Working at Height - How to construct a rescue Plan

Rescue plans don't have to be complex.

Employers should implement a recovery plan that includes procedures for:

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Preventing prolonged suspension Performing recovery and rehabilitation as quickly as possible Identifying suspension trauma signs and symptoms
Management accountability for safety needs to give rigorous consideration to the methodology of rescuing a fallen operative. Such considerations might include:

Dialing 999(911). - Often we think of the word 'rescue' as calling 999(911), but calling the local fire brigade does not constitute an efficient recovery plan. Response times can be too slow, and not all fire brigades have the capability to recovery from height.

Crane Man Basket - This option has severe limitations, the main one being time. Target time from 'Man Down' to being recovered needs to be no more than five to ten minutes maximum. Other restrictions and shortcomings that make this a less than ideal clarification are - the crane is out of activity for some reason, e.g. It may be:
winded-off the driver may be away from the crane recovery by crane is exiguous to construction facades and often is not able to provide passage and recovery internal to the structure the crane man basket may be in the wrong location.
Mobile Elevated Working Platforms (M.E.W.P.'s) - This option for recovery can have its limitations such as ready passage and height restriction as the casualty may be at a height greater than the reach of the M.E.W.P.
Rope passage recovery - Rope recovery requires a technical competency which demands a high level of training and re-training to collect and reserve this skill set. Given the exiguous time to complete a rescue, trained rope recovery personnel would need to be on stand-by and within close presence to any incident. Donning the important kit to carry out a rope recovery can also be time spellbinding given that every exiguous the casualty is hanging is critical. Perhaps the many restriction is that it is a skill to which only a few would, or could be trained.

Third Party recovery Systems - There are a estimate of considerations to take into catalogue when considering third part recovery systems. In every consideration Time is the important factor. The speed with which the principles can be deployed and the recovery carried out is vitally important, as is the Simplicity and Ease of use so that a typical operative can deploy and carry out a recovery after being trained. Remember, whichever methodology you choose, the target time should be to recovery the casualty in under ten minutes.

Planning for Fall safety must consist of recovery - Having a recovery plan is just as important as having a fall safety plan. No site should have one without the other. Just putting together a fall safety program without recovery is only doing half the job. The onus is on the boss to ensure that the suspended operative is rescued quickly. That means ensuring that for anyone who works at height, there is a recovery plan.

Fall safety must consist of an crisis recovery plan - How will you recovery an operative who has fallen and is suspended in a fall-arrest system? Answering some basic questions can help in developing a recovery plan.

Developing a recovery Plan - A recovery plan requires answers to the following questions.

If an operatives fall is arrested, can they be rescued in under ten minutes?

How will you know that person has fallen?

Will person see it happen? Co-workers Other trades Plant personnel Members of the public
What communication systems will be used in the middle of the suspended operative and the recovery team?

Voice Whistle mobile Phone
Who will the Co-worker call?
Nearest co-workers Supervisor Site Management 999(911) Fire /ambulance where available
Is facts available? Who and how will it be communicated?
crisis phone numbers Site address Directions and passage for ambulance/fire vehicle or other crisis services Which floor/how high up Operatives health after fall
How will the safety of the rescuers be assured, as well as that of the suspended operative?
Are operatives trained and competent in the use of recovery equipment? Is there adequate estimate of trained personnel on-site? Are rescue-training records kept modern along with any re-assessments? Is the recovery equipment superior approved for the nature of the work? What obstructions are in the way reaching the suspended operative? Have assessments been made of anchor points? Has consideration been given to the recipe of attaching to the casualty?
How will recovery workers get to the casualty?
recovery Ladder System recovery Haul / Winch System Keys to construction and roof Elevator Pull casualty in straight through window or balcony Pull casualty up to floor/slab/roof Lower casualty to ground level Climb / rappel down the building/structure Aerial equipment from ground Suspended passage equipment Crane Man Basket
How will recovery be assured within five minutes of the occurrence of a fall to minimize the risk of supplementary injury or death due to suspension trauma? And, what recovery equipment is needed?
recovery Ladder recovery Haul / Winch System Suspended passage equipment Ropes Aerial ladder truck M.E.W.P. Or scissor lift Climbing / rope recovery equipment Crane Man Basket First aid kit Stretcher ready should casualty be seriously injured
What if the operative is injured?
Can the casualty still be rescued within five to ten minutes? Is there a suited first-aid er who understands suspension trauma and knows how to treat it? Who and how will the crisis services and hospital be alerted?
How will the communal be protected?
Assign person to direct traffic Set up barriers
How will the crisis scene be protected?
preclude supplementary injury or damage Set up barriers reserve wreckage Aid investigation later
Are there other considerations?
Working alone Language barrier Unusual features of building/structure Wind Other hazards No crisis services nearby distance from recovery teams
Warning! An operative who has suffered a fall and is suspended in his harness is a true healing emergency. Just because they are hanging in a harness doesn't mean you have all day to achieve the rescue. recovery has to be planned, practiced and performed quickly and effectively or the victim may very well die before the recovery finally occurs.
If you're not going to give your employees the skills to achieve rescue, then you might as well not even put them in the harness at all.

Practice can save lives Perhaps just as important as having a recovery plan in place is practicing the plan before a real-life fall occurs.

How will the operative call for help?

Working at Height - How to construct a rescue Plan