This 40-hour program meets the requirements set forth by OSHA 1910.146 and NFPA Standards 1670 and 1006 for members of an organization providing Technician Level confined space rescue, including the Awareness and Operations Level prerequisites.  Additional prerequisites include:

• Firefighter 1 & 2, including Hazardous Materials, Operations Level
• Rope Rescue, Operations Level

There is a strong emphasis on rescuer safety throughout the program, which is 20% classroom and 80% hands-on.

Course Content Includes: Initial Actions at a confined space incident, Hazard Identification and Mitigation, which includes, Air Monitoring, basic and advanced Ventilation and Energy Control (LOTO).  The program covers the use of PPE, including chemical protective clothing (Level B) and both SCBA and SABA   Activities that address the operation of an Air Cart, Air Line Management and Communications that support the use of SABA are incorporated.  The use of non-entry rescue techniques are included, as well as Patient Assessment, Care & Packaging.  Basic rope rescue techniques are practiced and reviewed and rigging for technician level confined spaces is presented.  The duties associated with the various positions, such as Rescue Group Supervisor, Rescue Entrants, Rapid Intervention Crew and others are detailed.  The unique aspects of Rescuer Psychology are also addressed in a challenging workshop.  All participants will make entry and perform rescues from several types of real or simulated confined spaces.

For more information, or to schedule a confined space rescue program for your department, please contact: Chris Smith at smith@ersintl.org.

Confined Spaces KILL!

This 24 hour program meets the NFPA 1670 requirements for members of an organization providing confined space rescue at an awareness and operations level.

The program meets and exceeds the knowledge, skills and abilities requirements of the NFPA 1006 Level 1 Technical Rescuer (Confined Space Rescue) section.

Course Content:

• Awareness Level
• Recognize the need for confined space search and rescue
• Initiate contact and establish communications with victims where possible
• Recognize and identify the hazards associated with non-entry confined space emergencies
• Recognize confined space
• Perform a non-entry retrieval
• Implement the emergency response system for confined space emergencies
• Implement site control and scene management
• Operations Level (Confined Space Rescue Level 1)
• Conduct monitoring of the environment
• Prepare for entry into the confined space
• Enter a confined space
• Package the victim for removal from a confined space
• Remove all entrants from a confined space

For more information, or to schedule a confined space rescue program for your department, please contact: Chris Smith at smith@ersintl.org.

This 24-hour program provides instruction on the rescue of employees from conveyors, lift tables, gear drives, and other simple machinery, not including presses. Workshops include hands-on practice related to disassembly, cutting,and lifting/spreading. It addresses the capabilities listed in NFPA 1670 for a Operations Level Machine Rescue Team.

Key Points: EMS considerations, Types of Machines, Terminology, Incident Management Considerations, Energy Control for Rescue, Stabilization, Lifting &Spreading, Cutting Operations, Disassembly Options, Rescuer Safety and more.

This 40-hour program exceeds the capabilities required in NFPA 1670 for an Operations level team.

This is a hands-on, practical course specifically designed to address the needs of fire and rescue agencies which may be called upon to perform rope based rescues from above or below grade including the rescue of workers suspended on fall arrest as well as in support of operations at confined space, trench and structural collapse rescue incidents.

While the emphasis is on working as a team to complete the rescues, there are numerous individual skills are critical to that success. Throughout the program there is a strong emphasis on basic skills and safety. There fundamentals are important, not just for class, but as a foundation for all future rope rescue training. Each of the techniques presented has been tested and proven; and some will be proven again as a part of the program, especially in the belay workshop. After successfully completing the course, participants are able to work safely at rope rescue incidents, operate the commonly used systems (lower, raise and belay) and be familiar with the techniques used for the typical rope rescue incidents.

• NFPA & OSHA Standards
• Standards Operating Guidelines
• Safety
• PPE
• Hardware
• Software
• Knots
• Anchoring
• Rapelling
• Self-Rescue
• Belays
• Lowering Systems
• Mechanical Advantages
• Ladder Systems
• Low Angle Litter use
• Roof-based pick-offs
• Ground-based pick-offs
• Fall Protection Patient Packaging
• Rescue Scenarios

For more information, or to schedule a rope rescue program for your department, please contact: Dave VanHolstyn at truckff@yahoo.com.

This 45-hour program is a combination of classroom and hands-on, practical activities specifically designed to address the needs of fire and rescue agencies which may be called upon to perform rope-based rescues that exceed the capabilities of an Operations Level trained organization. It is also intended to address the specific rope rescue related needs of an Urban Search & Rescue Task Force or Regional Technical Rescue Teams. The program addresses all the capabilities listed in NFPA 1670 for a Technician Level Rope Rescue Team.

While the program includes a brief review of some operations level skills and techniques participants must, as a prerequisite for this class, be familiar with basic knotcraft, anchoring, lowering systems, belaying and pulley systems.

