Whats going on in lower Westchester?

[efdny2003 16]

I just heard Tech Rescue, Haz-Mat and Battalion 14 get toned out. Anyone know whats going on where?

[DaRock98 76]

Tarrytown has 2 people down in a sewer.

[efdny2003 16]

Just spoke to a friend of mine from Sleepy Hollow they're going with one engine for Stat Flight, and Greenburgh Tech Rescue just went through Elmsford.

[SRS131EMTFF 471]

Based on what has been described here Tarrytown has a Haz-Mat job with Tech Rescue component. What if this is two people down in a sewer due to Hydrogen Sulfide (sewer gas), then you are going to need a Tech Rescue team to reach the scene and then a Haz-Mat team to Decon, now add victims and there is your STAT flight, with your engine too. It all makes sense. Is it WCTRT and WCHMT operating? Is there any more info?

Edited September 7, 2010 by Truck4

[efdny2003 16]

I'm still waiting for more info, not hearing much radio traffic; I am well aware that it could very easily be a call requiring Haz-Mat and Tech Rescue. So far I've heard County Haz-Mat and Tech Rescue dispatched, not sure if its all for the same call. Also, victims do not necessarily require Stat Flight especially considering the Medical Center is maybe a 9 minute drive from Tarrytown. Just heard from a buddy of mine near the scene, one transported to WMC by ambulance not sure about second victim.

Edited September 6, 2010 by efdny2003

[ENG47INE 17]

one victim was reported to be in traumatic arrest both guys are reported to be employees for DPW and TFD

[Bnechis 3,961]

based on what has been described here Tarrytown has a Haz-Mat job with Tech Rescue component. What if this is two people down in a sewer due to Hydrogen Sulfide (sewer gas), then you are going to need a Tech Rescue team to reach the scene and then a Haz-Mat team to Decon, now add victims and there is your STAT flight, with your engine too. It all makes sense.

Most Confine Space Incidents with workers down in a sewer are due to Limited Oxygen (less than 19.5%) usually due to displacement with methane and/or hydrogen sulfide. Since these are gasses they do not generally require "decon" however, due to other products personnel are generally hosed off. This does not require "hazmat", just an engine company to hose them after clothing has been removed or cut off.

STAT flight always had a policy of no hazmat victims even if decontaminated, because of the concern for off gassing in the aircraft.

The two big questions:

1) Did the gas fill in after they were in the space or did they fail to monitor the space before entry (as required by state & fed law)?

2) Where was their rescue team? The law requires one on-scene or within 4 minutes prior to entry.

Edited September 7, 2010 by Bnechis

[antiquefirelt 994]

The two big questions:

1) Did the gas fill in after they were in the space or did they fail to monitor the space before entry (as required by state & fed law)?

2) Where was their rescue team? The law requires one on-scene or within 4 minutes prior to entry.

Not sure if it's more regulated in NY, but I believe utility workers have an exemption from the typical confined space rules requiring a standby rescue team. We have entries made by the power company and Verizon all the time with no notification and no rescue teams. The same exemption is granted to marine yard workers, of which we have two large ones. They enter boats and barges to perform work with very little in the way of protection and back-up. Thankfully one yard sees the value of our team being familiar and allows our con-space team to train there regularly for "training in representative spaces". In contrast the local DPW, treatment plant and large industrial facility on our waterfront all list us as their rescue team, and pay for off duty personnel to front load the team in case multiple calls or a 2nd alarm fire takes too many personnel to effectively maintain the team.

[Guest]

Not sure if it's more regulated in NY, but I believe utility workers have an exemption from the typical confined space rules requiring a standby rescue team. We have entries made by the power company and Verizon all the time with no notification and no rescue teams. The same exemption is granted to marine yard workers, of which we have two large ones. They enter boats and barges to perform work with very little in the way of protection and back-up. Thankfully one yard sees the value of our team being familiar and allows our con-space team to train there regularly for "training in representative spaces". In contrast the local DPW, treatment plant and large industrial facility on our waterfront all list us as their rescue team, and pay for off duty personnel to front load the team in case multiple calls or a 2nd alarm fire takes too many personnel to effectively maintain the team.

Even if they are exempt from OSHA laws and regulations, is there a confined space rescue team readily available for such rescues besides the squads of lower Westchester? If these utility companies make entries regularly then how are there not certified teams? Confined space rescue technicians are required to make entry once per year. Does the county team have enough personnel to respond to an incident within a respectable time frame.

[Bnechis 3,961]

Not sure if it's more regulated in NY, but I believe utility workers have an exemption from the typical confined space rules requiring a standby rescue team. We have entries made by the power company and Verizon all the time with no notification and no rescue teams. The same exemption is granted to marine yard workers,

NY is a partial OSHA plan state so municipal workers are covered (including PD, FD, & DPW). Maritime is covered under its own regulations (which includes some confined space, but not as detailed as the general industry standard). Utilities (Power & Phone) have an interesting exemption, they are only exempt until they have an incident. When 29CFR1910.146 1st came out, it was based on the number of fatal incidents that were occuring in confined spaces, the utilities complained that they had enough procedures inplace that nationally they had few if any incidents. The OSHA rulling was they did not have to comply with the regulations, however, if a utility has an incident, OSHA can and has given sitations for failing to meet the standards.

In contrast the local DPW, treatment plant and large industrial facility on our waterfront all list us as their rescue team, and pay for off duty personnel to front load the team.

The federal and NYS state law is very clear on this, they can only list the local FD, if the FD agrees in writting to taking on the responsability and they are equipped and trained to meet the standard. By the fact they are paying for your personnel, sounds like your dept has agreed.