Posting your advice and tips

Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 10:08 pm

I hope as this web site grows we can use this section in particular to pass on knowledge gained on the fire ground to everyone that visits this web site.

The brigade has tried with its shouts leaflet but already its being hijacked to get across cooperate views, ideas and policies rather than real advice for those at the coal face.

Dave you posted via the brigade e-mail system a detailed note about carrying out a rescue from a tower crane and the associated problems with lines etc. perhaps you could post it here but that’s the sort of thing I am talking about.

I know we have threads were we can abuse Station Mangers and above, but lets really try and promote this as well. It could almost become a resource we could use to get some decent technical knowledge from those that have tried it.

What do you lot think?

Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 10:03 am

Hi

Sounded like such a good idea I thought you could have a place all to itself.

Rob

Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 3:44 pm

Okay, Ian. Here goes mate:

Following a recent drill involving the rescue of a casualty from the cab of a 30 metre tower crane, the following learning points were noted. It has been suggested that these are shared with the FRU community.

From an Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) perspective it’s important that Officers attending incidents involving rescues from height are aware that the training and equipment provided by DCLG, and formerly the ODPM, enables USAR personnel to get to, and work safely at, height (until the USAR rope access courses are made available by the Fire Service College). To carry out a rescue like the one practiced requires Level II line rescue trained personnel equipped with Level II line kit carried on the ten ‘original’ Fire Rescue Units. It’s worth noting that a line capable FRU will not necessarily be crewed by five Level II trained firefighters.

In the event of a rescue from a tower crane while it has been shut down for the night it is important to note that the jib will be elevated and left in free spool. This is to prevent wind loading. If carrying out a rescue in high, or even moderate, winds the top section of the crane, the cab and jib will revolve. This could cause problems for the crew carrying out the rescue.

The initial plan was to go aloft with a crew of four- one Crew Manager/Safety Officer; two Quadra operators; and one rescuer. It was found that the amount of work involved when at height ideally required a crew of five. This, however, reduces what available room there is up top. The available room in the cab is also limited which makes manoeuvring the casualty into a stretcher problematic, particularly if that person is unresponsive.

Accessing the cab from the ground was quite simple. The crew climbed the internal Jacobs ladder which is fitted with staged landings and protected by steel hoops which surround the ladder. However, the hoops diminish in size nearer to the top of the crane which makes carrying gear aloft impossible. Therefore, the line bag and associated equipment have to be hauled aloft on a tag line.

When selecting anchor points for the Quadras, consider the desirability of maintaining the Quadra operator’s line of sight with the casualty throughout the incident/drill.

Due to the preponderance of hazardous material on a building site (particularly bare rebar waiting to be cast) a suitable landing place for the casualty and rescuer needs to be established before the rescue begins. Due to the possibility of the upper section of the crane revolving while the rescue is in operation (as mentioned above), the crew on the ground need to prepare for an alternative landing place.

When lowering a casualty from a significant height crews should be aware that if a main line failure occurred the casualty and rescuer would fall the length of the slack in the back up line plus an additional 4.5% of the length of paid out rope. Consideration should be given to placing both Quadra rope devices in lowering mode at the point of critical impact (approx 7m from the ground with a 40m drop).

Consider using a releasable (to compensate for crane movement) cable way using tag line, to guide the rescuer / casualty to the landing site.

Considering the two recent tower crane incidents attended by Battersea and Croydon, I spoke to the site manager who stated that all tower cranes are certified before they are allowed to be got to work. However, a report in the Contract Journal UK, states that ‘the current boom in the construction industry and the increasing height of buildings mean crane hire companies have come under extreme pressure to get more crane sections - a demand crane manufacturers are struggling to meet. Many have order backlogs running to several months[i]’. There are reports of counterfeit parts on the Continent, that if used, have the possibility of causing a tower crane to collapse ‘which may cause property loss, personal injury or death.’ There are also reports of hybrid tower cranes being constructed from various spare parts that although may be sound, when put together ‘throws all the manufacturers' safety standards into doubt.’

[1]http://www.contractjournal.com/Articles/2007/07/18/55644/fake-crane-parts-pose-danger-to-contractors.html

Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 7:15 pm

Excellent post Dave, I would like to show the resident guru on our team (Eddy) I'm sure he'll find it as interesting as me.

We have be given or acquired a mobile phone tower to train on, we are just trying to find somewhere to put it. Hopefully that'll give station crews somewhere to train on.

Could I ask the next time you arrange an exercise like this myself or others off the team can come and observe (promise that's all we'll do) :wink:

Personally I think this would be great experience for me and the rest of the team.

rob

Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:18 pm

Dave
as already mentioned an excellent post, is it ok to use this for the lads at work in the near future?
Ian

Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 2:35 pm

Rob, Ian,

Please use the material in the post as you see fit. As you said, Ian, by sharing information not readily available in any formal guidance notification, we can all learn together.

Rob: There are a couple of watches at Battersea with forthcoming crane/line drills planned. I'll check out the details when I'm back in on Sunday. Also, we're planning a major (6 pump, 3 FRU, USAR) exercise at Clapham Junction railway station for October. Very much in the embryonic stage at the moment. All I can say is that it will almost certainly be a Sunday. I'll let you know as the idea develops.

Dave

Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:34 pm

Hi Dave

I know this is an old post, but I thought it was worth adding something.

The problem with putting your safety Quadra in lowering mode is that by operating the handle you're physically opening the gap between the sheave and the cam to allow rope to pass through the device. So, if the main fails you've added reaction time to the mix. The result is that what you've gained by putting some pre-loading on the safety may be outweighed by the load dropping during this reaction time and the inevitable stretch you'll get when the Quadra catches it.

Sometimes you're better off just keeping it in safety mode, ensuring there's no slack and making double sure the Quadra operator has a good grip of the tail end of the line.

I guess the short answer is that from the Brigade and PPE regs point of view we've also got a duty to use the gear in the way the policy dictates.

All the best

Eddy

Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 11:15 am

Interesting point, Eddy. The deal with the Quadras was a recommendation made by the individual that implemented line rescue in London, who was at the drill with us. If you're free we're doing another crane drill on Saturday. You're welcome along, mate- I realise it's not a normal working day for you, however. Call me on my mobile if you fancy it mate.

Learner User Online: Joined: 28 Feb 2008 Posts: 49

Hi Ed,
You make a valid and arguable point regarding the Quadro in lowering mode but, as stated, it does rely on no slack and a vigilante and conscious operator, the way I understand it is that with the equipment in lowering mode it fullfills the criteria set by the 'Sudden death' rule.

Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 9:50 pm

Shouldn't we be vigilante and conscious operators at all times