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

 

 

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