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Working Fire Training
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TRAINING
Ropes & Rigging Techniques, Pt. II
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Goals of Training
Ropes & Hardware
Requirements
Haul Systems
Line Transfer vs.
Third-Man Pickoff
Safety Line Philosophy
Patient Packaging
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Evolutions
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Discussion
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Quiz
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Continuing Education
1
Ropes & Rigging Techniques, Pt. II
Goals of Training
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Learning or refamiliarizing members with
basic rope techniques
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Understanding how these techniques will
work in real scenarios.
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Emphasis on conducting rope rescues in a
safe manner.
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Ropes & Rigging Techniques, Pt. II
Rope & Hardware Requirements
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Always use static rope, not dynamic.
– Rappelers and cliff climbers like dynamic rope because
it has more give; rescuers don’t need that.
– Static rope used is a two-person load rope; 9,000 lb.
Capacity.
– Static rope has a low spin tendency; important for
working with a Stokes.
– Core carries 80% of the weight; the sheath carries
20%.
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Ropes & Rigging Techniques, Pt. II
Rope & Hardware Requirements (cont.)
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Always use static rope, not dynamic (cont.).
– Use training rope with a safety.
– Don’t step on rope or smoke near it
(to avoid burning it).
– Pad edges to avoid friction.
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Ropes & Rigging Techniques, Pt. II
Rope & Hardware Requirements (cont.)
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Carabiners: Do’s and Don’ts
– Make sure the gate is locked; don't drop them.
– Load carabiners in-line; don't let them turn
sideways.
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Ropes & Rigging Techniques, Pt. II
Rope & Hardware Requirements (cont.)
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Rappel Rack & Figure 8
– Use a Rack with a Line Transfer or Third-Man
Pickoff.
– Add and subtract friction with more control
(depending on how many bars are used).
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Ropes & Rigging Techniques, Pt. II
Rope & Hardware Requirements (cont.)
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Gibbs & Rescue Ascenders
– Used a lot in haul systems; Z-rigs, 3:1, 4:1, etc.
– Shock loading the rope with these devices will
damage the rope because they dig in. will damage
the rope because
they dig in.
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Ropes & Rigging Techniques, Pt. II
Rope & Hardware Requirements (cont.)
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Pulleys
– Used for mechanical advantage
– Size of rope to use with a pulley is determined by
rope diameter; specifically, four times the rope
diameter.
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half-inch rope demands a minimum 2" diameter pulley; you
can go bigger but never smaller.
– Smaller-diameter pulleys will crush the rope by
overbending it.
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Ropes & Rigging Techniques, Pt. II
Rope & Hardware Requirements (cont.)
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Harnesses
– Rated for one person; all other devices are rated for
two persons.
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Important to remember in Line Transfer or Third-Man
Pickoff maneuvers: Don’t clip victim to your harness!
Hook them to the haul system!
– Class of Harness
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Class II is basically just a seat harness (used in Confined
Space evolutions)
Class III is a chest-and-seat harness.
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Ropes & Rigging Techniques, Pt. II
Haul Systems
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Prusik Wraps:
– Single:
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Used around our main line or a working line; great for
unloading your own system, like a rappel system.
Wrap them carefully so they don’t overlap or they won’t
work.
Use it to make a foot loop for you to stand on.
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Ropes & Rigging Techniques, Pt. II
Haul Systems (cont.)
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Prusik Wraps:
– Tandem Triple-Wrap Prusik:
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Use a long and a short Prusik cord
Can replace mechanical grab devices like a gibbs, rescue
ascenders, etc.
Use if short of hardware. Great for making a safety to a
haul system; when they stretch out, they lock off.
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Ropes & Rigging Techniques, Pt. II
Haul Systems (cont.)
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Anchors:
– Must be bomb-proof
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Keep in-line with rescuer if possible; avoid slack and load
shock.
Steel beams and concrete abutments are excellent
because they're anchored top and bottom. A handrailing
probably isn't.
– Trees: Can be good
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Consider the size and root system; a 2" sapling won't work!
Make sure it's alive.
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Ropes & Rigging Techniques, Pt. II
Haul Systems (cont.)
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Anchors:
– Boulders:
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They must be huge and embedded in the ground.
– Vehicles: Excellent
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Be sure and remove the keys; chock it down in necessary.
– Equipment:
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Useful if very heavy and immovable
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Ropes & Rigging Techniques, Pt. II
Haul Systems (cont.)
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Anchors:
– Picket System
– Steel pickets planted in a row
– System will lose efficiency as it grows:
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Single picket: 700 lbs.
1:1 : = 1400
1:1:1 = 1800
3:2:1 System; different ways of rigging it
– Stud work: Use in a bind, but back it up with
something else
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Ropes & Rigging Techniques, Pt. II
Haul Systems (cont.)
