According to a report from the Department of Labor, 39 people died doing trench or excavation work in the U.S. in 2022. In fact, the number of worker fatalities more than doubled since 2021, continuing a troubling trend cited by the Bureau of Labor Statistics that found 166 workers died in trench cave-ins from 2011-2018, an average of 21 each year.

“A trench collapse can bury workers under thousands of pounds of soil and rocks in seconds, making escape and survival often impossible,” explained OSHA Regional Administrator Bill Donovan in Chicago. “With proper training and use of required safety procedures, incidents like these can be prevented. OSHA and industry employers are working hard to raise awareness of hazards and protective measures and educate employers on how they must protect workers.”

The new campaign is a collaboration between OSHA and on-site consultation projects across OSHA Region 5 in the Midwest. “By launching this trench and excavation safety campaign as the spring construction season gets into full swing, OSHA and its partners are determined to make sure industry workers finish their daily shifts safely,” Donovan added.

Industry employers and workers should remember the following essential trench safety standards:

• Protective systems must be in place for trenches 5-feet deep or deeper. These systems include benching, sloping, shoring and shielding.
• A registered professional engineer must approve trenches of 20-feet deep or deeper.
• A competent person must inspect trenches daily – and as conditions change – before anyone enters a trench. The competent person must be able to identify existing and predictable hazards, soil types and protective systems, and have authority to take prompt corrective action to eliminate those hazards.
• Excavated soils must be kept at least two feet from trench edges. 
• Underground utilities must be located and marked before digging begins. 
• Ladders must be positioned every 25 feet of lateral travel for safe entrance and exit from the trench.

A trench collapse can bury workers under thousands of pounds of soil and rocks in seconds, making escape and survival often impossible.

OSHA has a national emphasis program on preventing trenching and excavation collapses, and developed a series of compliance assistance resources in English and Spanish to help keep workers safe from these hazards.

OSHA's trenching and excavation webpage provides additional information on trenching hazards and solutions. including a safety video and safety alert. 

Source: OSHA QuickTakes April 17, 2023

Additional Resources

If you’re concerned that your rescue service may not be adequately prepared, give us a call or check out these resources for more information on how to keep you and your personnel safe around trenches.

• Trench Safety & Rescue Article: Read More
• Trench Training: Competent Person | Trench Rescue Technician
• OSHA’s Trenching and Excavation Webpage

Does OSHA 1910.146 (k)(1)(v) state that a plan must be developed by a rescue service before an entry for work can be made?

Although the regulations do not specifically state that a plan must be developed by a rescue service before an entry can be made, the regulation assumes that a properly selected and evaluated rescue team or service will develop appropriate rescue plans (or preplans). The standard requires that rescuers be given access as necessary to develop those plans. 

The regulation states that the employer shall…“Provide the rescue team or service selected with access to all permit spaces from which rescue may be necessary so that the rescue service can develop appropriate rescue plans and practice rescue operations.” [1910.146 (k)(1)(v)]

OSHA makes it very clear, however, in Appendix F of the standard, the Preamble to the Final Rule, Summary and Explanation of the Final Rule, and its Compliance Directive on Permit-Required Confined Space, that it interprets the regulation to require rescue plans. [See link below.]

It is the employer’s responsibility to perform an adequate evaluation of any prospective rescue service.

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The degree and content of the rescue plan should be determined by the rescue service – and the team must be provided access to do so. The viability of the rescue plan should be demonstrated by the rescue team, proving that the rescue service is staffed, equipped, available, and proficient in performing timely rescue from an actual space or representative spaces. It is the employer’s responsibility to perform an adequate evaluation of any prospective rescue service.

How specific must a rescue plan be to meet OSHA requirements? We like to say it can be determined by answering this question – How detailed must the rescue plan be to enable the rescue service to perform a safe and timely rescue from the permit-required confined space being entered? 

Normally, less complex spaces and entries require simpler and less detailed rescue plans. However, the more complicated the space and the hazards, the more specific and detailed the plan. Rescue complexity also influences the rescue team’s need to evaluate the space and/or a representative space in advance.

