Rescue plans do not have to be complex.
Employers must implement a rescue plan that includes procedures to:
- Prevention of prolonged suspension
- Perform rescue and treatment as quickly as possible.
- Identification of signs and symptoms of suspension trauma
Management’s responsibility for safety must carefully consider the methodology for rescuing a downed operative. Such considerations may include:
Dialing 999(911). – We often think of the word ‘rescue’ as calling 999(911), but calling the local fire brigade is not an effective rescue plan. Response times can be too slow and not all fire brigades have the ability to rescue from heights.
crane man basketball – This option has severe limitations, the main one being time. The target time from ‘Man Down’ to recovery should be no more than five to ten minutes max. Other restrictions and shortcomings that make this a less than ideal solution are: the crane is out of service for some reason, for example, it can be:
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breathless
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the driver can be away from the crane
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crane rescue is limited to building facades and often cannot provide access and rescue inside the structure
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the crane man’s basket may be in the wrong location.
Elevated Mobile Work Platforms (PEMP) – This rescue option may have its limitations, such as the access available and the height restriction, since the victim may be higher than the range of the MEWP.
Rope access rescue – Rope rescue requires a technical competence that requires a high level of training and updating to acquire and maintain this set of skills. Given the limited time to complete a rescue, trained rope rescue personnel should be on standby and in close proximity to any incident. Donning the necessary equipment to perform a rope rescue can also be time consuming since every minute the victim is hanging is critical. Perhaps the biggest restriction is that it is a skill only a few could be trained in.
Third party rescue systems – There are a number of considerations to take into account when considering third-party rescue systems. In every consideration, TIME is the critical factor. The speed with which the system can be deployed and rescue is of paramount importance, as is SIMPLICITY and EASE of use for a typical operator to deploy and perform a rescue after having been trained. Remember, whichever methodology you choose, the target time should be to rescue the victim in less than ten minutes.
Fall protection planning should include Rescue: Having a rescue plan is just as important as having a fall protection plan. No site should have one without the other. Simply putting together a no-rescue fall protection program is only doing half the job. The onus is on the employer to ensure that the suspended operative is rescued quickly. That means making sure that for anyone working at height, there is a rescue plan in place.
Fall protection must include an emergency rescue plan: How will you rescue an operator who has fallen and is suspended in a fall arrest system? Answering a few basic questions can help develop a rescue plan.
Development of a rescue plan – A rescue plan requires answers to the following questions.
If an agent’s fall is arrested, can he be rescued in less than ten minutes?
How will you know someone has fallen?
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Will anyone see it happen?
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coworkers
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Other trades
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personal plant
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members of the public
What communication systems will be used between the suspended operative and the rescue team?
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Voice
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Whistle
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Mobile phone
Who will the coworker call?
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closest coworkers
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supervisor
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Website management
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999(911) Fire/ambulance where available
Is there information available? To whom and how will it be communicated?
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Emergency phone numbers
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Web address
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Directions and access for ambulance/fire vehicle or other emergency services
- What floor/at what height
- Operational condition after the fall
How will the safety of the rescuers be guaranteed, as well as that of the suspended operation?
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Are the operators trained and competent in the use of rescue equipment?
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Are there enough trained staff on site?
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Are rescue training records, including retests, kept up to date?
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Is the selected rescue equipment appropriate for the nature of the work?
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What obstacles stand in the way of reaching the suspended operation?
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Have anchor point assessments been carried out?
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Has the method of linking the claim been considered?
How will rescuers get to the victim?
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Rescue ladder system
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Transport System/Rescue Winch
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Keys to the building and roof
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Elevator
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Throw the victim out of the window or balcony
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Casual jumper to floor/slab/ceiling
- Lower the victim to ground level
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Climb/abseil down the building/structure
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Aerial equipment from the ground
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suspended access equipment
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crane man basketball
How will rescue be ensured within five minutes of a fall occurrence to minimize the risk of further injury or death from suspension trauma? And what rescue equipment is needed?
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rescue ladder
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Transport System/Rescue Winch
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suspended access equipment
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strings
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aerial ladder truck
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PEMP or scissor lift
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Climbing / Rope Rescue Equipment
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crane man basketball
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First aid box
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Stretcher available in case the victim sustains serious injuries.
What if the operative is injured?
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Can the victim be rescued within five to ten minutes?
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Is there a qualified first responder who understands suspension trauma and knows how to treat it?
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Who and how will the emergency services and hospital be alerted?
How will the public be protected?
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Assign someone to direct traffic
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set up barriers
How will the accident scene be protected?
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Avoid further injury or damage
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set up barriers
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preserve remains
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help research later
Are there other considerations?
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working alone
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language barriers
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Unusual features of the building/structure
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Wind
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Other dangers
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There are no emergency services nearby
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Distance from rescue teams
WARNING! An operator who has suffered a fall and is suspended from his harness is a true medical emergency. Just because they’re hanging in a harness doesn’t mean he has all day to perform the rescue. Rescue must be planned, practiced and performed quickly and effectively or the victim may very well die before rescue finally occurs.
If you’re not going to give your employees the skills to perform a rescue, then you might as well not even put them in the harness.
Practice can save lives Perhaps as important as having a rescue plan is practicing the plan before a fall occurs in real life.
How will the operative call for help?