Under the Streets of New York: Another Day in the Life of Roco CSRT
- Chief Bob Kauer, Chief Kenny Greene, Chief Bill Stio
- CSRT job with contractor to place crack gauges on the walls of storm drain conduit
- Entry required to be made at low tide due to the outlet of conduit is into the east river
- Workers and rescuer to be lowered approximately 25’ into 3’ deep water
- Entrants required to wear waterproof exposure suits
- Conduit concrete and brick lined approximately 15’ in diameter
- Wade through 3’ deep water along tunnel extending 300’ to place the gauges
- Unique challenge of working in standing water, cold weather, changing tide
- Ongoing project to place additional gauges and periodic monitoring of the gauges
Recently the NY CSRT crew was contracted by ConEdison for a unique project to assist one of its construction contractors. The project is the construction of a new electrical substation for ConEdison along the bank of NY’s East River. During the project NYC DEP was concerned with the integrity of the storm drain conduits and tunnels beneath the streets surrounding the project. This required the inspection of these location and the installation of crack gauges to monitor the interior of the tunnels. The presenting hazard for this entry was the proximity of the river and the tidal rise of the river water to make the entry. Additionally, the time of year was also a factor being winter and the temperature of the air and water in the tunnels. This required an additional piece of equipment that we would not normally use for CSRT. The entrants and rescuer needed to wear ice rescue suits in order to make the entry possible along with the usual safety measures that we would follow.
In the Early morning of January 18th NY’s CSRT Manager Bob Kauer along with CSRT Chief’s Kenny Greene and Bill Stio prepared to make the entry for the inspections and installation of crack gauges. The crew planned for the entry at one hour before low tide on the river. This was necessary due to the fact that the water level in the tunnel was approximately 3’ deep at low tide. The work period was calculated and determined to give us approximately one to one-half hour of entry time before the water level was too deep to safely work. Equipment was assembled and entrants donned their protective suits and prepared for entry. With the manhole cover removed and atmosphere cleared for entry the job began, with a CSRT member lowered in the space before the contractors. Once the water level was confirmed the contractors were lowered the 25’ into the space to start their inspections. They made their way upstream of the entry point conducting a visual inspection while the rescuer maintained visual and audible communication with them. The work continued downstream of the entry point first with visual inspection and then once identified the installation of the crack gauges.
Once the tide passed slack and started to rise the entrants took note that both the water level was quickly rising and the temperature was falling. They were able to complete the inspection and installation of the equipment along with the necessary measurements. The decision was made that the water level was rapidly rising to safely remain inside the tunnel. All entrants made the 300’ trek back to the entry point to be hauled back to the surface by the topside crew. All entrants were removed from the space and entry point closed after an hour and a half assignment.
Things to consider knowing that all confined space entries are not similar nor routine. Some specialized equipment not normally utilized may be necessary for the entry. Such as in this case the necessity of ice rescue exposure suits that offer cold water protection as well as buoyancy. The need to employ floating water rescue rope as safety lines as the usual kernmantle rescue rope will not float on water. This was a successful entry for the assistance and protection of the personnel we work alongside on a day to day basis.