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Ladder Gin:
– Use when you can only rig one side in a scenario
(as opposed to an A- Frame where you have two
sides)
– You can use a single or straight ladder, extension
ladder, etc.
– High-point anchor: Remember the angle must be
less than 90 degrees!
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Ropes & Rigging Techniques, Pt. II
Haul Systems (cont.)
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Ladder Gin:
– Use it to rig a:
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2:1 system for lifting
a static line for rapelling
a dynamic line with an offset mechanical system to haul a
Stokes, etc.
– Don't pull off-axis when using a Ladder Gin; it's not
an A-frame; it relies on a straight-down load to keep
it steady.
– Add a third line for stability if you have the room and
secure the bottom of the ladder.
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Ropes & Rigging Techniques, Pt. II
Haul Systems (cont.)
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A-Frame:
– Useful for trench rescue
– Laterally sturdy as well as vertically sturdy when
you rig the guy lines
– Takes a high-point anchor for a mechanical
advantage system
– Use the A-Frame when two sides are available for
rigging; otherwise, use the Ladder Gin.
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Ropes & Rigging Techniques, Pt. II
Haul Systems (cont.)
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Mechanical Advantage (MA)
– 3:1 and 4:1 are most useful; easy to rig
– Increase MA if more lift is needed or you're short on
manpower.
– There are disadvantages to using exceedingly large
MAs, such as 12:1 or 15:1:
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You use an awful lot of rope
You lose sensitivity and can't feel what's happening to the
rope: snagging, etc.
– You can exceed the rope weighting and overload
such a system
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Ropes & Rigging Techniques, Pt. II
Line Transfer vs. Third-Man Pickoff
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Line Transfer
– moving a dead weight
(ex: unconscious person) from another haul system
to the haul system of the rescuer system
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Use no less than six bars on your rack!
Third-Man Pickoff
– rigging a harness on a trapped person and moving
person to haul system of rescuer
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Ropes & Rigging Techniques, Pt. II
Safety Line Philosophy
It's becoming evident that safety lines are not
essentially necessary on rescues. If we use
rated equipment that's in good shape and use
good technique, we can skip the safety.
However, if there's time and manpower to rig
one, go ahead and do it. But if response speed
is critical, go without it. Follow the S.O.G. in
your department regarding the use of safety
lines.
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Ropes & Rigging Techniques, Pt. II
Scene Operations
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Don't drive or walk on ropes.
Rig tag lines on all personnel working near cliff
edges.
Proper PPE: gloves and helmet, weather
permitting
Make your assignments and go with it;
examine the capabilities of your people and
use them accordingly.
Good communications, coordination and
teamwork
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Ropes & Rigging Techniques, Pt. II
Patient Packaging
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Stokes, SKED, LSP, Half-Back, Hastey
Harness (see examples in Volume 04-4)
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Ropes & Rigging Techniques, Pt. II
Evolutions
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General Advice & Precautions:
– Set haul assignments: give assignments based on
personnel strengths and preferences.
– Decide on rigging to use: mechanical advantage,
hardware, etc.
– Select anchor points.
– Select lift conveyance: Stokes, SKED, etc.
– Is rescuer being lowered or rapelling down?
– If lowering rescuer, be sure and load system before
descent begins.
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Ropes & Rigging Techniques, Pt. II
Evolutions (cont.)
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General Advice & Precautions (cont.)
– Position system so rope falls just beyond the edge of
cliff or structure; this way, the rescuer is within reach of
rescue team and doesn't have to swing out too far.
– If it's too close, then our patient gets bumped up
against the side of the cliff or structure below the
rescue point.
– On Line Transfers or Third-Man Pickoffs, never
connect the patient to rescuer's harness; only to the
haul system.
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Ropes & Rigging Techniques, Pt. II
Evolutions (cont.)
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Ladder Gin: Lowering/Lifting
– Anchor points add stability to system when they are
fairly wide; but don't set them too far back because
long tag lines tend to pull on the system.
– Watch twists when using 3:1, 4:1 systems. Avoid nylon
rubbing on nylon. Use a swivel if necessary.
– Set system length so there is sufficient height beneath
the system hardware to haul Stokes over the edge
without a lot of manual lifting
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Ropes & Rigging Techniques, Pt. II
Evolutions (cont.)
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Ladder Gin: Lowering/Lifting (cont.)
– Consider using a redirect pulley system to move the
haul team away from the edge, reducing congestion at
the point of rescue.
– A redirect also works well with a Ladder Gin because it
keeps the pull force centered and in line with the
ladder, avoiding movement side-to-side.
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Ropes & Rigging Techniques, Pt. II
Evolutions (cont.)
