ASTM F2890-12
(Guide)Standard Guide for Hazard Awareness for Search and Rescue Personnel
Standard Guide for Hazard Awareness for Search and Rescue Personnel
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 This guide establishes the minimum level of training required to provide awareness-level knowledge for personnel operating in and around the areas and operations listed in 1.1.
3.2 This guide may be used by individuals and AHJs that wish to identify the minimum training standards for land-based personnel operating in and around these areas and operations.
3.3 A person trained to this guide is considered to be aware of the hazards and risks associated with these areas and operations.
3.4 A person trained solely to this guide is not considered a “searcher” or “rescuer,” or both.
3.5 This guide may be used to augment other training for a searcher or rescuer, or both.
3.6 This guide by itself is not a training document. It is only an outline of some of the topics required for training or evaluating a searcher and/or rescuer, although it can be used to develop a training document or program.
3.7 It is the responsibility of the AHJ to determine the depth or detail of training needed to meet its training requirements.
3.8 Nothing in this guide precludes an AHJ from adding additional requirements.
3.9 This guide does not stand alone but must be used with the reference documents to provide the specific minimum training needed by a ground searcher and/or rescuer operating in these areas.
3.10 This guide can be used as a reference for training of searchers or rescuers, or both.
3.11 The information presented in the following sections is not in any particular order and does not represent a training sequence.
3.12 It is the responsibility of the AHJ to determine the evaluation process to assess a person’s knowledge. This may be by written exam, oral exam, demonstration, or some other means specified by the AHJ.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide is intended for training those who normally work in natural environments, solely subject to terrain and weather-related risks, who may be asked to respond to, or who may encounter, the operations defined in 1.2.
1.2 This guide identifies and describes hazardous situations and environments, and the associated risks affecting search and rescue personnel who may be working on or around the following:
1.2.1 Landsearch;
1.2.2 Land rescue;
1.2.3 Structural collapse;
1.2.4 Rope rescues;
1.2.5 Confined spaces;
1.2.6 Water, both still and moving; and
1.2.7 Trench or excavation collapse.
1.3 The knowledge conveyed in this guide is intended to enable search and rescue (SAR) personnel to recognize situations that may require skills or capabilities they have not been trained to perform. This understanding will allow them to seek more knowledgeable personnel to mitigate the hazard and perform such rescues or other activities required to complete their mission.
1.4 This guide is not intended to suggest that all search and rescue personnel must have the training identified within it. However, wherever the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) deems this training to be appropriate, this document can be used as a guide.
1.5 The AHJ shall determine what level of training constitutes sufficient competence for search and rescue personnel to enter areas, or carry out missions, which include the hazards described in this guide.
1.6 This guide identifies some of the known disciplines of SAR and their associated hazards. It does not, however, attempt to list all hazards or risks of which a person must be aware to operate safely and effectively in and around any of the areas listed in 1.1 or in Appendix X1.
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Designation: F2890 − 12
Standard Guide for
Hazard Awareness for Search and Rescue Personnel
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2890; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
Recognition of hazards associated with search and rescue operations is critical to the decision-
making process as it relates to personal safety, the urgency of response, and resource requirements.
Thisguideisintendedtoensurethatemergencypersonnelrespondingtoincidentsoutsidetheirnormal
operating area are aware of the hazards associated with response to unfamiliar environments.
1. Scope enter areas, or carry out missions, which include the hazards
described in this guide.
1.1 This guide is intended for training those who normally
work in natural environments, solely subject to terrain and
1.6 This guide identifies some of the known disciplines of
weather-related risks, who may be asked to respond to, or who
SAR and their associated hazards. It does not, however,
may encounter, the operations defined in 1.2.
attempt to list all hazards or risks of which a person must be
awaretooperatesafelyandeffectivelyinandaroundanyofthe
1.2 This guide identifies and describes hazardous situations
areas listed in 1.1 or in Appendix X1.
and environments, and the associated risks affecting search and
rescue personnel who may be working on or around the
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
following:
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.2.1 Landsearch;
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
1.2.2 Land rescue;
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
1.2.3 Structural collapse;
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.2.4 Rope rescues;
1.2.5 Confined spaces;
2. Terminology
1.2.6 Water, both still and moving; and
2.1 Acronyms:
1.2.7 Trench or excavation collapse.
2.1.1 AHJ—Authority Having Jurisdiction
1.3 The knowledge conveyed in this guide is intended to
2.1.2 ASTM—American Society for Testing and Materials
enable search and rescue (SAR) personnel to recognize situa-
tions that may require skills or capabilities they have not been
2.1.3 PPE—Personal Protective Equipment
trained to perform. This understanding will allow them to seek
2.1.4 SAR—Search and Rescue
more knowledgeable personnel to mitigate the hazard and
2.2 Definitions:
perform such rescues or other activities required to complete
2.2.1 Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), n—the
their mission.
organization, office, or individual responsible for enforcing the
1.4 This guide is not intended to suggest that all search and
requirements of a code or standard, or approving equipment,
rescue personnel must have the training identified within it.
materials, an installation, or a procedure.
However, wherever the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ)
2.2.2 awareness-level knowledge, n—the ability to recog-
deems this training to be appropriate, this document can be
nize the following associated with a situation or environment:
used as a guide.
