SOG Final approved. - usar5.org

1 Operational Procedures and Standard Operating Guidelines Of INTRODUCTION The following Standard Operating Guidelines are hereby set forth to govern the St. Louis Metro Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 5. This manual is for the guidance and information of rescue personnel. Its purpose is to give task force members complete information regarding the rules, regulations, standard operating guidelines, assignments, and general knowledge for proper conduct and behavior as a member of the St. Louis Metro Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 5. In order to perform their duties properly, it is essential that the members of the task force familiarize themselves thoroughly with all the suggested operating guidelines pertaining to their positions and to conduct themselves in such a manner that will not discredit the task force. The right is reserved to amend or revoke any of the suggested operating guidelines or to make additional ones as the circumstances or the good of the service may require.

2 No arbitrary rules can be established which will embrace all cases arising in the general discharge of task force duties; something must be necessarily left to the intelligence and discretion of the individual. These guidelines should be followed unless specifically ordered otherwise by competent authority or in cases where practical application would be contrary to the overall responsibilities and objectives of task force policy. In all instances, good judgment, and execution of duties in a fair and impartial manner are paramount. Anyone deviating from these procedures must be prepared to justify such actions. They will be judged, not in the light of subsequent events but by the situation existing at the time of action. Members of the rescue task force shall comply with all other rules and regulations that may from time to time be promulgated by the Task Force Leader and Operational Board.

3 As far as possible, all rules and regulations shall be reduced to writing. TABLE OF CONTENTS 100 PROCEDURAL GUIDELINES Membership Structure and Meeting Callout and Activations Duty Officer Callout Uniforms 200 TRAINING GUIDELINES Trainings 300 Task Force Command Functions Command Functions 400 SAFETY GUIDELINES Personal Protective Equipment Personnel Accountability Scene Response Policy Rapid Intervention and Safety 500 RESCUE GUIDELINES Rope Rescue Confine Space Rescue Entanglement Rescue Trench Rescue Structural Collapse Water Rescue 600 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS GUIDELINES 700 DISASTER RESPONSE GUIDELINES Response to Natural or Manmade Disasters APPENDICES APPENDIX A Incident Command System APPENDIX B Air Quality Standards APPENDIX C Structural Collapse Markings PURPOSE To establish minimum

4 Guidelines and regulation required for an individual to considered an active member; these shall include but not limited to training requirements and task force participation. General 1. Membership shall be open to willing active individuals of a Franklin/Jefferson County Fire and EMS providing that they are able to fulfill membership requirements as set forth in the Constitution, Bylaws, SOPs, Policy and Procedures, and Regulations. 2. Any person desiring membership shall complete the application form prescribed by the Operational Board and shall return said application to the task force leader for record. Probationary Membership Operational Board shall nominate applicants for Probationary Membership status according to SOPs and Policy and Procedures. Probationary Member shall remain on probation for the minimum period of one calendar year; and had met all requirements during probation.

5 The probationary period may be extended only one time; following the extension if the Probationary Member has still not met all requirements; the members status will be changed to inactive. 3. Probationary Members will be issued colored coded accountability tags stating their status. Active Membership 1. Probationary Members will be moved to active status after completing one year probation period, their training requirements and approval of the Operations Committee. 2. The Personnel Coordinator will maintain records of the probationary member. 3. Operations Committee will keep the Operational Board updated on the status of all probationary members. Inactive Membership 1. In the event that an Active Member cannot fulfill the duties of Active Membership, the Personnel Coordinator shall immediately change that member's status to that of an Inactive Member. 2. In order to regain Active Membership status, an Inactive Member must fulfill active duty requirements for four consecutive months.

6 Return to active duty is automatic upon completion of those four months and the status change shall be recorded by the Personnel Coordinator. 3. Inactive status caused by temporary medical conditions shall not require four months of active duty before being reinstated as an Active Member, as long as the inactive status was less than one year, and a doctor medical release is submitted. STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE Membership JANUARY 2010 ST. LOUIS METRO URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE TASK FORCE 5 PURPOSE To establish a basic structure to fulfill the administrative, staff, line, and incident requirements of the task force. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE The Executive Committee shall consist of the Fire Chiefs of all participating agencies. OPERATIONAL BOARD 1. The executive committee shall approve the operational board. 2. The Operational Board shall consist of five (5) members: two (2) from Franklin County Participating Agencies, two (2) from Jefferson County Participating Agencies and one (1) at large member.

7 In addition the Task Force Leader shall serve as a non-voting member to provide guidance and to relate needs to the Operational Board. Task Force Leader 1. The task force leader shall be appointed by and report directly to the Operational Board. 2. The task force leader is the authorized representative and spokesperson of the organization. The leader may appoint a representative, in his/her absence, to attend meetings of other fire service organizations that affect the interest of the organization. 3. The Leader shall be the spokesperson for the organization and shall attend all meetings with the Executive Committee of the Organization. The Leader shall preside at all meetings of the Operational Board. 4. The Leader shall be appointed by a vote of the Board. The voting will take place in December prior to the expiration of the term. The new Leader will assume office on the following January.

8 5. The Leader shall serve a term of 2 years in length, at the end of a term the Leader will be allowed to maintain the current position only be a 2/3 majority of the Board; the re-appointment must also pass approval by the Executive Committee. 6. If at any time the then Leader resigns or dies or ceases as a member of the board, the Operational Board will name his replacement with the approval of the Executive Committee. Task Force Assistant Leader 1. The task force assistant leader shall assume the duties of the Leader in his/her absence. Secretary 1. The Secretary shall be responsible for accurate Minutes of Meeting, keep a historical record of the Organization in a Minute Book, maintain records of all important transactions of the Organization, and perform other duties as directed by the Leader. 2. Should the current Secretary relinquish his/her position a person will be appointed by the Leader 3. The organization may determine by vote, the appointment of a Recording Secretary to record the minutes of any meeting.

9 Minutes 1. At the meetings of the Executive and Operational Boards, minutes of the meeting shall be made and signed by the Secretary and kept in chronological order, in a binder as part of the organization, open to inspection by any member of either committee. 2. Copies of the Operational Board minutes shall be distributed as promptly as practicable to every member of the committee. Treasurer 1. The treasurer shall be responsible for conducting and documenting the financial transactions of the organization utilizing sound practices. 2. The treasurer shall make a report at each regular meeting, accounting for all money received, deposited and expanded by the organization. 3. The treasurer shall make available to the task force leader, upon request, all financial records for the purpose of conducting an audit. 4. The treasurer shall be responsible for collecting all annual dues for agencies and provide the appropriate list of officer who have 5.

10 The treasurer shall be appointed by the Executive committee STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE Structure JANUARY 2010 ST. LOUIS METRO URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE TASK FORCE 5 Personnel Coordinator 1. The personnel coordinator shall be responsible for the tracking of personnel records including medical records, training records, and physicals and immunizations 2. The personnel coordinator will be a member of the operations committee. Training Coordinator 1. The training coordinator shall be responsible for seeing the a training schedule for the year is completed and set 2. The training coordinator shall work with the hosting department of the monthly training to verify that all materials and resources are available. 3. The training coordinator will also make sure that training rosters have been completed and certificates have been issued to the attending students. Department Representative 1. Representatives shall be assigned by participating agencies; agencies that do have a staff member assigned to an officer position on the Operational Board may elect to assign a representative.