Many departments do not have the staffing or the resources to have a trench rescue team.  Often, county teams or larger department have their own tech rescue teams are utilized. The only issue with that model is the team is often has a response time of 30minutes to an hour  So if your department doesn’t have the resources and operations and/or technicians trained trench personnel there are many tasks that can be completed by awareness level personnel.

• Shutdown any heavy equipment
• Stop sources of vibration within 300’
• Consider Non-Entry Rescue (place ladders)
• Set-up zones (Hot, Warm, Cold)
• Attempt to locate and mark victims position
• Place ground pads to distribute weight of personnel
• Establish Ventilation monitor air quality
• Start removal of superimposed loads 2’ from lip
• Set up Pumps to De-Water the trench

While this list is not a complete or all-encompassing it provides a snapshot of tasks that will aid the trench rescue team once they are on scene.  With trench rescue, do no further harm is critical.  Too many would be rescuers end up becoming victims or cause secondary collapses.  So always take a step back and look at the big picture.