Technical Rescue
Department Preparation
What can your department do to be prepared for a technical rescue response?
Download these suggested technical rescue response preparation activities (pdf)
Suggested Activities
Define technical rescue and how it differs from your typical rescue or EMS incident.
Know your response area. Do a technical rescue-specific risk assessment.
Fire code inspections are a good time to help identify confined space or any other technical rescue team (TRT) hazards. Identify a way to communicate the information to personnel.
Partner with other municipal entities (DPW-water-wastewater) to identify district hazards.
Explain the three levels of response to a technical rescue (refer to NFPA 1670, an organizational standard):
- Awareness
- Operations
- Technician
Understand the role of the first responder at a technical rescue:
- Size-up
- Deny entry (this means responders too!)
- Focus on non-entry rescue procedures
- Control hazards
- Lockout/tagout
- Monitor the air/ventilate
- Recognize the limitations of responders trained to the awareness level
- Know whom to call for assistance for various types of rescue
situations
Familiarize personnel with your closest TRT:
- Who is your closest TRT?
- Know how to call for the closest TRT
- Know their level of capability
Describe the hazards that may be present at each type of rescue:
- Wilderness
- Vehicle/machinery rescue
- Water
- Rope
- Confined space
- A grain bin is considered a confined space
- Trench collapse
- Building collapse
Prepared by the IAFC Safety Health and Survival Section
Reference Information
American Society of Safety Engineers Mini Tech-Brief: Confined Spaces
Update and status of the ANSI/ASSE Z117.1-2009 Standard: Safety Requirements for Confined Spaces
OSHA Topics: Confined Space
1910.146 OSHA Confined Space Standard
Scroll down to 1910.146(k)(1) for Rescue and Emergency Services
NIOSH Topic: Confined Spaces
NIOSH Summary: Worker Deaths in Confined Spaces
Article: Technical Rescue Awareness
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