Trench Rescue Training

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Trench Awareness Course

  • 2 Day Course

This course is designed to provide the necessary understanding of the inherent dangers that surround the many open trenches and excavations that can be found in any urban or rural areas. When responding to a trench collapse of a trapped victim, rescuers need to know how to recognise, evaluate and mitigate the dangers in order to design a plan that is safe for the person and for the rescuer.

After successful completion of the course, delegates will be able to:

  • Recognise and control the risks and hazards associated with trench rescue incidents
  • Describe the various soil types and distribution of forces within a trench
  • Demonstrate safe incident approach and scene management
  • Describe the various types and causes of trench collapse
  • Identify and select equipment suitable for the purpose of trench rescue
  • Demonstrate safe systems of work using protective systems in live trenches
  • Perform casualty assessment, NHS Paramedic intervention and casualty extrication from trenches.

Trench Technician Course

  • 4 Day Course

The course is designed primarily for first responders and is designed with a balance of theory input and challenging practical scenarios in live trenches.

The course will cover:

  • Soil Mechanics
  • Understand the characteristics of soil types and layering. Recognising unstable areas associated with trench collapse
  • Understanding lateral soil forces (T-L Method). Minimising the effect of surcharged loads.
  • Working Pathways
  • Installing Protective Systems
  • Implement a shoring plan for a straight nonintersecting trench. (Straight, L and T shaped trenches)
  • Appropriately select, safely use, and apply shoring systems:
  • Strongbacks
  • Pneumatic Struts
  • Demonstrate the safe installation of trench protective systems
  • Atmospheric Hazards
  • Ability to monitor atmospheric conditions; and interpret data.
  • Install ventilation systems to remove / reduce atmospheric hazards.
  • Casualty Recovery and Rescue
  • Initiating a rapid non-entry extrication of an ambulant casualty.
  • Assessing the mechanism of victim entrapment
  • Understand the physical implications of soil on a body.
  • Casualty assessment, and
  • Lifesaving interventions within a trench
  • Ability to package and extricate a casualty from a trench
  • Dismantling Protective Systems
  • Recognise the risk of secondary collapse as shoring is removed
  • Ability to leave the scene safe and secure
  • Scene preservation and body recovery.