The classroom portion of the program focuses on the basic physics of rope rescue as they apply to anchoring systems, friction, resultants as well an introduction to artificial high directionals and horizontal systems.

The hands-on portion includes advanced anchoring, pulley systems ranging from simple through complex, hot change-overs and the use of the CMC MPD.  Considerable time is spent performing a variety of high angle litter work, both with and without an artificial high directional (Arizona Vortex©).  Rigging to support operations at confined space incidents is addressed, and participants will construct and operate a tracking line offset and a horizontal system to support swift water rescue.

This class also addresses pick-off rescues, using techniques that allow a two or three person team to perform the rescue.

Because rescues involving tree workers are increasing, a module on the rope equipment and techniques used by arborist is also presented.

For more information, or to schedule a rope rescue program for your department, please contact: Dave VanHolstyn at truckff@yahoo.com.

This 40 hour program meets the objectives of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 1670 and 1006).  The search workshop in this program was developed from Michigan-specific structural collapse incidents (tornado in Springfield Township, explosion in Flint, explosion in Wayne, tornado in Dundee, and tornado in Dexter).  The building and wide area search methods and techniques taught in the MUSAR course have become the standard for collapse rescue teams throughout the state.  These Michigan-specific procedures are not found in other state or FEMA collapse rescue training programs.

The MUSAR Collapse Rescue training programs are being used in all of the state regions that have been mandated, by the Michigan Department of Homeland Security, to develop urban search and rescue capabilities.  The use of a single training curriculum has provided a standardized response throughout the three largest urban areas in our state.  Those regions are Region One (Lansing area), Region Two (Detroit area) and Region Six (Grand Rapids area).

The MUSAR Training Foundation continues to work closely with MI-OSHA to provide training on updated procedures for safety concerns that are found at rescue scenes throughout the state of Michigan.  Since Michigan is not a Federal OSHA state many of these “Michigan Specific” methods are not found in any other collapse rescue training curriculum.

Course Content:
Awareness Level

• Recognizing the need for structural collapse search and rescue
• Identifying the resources necessary to conduct structural collapse search and rescue operations
• Initiating the emergency response system for structural collapse incidents (Michigan specific USAR Response System)
• Initiating site control and scene management
• Recognizing the general hazards associated with structural collapse incidents, including the recognition of applicable construction types and categories and the expected behaviors of components and materials in a structural collapse
• Identifying the five types of collapse patterns and potential victim locations
• Recognizing the potential for secondary collapse
• Conducting visual and verbal searches at structural collapse incidents, while using approved methods for the specific type of collapse
• Recognizing and implementing the FEMA Task Force Search and Rescue Marking System, Building Marking System (structure/hazard evaluation), Victim Location Marking System, and Structure Marking System (structure identification within a geographic area)
• Removing readily accessible victims from structural collapse incidents

Operations Level (Structural Collapse Rescue Level 1)

• Size-up of light frame, ordinary, unreinforced and reinforced masonry construction collapsed structures
• Determination of potential victim locations
• Development and implementation of collapse rescue incident action plans
• Search of light frame collapsed structure (Michigan specific curriculum)
• Stabilization of collapsed Operations level structures
• Implementation of collapse support operations
• Release of and removal of victims from entrapment by components of collapsed structures
• Lifting and moving heavy loads
• Breaching structural components

This course is a prerequisite for Structural Collapse Technician.

For more information, or to schedule a collapse rescue program for your department, please contact: Dave Potter at DavidPotter376@gmail.com.

This 60 hour program meets the objectives of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 1670 and 1006). MUSAR Collapse Rescue training programs are being used in all of the state regions that have been mandated, by the Michigan Department of Homeland Security, to develop urban search and rescue capabilities.  The use of MUSAR collapse programs provides standardized response capabilities throughout the three largest urban areas in our state.  Those regions are Region One (Lansing area), Region Two (Detroit area) and Region Six (Grand Rapids area).

Based on a response system of local, mutual aid, regional and state assets that are commonly used in Michigan, the collapse rescue team duties and techniques taught in this class are recognized and widely accepted as the “best practices” across the state.  This allows rescuers from inter-county, regional and state response systems to work safely and efficiently at collapse rescue incidents.

The “pneumatic shoring recovery” plan was developed from Michigan-specific structural collapse incidents (tornado in Springfield Township, explosion in Flint, explosion in Wayne).  These methods and techniques taught in the Technician course have become the standard for collapse rescue teams throughout the state.

The MUSAR Training Foundation continues to work closely with MI-OSHA to provide training on updated procedures for safety concerns that are found at rescue scenes throughout the state of Michigan.  Since Michigan is not a Federal OSHA state many of these “Michigan Specific” methods are not found in any other collapse rescue training curriculum.

