This assessment examines the hazards, risks and controls that relate to rescuing persons from ice or other unstable ground for example areas of grain, sand or materials of similar properties.

Activities which involve additional specific, significant hazards are covered in other generic risk assessments (GRA's).

Reference is made throughout the document to other technical sources.

As with all GRA's this assessment provides a starting point for brigades to conduct their own assessments within the context of local conditions and existing organisational arrangements.

2.1 All expanses of still water in the Brigade area should be considered as possible sites for rescue from ice. As a significant part of Britains coastline and tidal rivers can be categorised as mud all areas of coastline should be considered as a hazard. Large areas of grain, sand or materials of similar properties e.g. quarries, gravel pits, dunes etc., present the same type of practical problems for carrying out rescues.

2.2 For rescues involving unstable ground, the principal hazard is that the surface offers little support making safe unaided movement impossible.

2.2.1 If personnel are working on ice or unstable ground when the surface gives way they risk death or serious injury from:

• drowning/asphyxiation
• hypothermia
• biological and chemical contamination2
• falling down
• being struck by falling equipment or infilling material
• manual handling

2.2.2 The deceptive nature of ice may encourage personnel to assume it will stand more weight than it actually can. The danger is of falling through the ice and risking exhaustion, hypothermia or drowning.

Low ambient temperatures make an immediate threat to life. A person in wet clothing expends 700 joules of energy per hour to attempt to maintain body temperature. Space blankets are far less effective over wet clothing than they are over dry.

2.2.3 Biological contamination comes from a variety of sources the most common of which is weils disease.3 weils disease is carried in the urine of rodents and other small mammals and is particularly prevalent in river or canal areas.

Other pathogens include various Hepatitis strains. Hepatitis B is considered to be the most dangerous.

Brigades should be able to establish a pre-determined attendance for each situation following familiarisation visits to any known sites of high risk. Appliances which carry specialist equipment for such rescues should always be mobilised.

The basis of effective access across unstable ground is to:

• reduce total weight and/or
• spread weight as widely as possible

This can be achieved by improvising the use of existing equipment such as hose, ladders and low pressure airbags. However, after considering the nature and magnitude of the risk faced by their personnel, brigades also need to consider the provision of:

• specialist inflatable paths which have proved to be very effective in these types df rescue.
• dry suits and buoyancy aids'
• long lightweight lines to maintain crews egress
• binoculars to allow assessment of the situation before committing personnel
• specialist rescue slings and harnesses
• specialised lances which either work with water or air to loosen the material and break the vacuum surrounding the casualty and aid extrication.

In the case of ice rescues, if small boats etc., are readily available their use should also be considered.

Brigades will need to consider liaison with the Environment Agency (in Scotland the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency) who are able to provide advice and information relating to exposures of mudflats, tides etc., within the brigades area⁶

In addition to the Environment Agency, other agencies can make important and significant contributions to rescues from ice/unstable ground e.g. the police, ambulance service, RNLI, Coastguard and Mountain Rescue⁷ etc.

3.2.1 The shortest, safest route should be chosen and a Forward Control Point ( F.C.P) established on firm ground at the access to this route. The incident commander should be positioned at this F.C.P so that there is a full view of the scene of operations. A team member should be appointed to remain at the F.C.P to ensure that no unauthorised personnel are allowed on to the access route.

3.2.2 As is the case with all incidents, in the event of an incident commander relinquishing command, or handing over command of the incident, it is of the utmost importance that an effective briefing takes place between the officers concerned.

3.2.3 The distance from the F.C.P. to the scene of operations may make the use of radios essential to allow the incident commander to be kept fully informed as to the situation and to maintain control of the rescue. Communications should, therefore, be set up immediately at the commencement of such an incident.

3.2.4 In the case of rescue from unstable ground which is affected by tidal waters it is imperative to seek the advice of the local Coastguard who will be able to advise on the state of the tide ( ebb or flow) and give an accurate estimate as to the time available to carry out the rescue. To allow crews to return to the safety of the F.C.P. following the successful extrication of a casualty it may be necessary to enlist the assistance of a search and rescue helicopter from the R.A.F. . The I.C. should consider this at an early stage as it may take a considerable time to arrive.

3.3.1 Personnel must be attached by line to the F.C.P, which is established on firm ground, before progressing along the access routex. If all rescue members can be attached individually to the inflatable pathway which is being used to spread the weight, then it is sufficient for the pathway to be attached to the F.C.P by line. If this is notpossible then each crew member must be secured individually. Each line must be under the control and supervision of a competent person for the entire duration of the incident.

3.3.2 If specialist dry suits are not available, personnel should be made aware that low ambient temperatures particularly when combined with moderate to strong winds, make an immediate threat to life.

3.3.3 Personal hygiene is essential and all personnel involved directly in a rescue should shower immediately on return to station. All equipment should be thoroughly cleaned as soon as possible. In the event of ingestion or contact with the eyes prompt medical attention will be required. In the event of extensive contamination occurring full decontamination procedures should be consideredg .

• Route taken by casualty may not be best route for rescuers
• Any specialist equipment should be mobilised immediately
• Try to find out:
• Best points of access
• Local trends of ice
• State oftide
• Establish forward control point
• Owing to the possible distance between the F.C.P and the scene of operations, communications should be established immediately to give a greater degree of control

• Use the minimum personnel to dojob safely
• Best available equipment used to spread weight
• Use of dry suits and buoyancy aids if available
• All personnel controlled by line from safe ground
• Possible danger to personnel from low temperature
• Possible danger infection, chemical contamination or combination of both
• The availability of medical treatment
• Decontamination arrangements
• Lighting
• Use of rescue slings to facilitate correct lifting
• Use of rescue lance to aid extrication
• Using a helicopter for rapid evacuation