Written by Andy Ibbetson

A common topic of discussion, is how best to manage all of the lines going into a space during a rescue operation. Rescuers typically carry a hard-line communication cable, retrieval/tag line, and an airline for breathing apparatus. When multiple entrants, numerous lines and a retrieval system for the victim are combined, the result can be "spaghetti" in and around the hole entrance if line management is not done properly.

Tripping hazards, entanglement problems, frustration and panic are the result of poorly managed lines. Teams can benefit enormously by taking the time to consider which methods of line management best suits their operational requirements and assigning team member(s) to the actual task and practicing line tending skills during exercises.

Communication between entrants and team members outside a space play an essential part in good line management. Reliable and (preferably) handsfree communication allow entrants to relay instructions regarding the paying out or taking up of slack in a line as well as provide real time feed back to the line haulers, during a victim extrication etc.

Flaking out entrant umbilical's in a figure eight or a back and forth pattern along the ground works well to remove the possibility of the various lines getting knotted up. Also, using and storing the umbilical in a lineman's coil is very effective. Another alternative is to use portable reels which incorporate swivel joints for breathing air and slip ring assemblies for maintaining communication and air while the umbilical is being paid out or taken up on the reel. To effectively manage lines of all types it is first important to make sure that the lines you are putting into the space are totally necessary. Confined space is one area where "more" is not necessarily better. It is also important to note that when you finish with something and it is no longer required, it should be moved out of the way or removed from the space as quickly as practically possible.

Many teams have experienced great success by joining entrant lines together as an "Entrant Umbilical" or "Umbilicus"** the benefits of this combination include; better control, quicker deployment, and reduced entanglement/tripping hazards.

Like everything else in life, combining lines together has its advantages and disadvantages. Below I have listed some questions that need answering, when deciding if joining lines together will benefit your team's operational requirements.

• Do any of the lines you want to join together have to pass through a Pulley? Winch?
• Are the spaces normally entered dirty, contaminated, corrosive?, wet?
• Is there the potential for the umbilical to get hung up? Lots of corners? baffles? Door sills? Flanges?
• How often will I need to clean the umbilical?
• Is the umbilical going to subjected to a lot of wear from dragging or abrasion?
• Which lines do I want to join together?
• How often will I have to take apart the umbilical so that I can inspect it's internal components?
• What length do I want to make my umbilical

Due to the fact that a rescuers' primary safety/retrieval (life line) rope will be pulled through pulleys or haul system etc. it is a good idea to NOT include it as a permanent part of your entrant umbilical. However, many teams have chosen to include a backup safety line or tag line as an integral part of their entrant umbilical. This will leave you with two lines for each entrant. Some teams have gone one step further, and joined the primary safety/retrieval rope to the umbilical using a single wrap of every day "masking tape" about every ten or twenty feet. This works well to "temporarily" join the safety rope to the umbilical. In the event the rescuer must be hauled out quickly, the two components (Umbilical & Safety Line) can be easily pulled apart.

To combat the "spaghetti" problem, a variety of umbilical joining methods have evolved from the ingenuity of various users and rescue personnel. Solutions listed below have been tested and are in use by at least one Con-Space customer in the field. They all have merit and may or may not be suitable for your particular application. The following listed in no particular order, you decide which is the best for your particular application…

Cable Ties - Commonly called Zap Straps these come in a variety of shapes and sizes and work to join together the cables and airlines.
Pro's - Easy to put on; Cheap, can inspect/clean lines without taking the umbilical apart.
Con's - Can hang up on edges and going around corners; Must be cut off to remove.

Velcro Cable Ties - These are essentially loops of Velcro which attach to one of the lines with a cable tie and then wrap over on themselves to join lines together. These are relatively new and work pretty well for a temporary attachment.
Pro's- Very easy to install; Can take apart umbilical easily; Umbilical can be easily inspected/cleaned; Good chemical resistance.
Con's- Get hung up; Can slide down the cable and create gaps in the umbilical; Can be expensive.

Nylon - Spiral Wrap - This helically cut tube is commonly used in the manufacture of wiring harnesses. It is used to combine the Communication cable and a Supplied Breathing AirLine into a single umbilical.
Pro's - Good chemical resistance; Slides well over rough surfaces; Keeps everything together down the entire length of the umbilical; Good abrasion resistance.
Con's - Time consuming and hard to install; Mud cakes up in the wrap and umbilical can get heavy.