Technician level:

• Recognition of the general hazards associated with structural collapse incidents
• Recognition of  concrete tilt-up, reinforced concrete, steel construction
• Recognition of pre and post tensioned concrete and associated hazards
• Recognition of unique collapse and failure hazards associated with steel and concrete types of construction
• Search of technician level types of construction
• Stabilization of technician level collapsed structures
• Utilize a “shoring recovery plan” for pneumatic shores (Michigan specific)
• Accessing victims inside and beneath collapse debris
• Rigging and lifting heavy loads with cranes and heavy machinery
• Perform extrication operations involving packaging, treating and removing victims trapped within and beneath collapse debris

Structural Collapse Operations is a prerequisite for this program.

For more information, or to schedule a collapse rescue program for your department, please contact: Dave Potter at DavidPotter376@gmail.com.

This 50-hour, advanced trench/excavation shoring, symposium consists of 15 hours of intense didactics and 35 hours of hands on training and destructive testing of shoring components and systems. This course is designed for trench rescue team decision makers and trench rescue instructors. NFPA Trench Technician certification is a prerequisite.

The MUSAR Advanced Trench Rescue Shoring Symposium course teaches the participants to apply critical thinking and system analysis skills to develop and install rescue shoring systems in trenches. Students will learn “best practices” that are based on results from destructive testing and engineered data.

Classroom didactics will prepare the participant for guided experimental learning:

• Review and implementation of trench rescue shoring strategies and tactics
• Identification of common collapse patterns and void shoring options
• Calculating soil forces
• Use of engineered shoring charts designed for trench collapse conditions
• Trench rescue shoring system analysis
• Decision making and shoring implementation procedures

Hands on training will include:

• Trench assessment and shoring size up
• Shoring team and panel team operations
• Shoring void areas of partially collapsed trench walls
• End wall shoring options
• Deep excavation shoring with rakers
• Supplemental shoring with raker shores
• Intersecting trench shoring
• Shoring angled trench walls
• Large wall shear shoring
• Use of Vactor trucks and wall sculping equipment
• Extreme soil condition shoring options

Destructive Testing:

Students will learn the purpose and scope of Type 1 and Type 2 rescue shoring tests and will participate in the implementation and collection of data for several trench res-cue shoring destructive testing experiments.

For more information, please contact: Chad Godfrey at godfrey@ersintl.org

This 30-hour program meets and exceeds the knowledge, skills and abilities requirement of the NFPA 1006 standard.

Course Content:
Awareness Level:

• Recognize the need for trench and excavation rescue
• Identify the resources necessary to conduct safe and effective trench and excavation emergency operations
• Initiate the emergency response system for trenches and excavations
• Initiating site control and scene management
• Recognize general hazards associated with trench and excavation emergency incidents and the procedures necessary to mitigate these hazards within the general rescue area and recognizing the unique hazards associated with the weight of soil and its associated entrapping characteristics
• Recognize typical trench and excavation collapse patterns, the reasons trenches and excavations collapse, and the potential for secondary collapse
• Initiate a rapid, non-entry extrication of non-injured or minimally injured victim(s)

Operations Level:

• Conduct a size-up of a collapsed trench
• Implement a trench emergency action plan
• Implement support operations at trench emergencies
• Support a non-intersecting straight wall trench of 8 ft or less
• Release a victim from soil entrapment by components of a nonintersecting collapsed trench of 2.4 m (8 ft) or less in depth
• Remove a victim from a trench
• Disassemble support systems (sheeting/shoring) at a trench emergency incident

For more information, or to schedule a trench rescue program for your department, please contact: Chad Godfrey at godfrey@ersintl.org.

This 50-hour program meets and exceeds the knowledge, skills and abilities requirement of the NFPA 1006 standard.

Course Content
Classroom Portion (10 hours):

• Shoring strategies and tactics
• Collapse patterns and types
• Soil mechanics
• Calculating soil forces
• Rescue specific tabulated data
• Best practices for trench rescue shoring
• Victim release from entrapment and medical considerations
• Case studies

Hands-On Course Content (40 hours):

• Shoring collapsed trenches
• Technician Shoring Team duties
• Technician Panel Team duties
• Technician Entry Team duties
• Team leader decision making
• Technician level shoring operations
• Intersecting trench shoring
• Deep trench operations (15-20 feet)
• Replacement shoring
• Supplemental shoring
• Cross shoring the “repair” hole
• End Wall shoring
• Spreader struts
• Proper use of “variable” strut pressures
• Risk/ benefit and Factors of Safety
• Inside walers
• Outside walers
• LVL walers
• Cantilever walers
• Use of Isolation Devices
• Use of hand held penetrometers
• Rigging and use of trench boxes
• Stabilizing and lifting
• Coordinated use of heavy equipment and equipment operators
• Equipment inventory and restoration
• The last day will include a challenging technician trench rescue scenario!

For more information, or to schedule a trench rescue program for your department, please contact: Chad Godfrey at godfrey@ersintl.org.