Heavy Equipment Operators
Position Specific Requirements:
The Heavy Equipment and Rigging Specialist is responsible for performing various assessments and construction-related liaison for the task force during incident operations. The Heavy Equipment and Rigging Specialist reports directly to the Rescue Team Manager.
Description of Duties:
The Heavy Equipment and Rigging Specialist is responsible for:
- Ensuring the safety of Task Force members by assessing hazards at disaster sites pertaining to the operations of cranes and other heavy equipment
- Assessing the need for and capabilities of various types of construction-related equipment to assist task force personnel in US&R activities
- Assessing disaster site for safe and efficient location of cranes and other heavy equipment
- Preparing site for and assisting with positioning and setup of cranes and other heavy equipment
- Identifying various rigging techniques to assist in the rescue of victims or stabilization of collapsed buildings, including the development of rigging plans and procedures
- Interacting with and coordinating efforts between the task force personnel and heavy equipment operators, contractors and organized labor
- Adhering to all safety procedures
- Providing documentation to assist Task Force in procuring cranes and other heavy
equipment, as well as maintaining daily logs - Providing accountability, maintenance, and minor repairs for all issued equipment
- Performing additional tasks or duties as assigned
Position Requirements and Criteria:
Individuals who meet the following requirements and criteria will be eligible to become Heavy Equipment and Rigging Specialists in the DHS/FEMA National US&R Response System. The intent of these requirements is to select personnel fully capable of providing competent assessments and advice to task force personnel in the urban disaster environment.
Required Training:
The Heavy Equipment and Rigging Specialist shall:
- Meet all Administrative and General Training requirements
- Complete the DHS/FEMA National US&R Response System Heavy Equipment and Rigging Specialist course
Other Specific Requirements:
The Heavy Equipment and Rigging Specialist shall be:
3. Experienced in heavy construction field, such as heavy equipment operator, crane operator, iron worker, rigger, or other applicable field
– OR –
3. A minimum of three years experience as a Rescue Specialist on a TaskForce
Recommended Training:
The Heavy Equipment Rigging Specialist should:
- CompleteallTechnicalRescueSkillSetsasdefinedinAppendixAunlessqualified as a Rescue Specialist
- Complete DHS/FEMA National US&R Response System Structural Collapse Technician training course
Technical Rescue Skill Sets:
Minimum skill set recommendations for Task Force Personnel who enter the hazard zone, i.e. forward deployment:
- General Requirements of NFPA 1670
- Rope Rescue awareness per NFPA 1670*
- Trench Rescue awareness per NFPA 1670
- Duties of the Entrant per 29 CFR 1910.146
- * Additional Required Rope Rescue skills;
o Safety considerations during rope rescue operations
o Characteristics of life safety rope and webbing
o Application of rope rescue hardware specific to a lowering operation
o Application of rope rescue hardware and software specific to a belay line
o Assemble and apply a Class III harness
o Assemble and apply a “Hasty Harness”
o Tie a Simple Figure eight knot
o Tie a Figure Eight follow-through knot
o Tie an overhand follow-through with webbing
o Attach a prusik loop to a rope
o Be familiar with anchor systems
o Be familiar with raising and lowering systems
o Proficiency at attaching oneself to, and participating in a raising or lowering system
o Proficiency at descending and ascending a fixed line, low angle