Polypropylene Tube - This is like a long plastic sandwich bag. For sterile applications such as brewery vats where any lines going into the space must be clean.
Pro's - Cheap; Easy to remove; Easy to inspect umbilical components; Relatively easy to install in short lengths.
Con's - Low abrasion resistance; tears easily if snagged; Single use applications; Best for relatively short distances (up to 50').

Fire Hose - Single sheath forestry hose 1½" or 2" OD
Pro's - Sheath keeps out contaminants/water;Good abrasion/cut resistance; Comes in variety of colors and diameters; Relatively easy to pull lines through it: can be ordered with a chaser line already installed; Can be run through a hose washer and hung in a hose tower to dry.

Con's - Can be heavy in long lengths; Contaminants could get in; Minimal loss of overall umbilical flexibility; Must be disassembled to inspect; The entrant end of the hose needs to be sealed up with heat shrink tubing or good quality waterproof tape to reduce contaminants or water getting in.

2"Tubular Webbing
Pro's - Comes in a variety of colors; Flexible; Lightweight; Good abrasion resistance; Can be run through a hose washer and hung to dry in a hose tower; Webbing is strong and if properly attached to a harness can be used as a last ditch backup to pull out a rescuer.
Con's - Will soak up water and contaminants; Can be difficult to assemble; Must be disassembled to inspect; Time consuming to install.

Tape - electrician's tape, duct tape, masking tape, others?
Pro's - Comes in a variety of colors and materials; Easy to put on; Cheap and easily obtained; Chemical resistance depends on material used to make the tape.
Con's - Poor abrasion resistance, Needs replacing often, Leaves sticky residue when removed.

Conclusion
Umbilical's have been around a long time, we have all seen them used by astronauts since they first ventured out of the capsule and into the hazardous environment of space. So it makes sense for rescuers and entry personnel to use umbilical's in the hazardous environment of confined space. It is, by far, the safest way of controlling lines and maintaining contact with a rescuer. However, every team has their own unique characteristics, operational requirements and confined space equipment mixes. Each must decide if an umbilical meets their particular needs. Regardless of whether or not you build an umbilical for your entry or rescue team, it is well worth the effort to evaluate them during a training exercise and discuss any and all options regarding line management.

Notes & Tips
Follows are some tips and notes I've collected from various Con-Space communication system users who have experimented with entrant umbilicals:

Assemble a 1' or 2' sample of the components you want to include in your umbilical to see if it is acceptable for your needs. Also the sample will provide you with the exact Outside Diameter of your umbilical components (Airlines, Communication Cables & Rope) and will help in deciding what will work best to join your umbilical together.

A good rule of thumb when deciding on the length of your umbilical is to start with a section of airline and build from there. Determine how much of your line you want to commit to an entrant umbilical (usually 50'-100'). Keep in mind that you want to maintain maximum flexibility with your equipment. If you need to go further than your umbilical allows, you can always join additional lengths of airline, communication line and rope.

Mark off distances on the umbilical to determine how far the entrant is from the point of entry.

Color code the umbilical for quick identification.

If you decide to use webbing or fire hose, make sure all of your connections are the right way around on the airline and the communication cable before you start.

Use an electrician's fish or a long plumber's snake to pull every thing through the covering. Instead of pulling the components through the cover while they are lying on the ground try pulling them up through the cover while it hangs in the hose tower.

Where to start…

Cable Ties, Spiral Wrap, Velcro Ties - Can be obtained at any major electronics supply house and are available in a variety of shapes sizes and colors and materials. Manufacturers; Panduit, Arkplas, Catamount

Tubular Webbing - Rope Rescue equipment manufacturers and distributors.

Manufacturers/Distributors; Rescue Technologies, PMI, CMC Rescue, Rock n Rescue

Fire Hose - Hose suppliers, Fire equipment distributors.
Manufacturers: Niedner (Spec 187)

Tape: all kinds - Hardware stores, department stores, safety equipment supplier's etc.

Polypropylene Tubes - Shipping supply houses, heat sealed bag suppliers

SPECIAL NOTE ** The author would like to recognize the Virginia Beach FD, Montgomery County FD, L.A. County and Indianapolis FD's for their pioneering work in this area. Also, would like to assign full credit for the term "Umbilicus" used in this context to Capt. Michael G. Brown of the Virginia Beach FD. Thanks Mike, you were right all along!!
QUESTIONS / COMMENTS?

Andy Ibbetson is the Vice President of Operations for CON-SPACE Communications Inc. If you have any comments or suggestions please contact the writer by e-mail aibbetson@con-space.com or by telephone (North America) 1-800-546-3405 or International (604) 244-9323 (Canada)