Section 141.354  Trench Operations

Trench Operations is designed to give fire service personnel the basic knowledge and skills to safely perform trench stabilization, shoring equipment placement, and excavation and freeing of the victim from engulfment, as defined by NFPA 1670 and OSHA (29 CFR 1926, subpart P).

a)         Prerequisites

1)         Certification in Technical Rescue Awareness (see Section 141.350) or Rescue Specialist − Confined Space (see Section 141.352).

2)         Successful completion of the Trench Operations course.  Prerequisite for taking the course is successful completion of Confined Space/Trench Awareness or Technical Rescue Awareness course (see Section 141.350).

3)         Passage of the State written examination (see Section 141.200).

4)         Passage of the State practical skills examinations (see Sections 141.200 and 141.300(g)).

5)         Engagement in firefighting in an organized Illinois fire department as a fire protection person according to the Act, as attested to by the employing Fire Chief of the individual seeking certification.

b)         Reimbursement may be received for training costs for Trench Operations (see Subpart E).

c)         Special Instructor Requirements

1)         Instructor of Record shall be certified as a Fire Service Instructor II (see Section 141.320) and certified in Trench Operations.

2)         There shall be a minimum of two instructors per course, one of whom is an Instructor of Record.  There shall be at least one instructor for each six students.

3)         All other instructors on site shall be a minimum of Fire Service Instructor I (see Section 141.318) and certified in Trench Operations.

d)         The course and facility must be approved by the Office as provided in Sections 141.110 and 141.115.

e)         Credit for equivalent courses may be available in accordance with Section 141.120.