(2) TB 167 - Metro Purple Line Extension Project Construction Phase

Question 1

What was originally labeled the Wilshire/ Western branch of the Metro _____ Line was re-labeled as the Purple Line in 2006.

Answer 1

Red Line

Question 2

This Training Bulletin covers Phase _____ of the Metro Purple Line Extension (MPLE).

Answer 2

Phase 1.

Question 3

Both the Red Line and the Purple Line begin at Union Station and travel along the same tracks until they part at the _______ station.

Answer 3

-Wilshire/Vermont

(The MRL heads north to the San Fernando Valley and the MPL continues west, terminating at the Wilshire/Western Station.)

Question 4

Cross passages connecting the east and west bound Purple Rail tunnels are required at a spacing of ____ feet.

Answer 4

850 ft (different from red line tunnels)

(These provide emergency evacuation routes in the event of a train malfunction (or other emergency) and locations for equipment necessary to operate the subway system.)

Question 5

The Fire Department will respond to 3 portal entries during the construction of the project.

Portals will be phased as the tunnel advances at:

Answer 5

-Wilshire/La Cienega Boulevard
-Wilshire/La Brea Avenue
-Wilshire/Fairfax Avenue

Question 6

Access into the tunnel portals will be via Cal-OSHA compliant stairway-encased LADDER and/or a construction ELEVATOR. Adjacent to the entry portal by the elevator and ladder is the “Brass Board.”

What is the Brass Board?

Answer 6

•tag-in/tag-out system used for employee accountability and is a reference for first responders to determine who is working in the tunnel.

(Each Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) has a crew of approx 10 miners with additional personnel above ground.)

Question 7

The most probable response types for the purple line construction project are:

Answer 7

-EMS
-physical rescues
-industrial injuries
-small fire or explosion
-collapse
-flooding

Question 8

If the atmosphere in the Purple Line construction tunnel is COMPROMISED, entry will be limited to _________.

Answer 8

US&R members wearing appropriate respiratory protection.

Question 9

EMS Incident — Purple Line Construction

The On-Site Safety Plan advocates that injured victims are to be brought outside of the tunnel and brought to grade level how?

Answer 9

crane-lifted on a Stokes litter basket by construction workers

(LAFD resources should coordinate operations with the Crane Operator who will facilitate moving the victim and/or provide current situation status. Consider assigning member with operator)

Question 10

The MFC dispatch algorithm for reported incidents in the Purple Line tunnel or shaft during the construction phase will be:

Answer 10

-3 Engines
-2 Light Forces
-2 Battalion Chiefs
-1 Paramedic Rescue
-1 Squad
-1 Heavy Rescue
-1 Tunnel Utility
-1 Tunnel Utility Certified Engine
-1 US&R Group (US&R TF, US&R 88 Tender, ALS Rescue, BLS Rescue, and a BC)

Question 11

In order to comply with Cal-OSHA, full PPE is required for all _____ and ____ incidents that occur below grade level.

Answer 11

Fire and EMS

Question 12

As stated in Cal-OSHA tunneling regulations, “rescue team members must be qualified in rescue procedures, the use and limitations of breathing apparatus, and the use of firefighting equipment.” It is REQUIRED that a personnel monitoring system is implemented.

First responders, in order to facilitate a rescue, may utilize on-site monitoring experts to determine atmospheric safety levels, as long as work in the affected area is deemed safe for _______.

Answer 12

tunnel construction workers.

Question 13

Purple Line Construction

Fire personnel may enter a tunnel with a non-compromised atmosphere provided they have both a ______ and _______. This is required regardless of the type of incident.

Answer 13

SCBA and a 1 hour rated Self-Contained Self-Rescuer device (SCSR)

(SCSRs are maintained and stored at each entry portal by the contractor specifically for LAFD personnel. SCSR required by law for all personnel who enter a mining/tunneling site)

Question 14

Purple Line Construction

First responders may obtain tunnel atmospheric information from:

Answer 14

-Regional Connector Constructors Underground Safety Officer

-Regional Connector Constructors Supervisor

-MTA Inspector

-from gas indicators located in the onsite construction trailer

(Allowable atmospheric readings will be posted in the contractor’s trailer immediately adjacent to the gas indicators.)

Question 15

Types of incidents with a non-compromised atmosphere where members must wear SCBA and have a SCSR ready for use:

Answer 15

-EMS: injury, heart attack, electrocution, etc.

-Physical extrication from equipment

-Confined space rescue

-Collapse or flooding with rescue

Question 16

COMPROMISED Atmosphere Purple Line Tunnel Construction

Each rescuer is required to have/wear a SCBA and a SCSR; however personnel are limited to initial OBSERVATION or ATMOSPHERIC TESTING with the following conditions:

Answer 16

1. A back-up team must be standing by before entry.
2. A two-member entry team must remain within sight of the tunnel or shaft opening.
3. A four-member entry team may enter areas that are out of sight of the tunnel or shaft opening.
4. Teams entering a compromised atmosphere must not exceed a distance of 500 FEET from the tunnel or shaft opening.

Question 17

Purple Line Construction — Compromised Tunnel Atmosphere

First Responders may only enter a tunnel with COMPROMISED atmosphere for initial OBSERVATION or ATMOSPHERIC TESTING.

