First Due Tackle Pass It On – Firefighter, Rescue & Extrication Training
Screw jacks are very versatile and pretty inexpensive as well. In a rescue email group today we started discussing screw jacks in the trench environment. Let me first say that I am throwing out some resources for you to use during a review with your crew or fellow trench rats. Be sure to get some ops and tech level training before operating around a trench.
There is limited tabulated data for timber shoring, however you can find some in the OSHA 29 CFR Subpart C App C. I say limited mainly because “if you are in a trench greater than 10′ in depth and over 4′ in width with any kind of soil, the minimum timber shore size in 4″ x 6″, and in the case of Type C soil, it is 8″ x 8″ ” (Martinette, 2008, p. 10).
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We can get 4″ x 4″ and 6″ x 6″ screw jacks easily, however we must realize that the application should be in shallow trenches. 2′ off the bottom, 4′ in between jacks, and 2′ from the top of the trench numbers still apply.
Remember that if all you have is a couple of screw jacks, you may be able to get some shoring in place to protect a victim. Be sure to know what your areas trench resources are and how you should go about getting them to your scene quickly.
Other resources:
Pass it on!
References
Martinette Jr., Cecil. (2008). Trench rescue awareness, operations, technician. Second Edition. Jones and Bartlett Publiishers. Sudbury, MA.