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Stairwell Carry
– Use the line to hold the weight of a Stokes or lowering
device while rescuers escort the it down the stairwell.
The dimensions of the stairwell will determine exactly
how you handle the stretcher.
– Two carabiners connected by a swivel are the heart of
the haul system
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Ropes & Rigging Techniques, Pt. II
Evolutions (cont.)
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Stairwell Carry (cont.)
– As usual, pick a sturdy anchor point. In a stairwell:
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this could be a railing base or support.
or you could rig a high anchor point using a ladder at the top
of the stairwell if there's room.
– The routine is to lower, then manipulate the stretcher
around the stairwell, then lower.
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Ropes & Rigging Techniques, Pt. II
Evolutions (cont.)
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Line Transfer
– Rescuer may go to five bars on the rescue rack when
lowering; when adding the patient to the system, never
use less than six bars for added safety in descent.
– Upon reaching the patient either by rapelling or by
being lowered, invert and work upside down as you
hook the patient to the haul system. DO NOT hook the
patient to your harness!
– Weight the system with the patient before you remove
him from the ledge.
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Ropes & Rigging Techniques, Pt. II
Evolutions (cont.)
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Stokes Rescue
– Diamond lash the patient into the Stokes, also making
adjustments for horizontal or vertical rescue.
– Size of patient will demand adjustment of lashing.
– Rescuer below maintains control of tag lines on the
Stokes as it is hauled up.
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Department Discussion
The department involved in this month’s
training pose some discussion questions
that you can use as discussion-starters in
your own department’s training sessions.
How will your department handle these
scenarios?
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Department Discussion
“What constitutes a correct rescue technique?
Is there such a thing as a bad rescue?”
“How does your department handle ropes?
Does it keep them pre-rigged in a bag?”
“Here’s a question for the company officer: how
do you assign duties on the rescue scene? Is it
by ability? Seniority? What criteria do you use?”
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Department Discussion
“What is your department’s policy on safety lines
during actual rescues?”
“Do you think it’s a good idea to be able to
execute rescues using equipment that your
department doesn’t own? Why might this be
useful?”
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Department Discussion
“Is there any advantage to executing a rescue
by a different method if the one you usually use
has always worked?”
- Deputy Chief Steve Rhinehart
Maryland Heights Fire Protection District,
St. Charles County, Missouri
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Ropes & Rigging Techniques: Quiz
Date__________________ Firefighter________________
Chief/T.O.______________ Education Credits _________
Select the best answer:
1. True or False:
Keeping a downward weight on a Ladder Gin won’t help its
stability.
2. True or False:
Because rapelling is an accepted technique, you should also use
dynamic rope for rescues as you would with rapelling.
3. True or False:
Don’t let carabiners turn sideways.
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Ropes & Rigging Techniques: Quiz
Select the best answer:
4. Multiple Choice:
Which of the following would you NOT use to grab in a safety
system?
a. Rescue ascender
b. Prusik wrap
c. Gibbs ascender
d. Butterfly knot
e. None of the above
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Ropes & Rigging Techniques: Quiz
Select the best answer:
5. Multiple Choice:
When considering mechanical advantage, which of the
following are important?
a. Possible loss of sensitivity through the rope
b. Possible overloading of the rope weighting
c. Amount of rope that will be used
d. Less than optimal manpower
e. All of the above
(Answers on Slide 40)
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Continuing Education
If you’re enrolled in the Open Learning Fire Service Program at the
University of Cincinnati, here’s your opportunity this month to earn
one college credit hour for watching Working Fire Training.
Kramer vs. Kramer: Rope & Rigging Techniques, Pt. II
Complete written responses to the following three essay questions:
1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a county-wide task
force for specialized rescue?
2. Describe how specialized rescue is conducted in your county or
your area and list any changes you would recommend.
3. As a rule, do you feel that a county-wide task force for a specialty
function is effective? Why or why not?
…CONT.
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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Continuing Education
Send your responses to:
Mr. Bill Kramer
University of Cincinnati
College of Applied Science
2220 Victory Parkway, ML #103
Cincinnati, Ohio 45206
ENROLLMENT INFORMATION:
For more information on enrolling in the Open Learning
program to gain college credit, call Fire at 800-516-3473
for a brochure or, to register directly, call the University of
Cincinnati at 513-556-6583. Associates and Bachelors
programs are available. Call to have your transcripts
evaluated.
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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04-5 Training Materials
TRAINING
Thanks so much for viewing
Working Fire Training!
See you next month – stay safe!
Answers to quiz on Slides 42-44:
1. False 2. False 3. True 4. d. 5. e.
Working Fire Training / Copyright 2004 / Volume 04-5
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