In order to have enough air reserve to exit the tunnel, members entering the tunnel are limited to:
•_____ minutes working time with 60-minute air cylinder
•_____ minutes with 45-minute air cylinder

Answer 17

12 mins with 60-min bottle

9 mins with 45-min bottle

Question 18

Entry into a tunnel with a known COMPROMISED atmosphere beyond initial observation or atmospheric testing is limited to ______ members only.

Answer 18

US&R members

(Members entering a compromised atmosphere must utilize a Closed-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (re-breather) and take gas readings periodically while in the tunnel UNLESS the incident involves FIRE or EXPLOSION.)

Question 19

Based on the minimal fire load inside the tunnel a direct fire attack should only be justified if there is a possibility of ______.

Answer 19

saving a life.

Question 20

The water system in the tunnel, during construction will consist of:

-A 6-inch temporary pipe supplied by a hydrant

-Fire Department connection located next to the hydrant at ground level

-2 ½ - inch NST Fire Department outlet every _____ ft

Answer 20

200’

Question 21

The first officer on-scene gives a radio size-up, assumes the initial responsibility of IC, and assigns the company to _________.

Answer 21

Lobby/Systems Control.

(The IC deploys the first alarm assignment to obtain initial OBSERVATIONS, and to establish both BASE and STAGING.)

Question 22

Due to strict tunnel regulations, Lobby/Systems Control will verify the following with the on-site supervisor:

Answer 22

-Conditions/problems

–actions being taken

-Number of people in the tunnel (check brass board)

-Gas readings

-Condition of tunnel systems/equipment

Question 23

If the tunnel atmosphere is determined to be ________, the first-in company may enter the tunnel to assist with patient care provided they comply with the SCBA and SCSR requirements.

If this occurs, another company from the first alarm assignment will be assigned to Lobby/Systems Control.

Answer 23

non-compromised

Question 24

Priority Placement of First Alarm for Purple Line Tunnel Construction

The second arriving company establishes ______ above ground in close proximity to the portal opening.

Answer 24

Staging.

Question 25

Priority Placement of First Alarm for Purple Line Tunnel Construction

The third arriving company will operate in the portal adjacent to the tunnel and is responsible for ________.

Answer 25

Technical Support.

(Will be augmented with USAR members)

Question 26

Lobby/Systems control for a tunneling incident is normally located where?

Answer 26

Contractor’s trailer

(Monitors mining phone and related fire life safety/tunnel systems)

Question 27

During the construction phase there are no 800 MHz repeater antennas in the tunnel.

Therefore, radio communication will be line-of-site only, and will only work in the ______ mode which may require relaying information to the Incident Commander.

Answer 27

Direct mode

(No other devices are to be used below grade, including cell phones, as they are not intrinsically safe.)

Question 28

Each TBM has a crew of approximately ten miners with additional personnel above ground. During shift change, ____ to ____ personnel may be on-site.

Answer 28

50 to 75

Question 29

The contractor maintains a hard-wired mining phone system during the tunneling operation. It is equipped with a phone every ____ to ____ feet in the tunnel, as well as on the TBM, at the cross-passages and the portals.

Answer 29

800 to 1,000 ft

Question 30

Cal-OSHA requires that tunneling contractors provide rescue team personnel that meet specified training requirements if more than 10 workers will be operating in a tunnel or shaft.

The LAFD has agreed to be that rescue team as we can meet the requirement of having a rescue team on site within ____ minutes.

Answer 30

30 mins

Question 31

A non-compromised atmosphere meets all of the following requirements:

Answer 31

•Oxygen levels between 19.5-23%

•CO levels no greater than 25 ppm

•H2S no greater than 10 ppm

•NO2 no greater than 5ppm

•CO2 levels no greater than 5%

•Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) no greater than 10%

Question 32

The ______ reports to the Tunnel Division and is responsible for Rapid Intervention.

Answer 32

Back-up Entry Team

Question 33

USAR Entry Team tactical channels should be limited to:

Answer 33

-Entry Team(s)
-Backup Entry Team(s)
-Entry Supervisor/Attendant
-Tunnel Division Supervisors
-IC/Operation/Branch Directors

Question 34

Priority Placement of First Alarm Assignment

___________ establishes Tunnel Division in the portal, adjacent to the tunnel.

Answer 34

First arriving US&R certified company Officer

(The remainder of the company will prepare for tunnel entry operations.)

Question 35

Engineers shall pump a maximum of ______ psi into the Fire Department connections.

Answer 35

150 psi

Question 36

________ will allow rescuers the ability to complete a rescue mission should a non-compromised atmosphere become compromised.

Answer 36

Redundancy in breathing apparatus

(This redundancy will also keep rescuers in compliance with the law which requires a separate respiratory protection system for escape with a duration of one hour.)

Question 37

________ has the responsibility of verifying the “brass board” and accounts for all construction workers.

Answer 37

Staging

Question 38

For fire personnel, the breathing apparatus policy for “Tunnel Incidents” is predicated on two possible atmospheric conditions within the tunnel:

Answer 38

non-compromised and compromised