clemmensen, AFM Board Chair

With adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) increasing around the world, firefighters need to be aware of the dangers they present and the unique challenges associated with extinguishing an electric vehicle fire.  Training and preparation is critical to prepare for advancements like the introduction of electric buses in Kenya.  Is your fire brigade prepared to respond to incidents for electric vehicles? Start training specifically for EVs, now reading this detailed article on EV fire attack and extrication basics by Patrick Durham.

https://www.firerescue1.com/electric-fire/articles/electric-vehicle-response-fire-attack-and-extrication-basics-PwPBmx8uuMuMOR2G/

Firefighter Physical Fitness

By: Howard Cohen

I am not fitness trainer.  I am not an athlete.  I have not participated in any sort of organized competitive sport for nearly forty years.  I am just a person who unabashedly believes in the importance of physical fitness for everyone, but especially firefighters.

With that disclaimer out of the way, let’s face it:  firefighting is a dangerous and physically demanding job.  Firefighters operate in harsh and challenging environments, use heavy, hard to handle tools, and wear many kilos of protective gear.  To successfully do our jobs we need to keep ourselves in great shape.  This means that we must take care of ourselves through proper nutrition and hydration, physical exercise, and sufficient rest. This is what is minimally required to properly and safely perform our jobs.

If you stop and think about it, what is the one “tool” every firefighter uses at every call? It’s our body.  We depend on our bodies for all aspects of firefighting.  In this sense, fire fighters are like elite athletes.  While we may not have to jump, sprint or throw a ball, we are, however, often required to crawl, drag or haul awkward shaped heavy objects in extreme heat conditions that greatly tax our cardio vascular systems. But there are important differences too.  Elite athletes generally perform under optimal conditions. Firefighters respond to calls during the worse weather conditions. Elite athletes typically get a good night’s sleep before their big events. First responders are often woken up multiple times during the night.  Elite athletes eat a well balanced meal with regard to their upcoming sporting event.  First responders meals are often rushed, gobbled on the run or interrupted by calls.  However, the biggest difference is that for elite athletes it is all about winning or losing.  For firefighters, what’s on the line is often life or death; your’s, your fellow firefighter’s or a civilian’s.

The good news is that achieving a firefighter operational level of physical fitness is not hard. However, it does require a commitment to exercise regularly.  There are many great ways to hone your fitness level.  If you have access to youtube, search for a type of workout that appeals to you. You will discover many free options to choose from.  Ideally, your workouts will include strength training with weights or whatever heavy objects you have available to you and cardiovascular exercises, such as lunges, jumping jacks, running, climbing stairs, or any activity that gets your heart rate up. You don’t need a specific or fancy program to get in good workouts.  All you need is to make a personal commitment to move your body and get your heart pumping.  Any well rounded program will benefit you in all aspects of fitness.

There are no downsides to exercise and being physically fit, period.  Physical fitness has been shown to prevent or treat many chronic health conditions brought on by unhealthy lifestyles, it even counter acts some of the aging process.  Studies indicate that exercising regularly builds up a stronger heart and along with a healthy diet, can even reduce the risk of cancer and boost one’s immune system.  Being physically fit also helps to reduce injuries that can keep you from working.  Sometimes firefighters forget that physical fitness involves more than just working out. It also includes taking care of your body by eating well, keeping yourself well-hydrated, getting sufficient sleep, and avoiding or limiting ingesting harmful chemicals, such as alcohol, recreational drugs, or tobacco. 

The biggest obstacle to sticking with a fitness plan is boredom.  Therefore it is important for you find or create a routine that holds your interest.  Mix it up too.  Don’t do the same workout day after day.  Workout with a friend or your other brigade crew members.  Make it fun.  To the extent that your schedule permits, it is also helpful to make your fitness program a fixed and regular part of your daily routine.  Some people like to get their workouts in early in the morning.  This way no matter how the rest of the day unfolds it’s a good day because you got your workout in.  Other people like to workout at the end of the day.  This way they figure, no matter what kind of day they had they have something to look forward.  Personally, I get my workout in every morning after having two cups of black tea and reading the headlines in the paper. After my workout I’m ready for whatever is coming my way.

In conclusion, the purpose of this article is to inspire you to find and commit to a personal fitness program that excites and motivates you.  Honor your body.  After all, it is the home of your holy soul.  Now get moving and get your heart pumping!

Bio: Howard retired from the Bennington Fire Dept as a deputy chief.  He spends a lot of time writing and teaching various aspects of firefighting.  He religiously works out every morning, doing a mix of high intensity interval training (HiiT), dumbbells, kettlebells, barbells and cycling. When he is not doing something for the fire service or working out he is the rabbi of two small congregations.