When evaluating the capabilities of a rescue service, Appendix F provides guidelines and references rescue plans for the types of spaces involved. You can also refer to Roco’s Compliance Guide and Types Chart (click here to download) which illustrates various confined space types for rescue practice and planning purposes. It also includes Appendix F for evaluating a rescue service or team.

When evaluating the capabilities of a rescue service, Appendix F provides guidelines and references rescue plans for the types of spaces involved.

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Employers with permit spaces must afford the selected rescue service access to the spaces for the purposes of rescue planning. The degree and content of the rescue plan should be determined by the rescue service. The rescue service must be prepared and proficient in rescue from the “same type(s) of confined spaces” in terms of configuration, access, and hazards.

ADDITIONAL REFERENCE: NFPA 350 Confined Space standard also references “rescue plans” or “pre-incident emergency action plans” for each type of space which may be entered. This is listed in the criteria for evaluating a potential rescue service.

ONLINE REFERENCES:
OSHA 1910.146 Appendix F.

Additional Resources

• Rescue PrePlans
• Roco’s Compliance Guide and Types Chart 
• Evaluating Your Rescue Service

ANSWER: As a Paramedic, I strongly feel that having your rescue personnel trained to the EMR (Emergency Medical Responder) level is extremely beneficial for any industrial site. While EMR training is not required, it can truly make the difference in a life-or-death situation. From my personal experience, we found time and time again how this extra medical care made all the difference when responding to an incident.

Not only is the skill-level of first responders critical in an industrial emergency – many times the industrial site is fairly isolated. This can increase response times when rapid, critical care is so vital. Plant access and finding the exact location may also present potential delays to medical care. With EMRs initially on scene with your rescue team, you can know that your personnel are receiving a higher level of care when it matters most.   

To clarify, an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) is a well-versed medical responder who can attend to basic needs in a critical need situation. EMR’s are nationally certified or state-licensed medical responders generally tasked with providing immediate emergency care to the sick and injured before an ambulance or higher level of care arrives.

While basic first aid and CPR may be the minimum required for rescue personnel OSHA 1910.146(k)(2)(iii), an EMR is trained to provide more enhanced care – particularly, inside a confined space or for a worker who is stranded at height. Plus, they can be there almost immediately with your rescue team to provide aid. The EMR can help with airway protection, bleeding control, mechanical ventilation, symptom recognition and support of vital functions until more advanced care is reached.

So, minimally, someone on your team needs to be certified in first aid and CPR training. And, while the techniques taught in most nationally recognized First Aid and CPR courses are great for lay folk responding in environments tamer than the industrial setting – the skills, clinical knowledge, and logistic awareness taught in the typical EMR class are a far better fit for confined space rescuers. If you’re looking to give your organization the greatest peace of mind and the best chance to avoid tragedy, we highly recommend EMR training.

Key Medical Questions for ERT Coordinators include:

• Based on hazards identified at your facility, what types and degrees of injuries could patients sustain while at your facility?
• What is the estimated response time for EMS/Fire Department? Is the service familiar with your facility and the potential hazards? Chemical, Mechanical, etc.
• How will EMS access your site, or will the patient be taken to a staging area?
• If air medical transport is necessary, has the facility coordinated a landing zone with EMS/Fire/Sheriff's office?
• Who at the facility will assess the patient and give the information about the patient's condition to EMS?
• Where is the nearest emergency room? Is the ER familiar with your facility and the potential hazards? Chemical, Mechanical, etc.
• What types of drills can your facility conduct, with or without EMS/Fire, to better prepare facility personnel for an emergency?

Prior to coming to work for Roco Rescue, Chris Warrick worked the street as a paramedic for three years, and then three years as a paramedic instructor. He was the section leader for “Cardiology” as well as “Anatomy and Physiology,” and “EMS Operations” at various times. Chris holds an AAS in Paramedicine from South Louisiana Community College and is also certified to teach BLS and ACLS through the American Heart Association. He is also a licensed EMS educator in Louisiana. As a Paramedic, Chris has responded to hurricanes: Harvey, Michael, Laura, Delta, and Ida. As Medical Program Manager for Roco Rescue, Chris oversees medical protocols, procedures, equipment, and education alongside our medical director. 

