1. US&R Rescuer Safety

2. General Hazards Structural Instability Overhead Hazards
Surface Hazards
Water Hazards
Ground Disruptions
Heavy Equipment
Below Grade Hazards

3. Utility Hazards
Natural Gas or Propane
Electricity
Water
Steam
Sewage

4. Hazardous Materials Reference – Ca. Health and Safety Code
Residential Hazardous Materials
Kitchen, Laundry, Garages/Storage Sheds
Commercial Hazardous Materials
Supermarkets, Hardware, Schools, Hospitals, Laboratories

5. Other Hazards Fire Explosion Vibrations Particulate Matter
Confined Space Issues – Tool Use
Loud Noise
Uncoordinated Rescue Operations

6. General Types of Building Construction Hazards
Light Frame
Heavy Wall Construction
Heavy Floor Construction
Precast Construction

8. Light Frame Hazards Weakened wall and connections Broken utilities
Combustible materials
Cracked or leaning walls
Separation from foundations
Cracked or leaning chimneys or veneer walls
Separated porch or upper story connections
Loose roof tiles or roof equipment
Broken glass and damaged door frames

9. BRICK PATTERN THAT
IDENTIFIES UNREINFORCED
MASONRY. HAS BOND
(HEADER) ROW AT
ABOUT EVERY SIX
ROWS. AT FRONTS
OF BUILDINGS, THE
PATTERN MAY BE
HIDDEN BY FANCY
MASONRY VENEER

10. Heavy Wall Hazards
Weakened perimeter load bearing walls and connection to floor and roofs
Broken utilities
Broken parapets, chimneys, ornamental masonry
Broken walls and columns
Broken structural connections
Cracked wall corners, windows, door frames
Unsupported collapsed floors
Loose HVAC or roof equipment

12. Heavy Floor Hazards
Weakened columns and poor connections between floors and columns
Broken utilities
“Empty cage” – concrete column failure
Broken structural connections
Diagonal shear cracking in support beams
Broken infill or shear walls
Loose HVAC or roof equipment

14. Precast Construction Hazards
Weakened interconnection of structural components – floors, wall panels and beams
Broken utilities
Broken walls, cracked corbels at beam-to-column connections
Cracked columns at top and bottom joints
Broken wall panels
Loose HVAC or roof equipment

15. Collapse Patterns
Lean-To V-Shape
Pancake Cantilever

16. Collapse Patterns Lean-to collapse V-shape collapse Pancake collapse
Cantilever collapse

17. Personal Protective Equipment
Helmets or hard hats, gloves, safety boots
Eye protection-goggles or glasses
Hearing protection
Respiratory protection
Dust masks, APRs, B/As
Flashlights or head lamps
Flash protection-brush gear, coveralls
Knee pads
Communications gear
Personal alarm device

18. Safety Considerations
Lookouts, communications, escape routes, safe zones
Safety Officer duties – 1 per incident
Watch for hazards
Scene safety
No active participation with rescue – hands on
Utilize a safety check list
Use buddy system – teams of 2 that stay together

19. Communications Communications plan – part of IAP
Portable radio and PAD for each rescuer
Maintain continuous voice or radio contact
Constant progress reports to leader
Coordinate with other rescue teams
Prearrange emergency evacuation signal
Communications with entrapped rescuers

20. Escape Routes Pre-established paths to safe zones Considerations
Direct path may not be the best option
Remain in place may be good option
Constant updating of egress pathways

21. Safe Zones Pre-established area of safe refuse from hazards
Can be in or out of “hot zone” area
Personnel accountability procedure must be used
Immediate relay of information must be relayed to operations

22. Personnel Accountability System
Keeps track of all members at all times
Assign officer to keep track
Conduct checks after any emergency evacuations, periodically throughout incident and when leaving work area

23. Other Considerations Rescuer hydration Team Rotations Personal hygiene
8 to 12 oz water every 30 minutes during heavy work
Team Rotations
Rotate on regular basis
Consider 15 to 30 minutes for heavy work
Personal hygiene
Wash hands and face prior to eating, leaving work area
Eat or drink only properly prepared and stored foods
Stress factors
Prolonged rescue operations
Fatigue and psychological