Aerial appliances Flashcards
Hazards associated with aerial appliances
- Collisions with other vehicles/structures
- Trip hazards with jack beams
- Capsize of appliance due to ground/loading/weather conditions
- Working at height
- Electrocution from overhead power cables
- Exposure to radio waves from phone masts etc
- Fire & blast hazard from buildings
- Objects/debris from above
- Building collapse through water loading
- Respiratory/visual hazards from smoke
- Prolonged exposure to heat/cold
Siting aerial appliances
- IC can take advice from aerial crew
- Once in position hard to move appliance
Using appliance as water tower
- Aerial needs dedicated PA and crew
- Crews to be withdrawn from sector water tower is being used on before using
- Full risk assessment before re-commiting crews
- Safety officers to be appointed when crews working in building water tower is being used on
Aerial appliance safety considerations
- All personnel working aloft to use safety harness and follow safety procedures
- Aerial crews to make regular stability checks, especially when using water tower
- BA wearers working aloft to follow BA policy 466
Uses for aerial appliances
- Rescue operations (at all levels, including basements).
- Casualty retrieval with on-board stretcher equipment.
- Observation platforms.
- Water tower.
- Foam delivery
- External dry riser if the fixed installation is unavailable or defective (both the Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP) and the hydraulic platform (HP) are able to perform this role).
- High level ventilation.
- Floodlighting.
- Other special service incidents not listed above, such as assisting other agencies, animal rescue, high level access, and when making safe (items in precarious position).
Jack-down pressures for aerial appliances
- ALP, up to 15 tonnes
- HP, up to 8 tonnes
- TL, up to 4.5 tonnes
What other tasks can aerial appliance crews be detailed to carry out at an incident?
None - the crew must not be separated from their appliance
Minimum distances when working near high-voltage cables
- 10m, operationally (no water)
- 20m, training (no water)
- 30m, water tower
Minimum distance from phone mast/microwave antennae
4m
Distance from PA to aerial appliance when supplying water
One hose length wherever possible
Before water is discharged into or onto any building the IC must consider:
- Water loading – aerials can supply up to 2.45 tons of water per minute.
- Water pressure and its effect on the fabric of the building, debris and personnel.
- Fire travel - application of water from an aerial may have the effect of pushing fire through the building and affect crews working elsewhere.
- Damage control and flooding.
- Water run-off.
BA working aloft considerations
- Base operator to ensure clear view of cage/head
- If cage/head enveloped in smoke base operator must check to see if crews are safe to continue operations
- Base operator must not wear BA and must be in safe air
- If comms lost or conditions deteriorate base operator must train head into safe air
Who should wear safety harness?
All personnel in cage with the exception of members of public for immediate rescue
When is a strong wind warning issued and how?
- 30mph and above
- By RMC via printer message
- By main scheme radio to mobile appliances
Considerations when ordering aerial appliances
- If request for ‘aerial appliance’ then nearest aerial appliance will be sent regardless of type
- If specific type ordered it may cause a delay in arrival
- With regards to reliefs, aerial appliances may take a long time to order and arrive
- If an aerial appliance is not needed at an incident it must be released asap