Follow Chris 

Additional Resources

• What to Look for When Choosing Medical Training for Emergency Response and Rescue Teams

• Emergency Medical Responder Course

• First Aid CPR and AED Training Course

Roco Rescue Challenge 2023 marks three decades of North America’s premier Rescue and Training event. Scheduled for October 18-19 at the Roco Training Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Roco Rescue Challenge is much more than a competition. At its core, it is a learning event where comradery, teamwork, and networking rule the day.

“Hosting Rescue Challenge is always the highlight of our event calendar, but as you can imagine, this year is special to us. We have been truly honored to have the rescue community support this fantastic event for 30 years…and counting,” says Kay Goodwyn, President of Roco Rescue. Ms. Goodwyn added, “We are also trying to make Rescue Challenge more enticing and affordable to municipal fire departments – we had several fire departments last year, and it was a great addition to the event!” 

In addition to learning and competition, Rescue Challenge meets the OSHA 1910.146 requirement for annual training and covers all six (6) types of confined spaces identified in the standard. However, Rescue Challenge does far more than meet those training requirements. Teams will be thoroughly challenged by the six scored scenarios — including IDLH confined space rescues on air and multi-casualty scenarios which feature live victims with moulage for that extra touch of realism and pressure.

Roco Rescue Challenge was conceived for all rescue teams, regardless of experience level. Every year first-time rescuers work alongside experienced rescue technicians who have regularly attended Rescue Challenge’s 30-year run. While there is a strong competitive element, the event focuses on building and improving skills and fostering a sense of community and camaraderie among rescuers. 

Rescue Challenge’s biggest success and value as a learning event is the immediate feedback the teams receive. Roco’s experienced training cadre provides debriefing following each scenario. Every team receives a detailed report describing their performance at Rescue Challenge and how they can improve. Teams often find that this report provides an excellent roadmap to focus their post-Rescue Challenge training regimen.

On the competitive side, there are three awards for which teams compete. Individual Performance Evaluation is awarded to the team with the highest score on a particular rescue skill or set of skills. What is that skill set? You will find out when you arrive at that station. There is a reason it's called Challenge.

The second award — Team Performance Evaluation — is highly coveted by attending teams. The hardware is presented to the team that travels the farthest with no safety violations on the vaunted Yellow Brick Road scenario. 

Finally, the Top Team award recognizes the team with the highest average score across all scenarios.

When the weather in South Louisiana turns to nice cool days, join us at the world-class Roco Training Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on October 18-19, 2023, to help celebrate the 30^th Anniversary of Roco Rescue Challenge. Space is limited, so enroll early to assure your team’s spot. We welcome all teams, regardless of experience level. Take part in this truly unique event: part learning, competition, and all CHALLENGE.

For more information about Roco Rescue Challenge, click here. To save your spot and register, click here. Fire departments looking to challenge their rescue teams should call the Roco office (800-647-7626) for more details and savings on registration.

Additional Resources

• Rescue Challenge Spotlight - Valero Wilmington
• Team Performance Evaluation (TPE™) – How Prepared are You?
• Team Benefits from Rescue Challenge!
  
  

We were so excited to see all the applicants for our Fire Department Scholarship Program – we decided to pick 10 instead of 1! The following individuals were selected to attend a Roco Urban/Industrial Rescue Essentials™ Course at no charge at the Roco Training Center in Baton Rouge. 

Roco Rescue hopes that this free training will help broaden the range of skills in confined space and rope rescue for firefighters and their departments.

Click button below if you are interested in applying for the next Fire Department Scholarship Program selection.

Offer valid for USA-based emergency responders only based on space availability. Must be 18 years or older and physically fit to participate in hands-on rescue exercises. Offer is valid for limited time and subject to change without notice.