(a) Whether search and/or rescue is necessary;
1.5 The AHJ shall determine what level of training consti-
(b) Hazards and personal risks;
tutes sufficient competence for search and rescue personnel to
(c) Recognition of the need for specific PPE;
(d) Additional knowledge, skills, or abilities to function safely and effectively; and
(e) Other resources needed to safely and effectively perform a mission or
operation.
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F32 on Search
and Rescue and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F32.03 on Personnel,
2.2.3 personal protective equipment (PPE), n—clothing and
Training and Education.
apparatus that reduces or limits a person’s vulnerability to
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2012. Published October 2012. DOI: 10.1520/
F2890–12 environmental hazards.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F2890 − 12
3. Significance and Use 4.1.7 Industrial accidents or conditions resulting in addi-
tional environmental hazards (that is, damaged containers,
3.1 This guide establishes the minimum level of training
marked or unmarked, that may contain materials hazardous to
required to provide awareness-level knowledge for personnel
life);
operating in and around the areas and operations listed in 1.1.
4.1.8 Animals that may injure or harm;
3.2 This guide may be used by individuals and AHJs that
4.1.9 Actions and effects of people (that is, devices that may
wish to identify the minimum training standards for land-based
injure or kill SAR personnel);
personnel operating in and around these areas and operations.
4.1.10 Illicitly discarded hazardous materials; and
4.1.11 Collapsed or unstable manmade materials;
3.3 Aperson trained to this guide is considered to be aware
of the hazards and risks associated with these areas and 4.2 Personnel shall be trained to recognize the appropriate
PPEselectionsforeyes,face,head,extremities,andrespiratory
operations.
tract based on the environmental conditions and task to be
3.4 Aperson trained solely to this guide is not considered a
completed.
“searcher” or “rescuer,” or both.
4.3 Personnel shall have an understanding of how and
3.5 This guide may be used to augment other training for a
where to report potential hazard(s).
searcher or rescuer, or both.
4.4 Personnel shall be trained to recognize when a hazard
3.6 This guide by itself is not a training document. It is only
presents a risk that exceeds their training or PPE, or both.
an outline of some of the topics required for training or
4.5 Personnel shall be trained to recognize when there is a
evaluating a searcher and/or rescuer, although it can be used to
need for specialized resources (including mutual aid) at the
develop a training document or program.
outset of a SAR operation and notify search management when
3.7 It is the responsibility of theAHJ to determine the depth
these conditions are present. Specialized resources may
or detail of training needed to meet its training requirements.
include, but are not limited to:
4.5.1 Rescue teams specific to the incident or environment,
3.8 Nothing in this guide precludes an AHJ from adding
or both;
additional requirements.
4.5.2 Material support from local businesses such as lumber
3.9 This guide does not stand alone but must be used with
suppliers, engineers, or architects; and
the reference documents to provide the specific minimum
4.5.3 Local businesses providing assembly production
training needed by a ground searcher and/or rescuer operating
services, such as construction, demolition, sanitation, and
in these areas.
heavy equipment operators.
4.5.4 Specialized resources may be obtained from local,
3.10 This guide can be used as a reference for training of
municipal, tribal, state, or federal agencies.
searchers or rescuers, or both.
4.6 Personnel shall be trained to describe, identify, and
3.11 The information presented in the following sections is
communicate relevant information to search management for
not in any particular order and does not represent a training
the activation of emergency response systems.
sequence.
3.12 It is the responsibility of the AHJ to determine the
5. Incident-Specific Knowledge and Skills
evaluation process to assess a person’s knowledge. This may
5.1 Structural Collapse:
be by written exam, oral exam, demonstration, or some other
5.1.1 Personnel shall be trained to recognize the additional
means specified by the AHJ.
hazards associated with a structural collapse incident. These
may include the following:
4. General SAR Operations
5.1.1.1 Potential for secondary collapse;
4.1 Personnel shall be trained to recognize visible and 5.1.1.2 Potential for fire or explosion;
potential hazards or environments associated with a SAR 5.1.1.3 Exposure to respiratory contaminants or asphyxi-
incident. Such hazards or environments may include, but are ants;
not limited to: 5.1.1.4 Hazardous material spills; and
5.1.1.5 Risk of electrocution.
4.1.1 Any environmental/weather conditions which fall out-
side the normal operating environment of the AHJ;
5.2 Rope Rescue:
4.1.2 Terrain considerations such as high angle or moving
5.2.1 Personnel shall be trained to recognize the additional
water;
hazards associated with a rope rescue incident. These may
4.1.3 Natural phenomena; include the following:
5.2.1.1 Fall hazards;
4.1.4 Atmospheres that are immediately deadly or hazard-
5.2.1.2 Falling objects;
ous;
5.2.1.3 Tripping hazards; and
4.1.5 Spaces that require special equipment or skills such as
5.2.1.4 Unnecessary personnel in the general area of the
confined spaces, mines or tunnels, or trenches;
rope rescue incident.
4.1.6 Lack or loss of infrastructure (that is, no power, water,
and/or equipment); 5.3 Confined Space:
F2890 − 12
5.3.1 Personnel shall be trained to recognize the additional 5.4.1.7 Unsafe shoreline conditions such as undercut banks,
hazards associated with a confined space incident. These may slippery ground, or hazardous debris.
include the following:
5.5 Trench or Excav
...
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