Work at height rescue plans
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- Penfold
- Crikey DM
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Work at height rescue plans
Hi all
Interesting discussing in meeting with contractors yesterday about when and how you would rescue someone at height following illness or accident. This incident happened yesterday in Exeter:
https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-ne ... an-1622712
The person had suffered serious injury on scaffold and was rescued using aerial ladder by fire brigade.
The discussion led from this from HSE on Working at Height:
Do I need a rescue plan when working at height?
Yes. The law requires that when you work at height, you also plan for emergencies and rescue. These arrangements should not rely on the fire brigade as this may result in a delay which may be critical. Rescue kits are available and suppliers can provide training in their use so that in house equipment and expertise can be provided.
In the past talking to inspectors they informed me this was mainly to prevent suspension trauma if someone is hanging in a harness BUT they would also expect employers to consider rescue plans for scaffold and any other working at height.
Now in this incident it looks that due to the severity of the incident a building contractor wouldn't have the expertise to rescue him and he needed 999 to save his life, but what is reasonably practicable when it comes to rescue at height??
Thanks
Penfold
Interesting discussing in meeting with contractors yesterday about when and how you would rescue someone at height following illness or accident. This incident happened yesterday in Exeter:
https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-ne ... an-1622712
The person had suffered serious injury on scaffold and was rescued using aerial ladder by fire brigade.
The discussion led from this from HSE on Working at Height:
Do I need a rescue plan when working at height?
Yes. The law requires that when you work at height, you also plan for emergencies and rescue. These arrangements should not rely on the fire brigade as this may result in a delay which may be critical. Rescue kits are available and suppliers can provide training in their use so that in house equipment and expertise can be provided.
In the past talking to inspectors they informed me this was mainly to prevent suspension trauma if someone is hanging in a harness BUT they would also expect employers to consider rescue plans for scaffold and any other working at height.
Now in this incident it looks that due to the severity of the incident a building contractor wouldn't have the expertise to rescue him and he needed 999 to save his life, but what is reasonably practicable when it comes to rescue at height??
Thanks
Penfold
"If you can't beat them, arrange to have them beaten."
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Re: Work at height rescue plans
Isn't it reasonable to expect some form of self contained rescue plan to deal with the reasonable and likely events. In the circs would you expect traumatic injuries? Perhaps yes, so wouldn't it be a reasonable expectation that the rescue plan allows for movement of a stretcher and/or getting medics up as much as injury person down? In this scenario, if there was no initial rescue plan then that would be the key mistake.
- Penfold
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Re: Work at height rescue plans
Thanks Andy for response
I've spoken to various H&S professionals and HSE inspectors over the years on this and no one seems to agree what is practical to have in place, some have medics on site (depending on risk of course) who can rescue people from high levels to others who rely on 999 to help.
Its an interesting discussion when you get load of safety bods in a room (or pub) about how they would manage it!
Regards
Penners
I've spoken to various H&S professionals and HSE inspectors over the years on this and no one seems to agree what is practical to have in place, some have medics on site (depending on risk of course) who can rescue people from high levels to others who rely on 999 to help.
Its an interesting discussion when you get load of safety bods in a room (or pub) about how they would manage it!
Regards
Penners
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- Adrian Lancs
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Re: Work at height rescue plans
We often provide rope rescue provision for others working at height, sometimes combined with working in a confined space. You always need a suitable and sufficient rescue plan in place, without one, the workers are at greater risk in the event of an issue and the company is exposed if 999 is used. Delays in undertaking a rescue could be a key factor in the final outcome.
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Re: Work at height rescue plans
I agree with Adrian on this and as mentioned earlier, as much as a plan is to get 'them' down, its getting resources up to 'them' if the need arises. Fairly simply on something like a hydraulic lift for a short height. I can see how having rope access could be a valid an effective resource
- Penfold
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Re: Work at height rescue plans
Thanks all
I agree with your comments, but in the incident above I've read reports locally (and heard from contractors present) where the HSE and Emergency services have made critical comments that the person had to be rescued by the emergency services and this is being investigated. So if this is the case should contractors working on scaffold have plans in place to get someone down or plans in place to allow 999 rescue?
I agree with your comments, but in the incident above I've read reports locally (and heard from contractors present) where the HSE and Emergency services have made critical comments that the person had to be rescued by the emergency services and this is being investigated. So if this is the case should contractors working on scaffold have plans in place to get someone down or plans in place to allow 999 rescue?
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- Adrian Lancs
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Re: Work at height rescue plans
Something to consider - Section 2 of the H&S at work act states that it shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees. If this incident at height is a fall resulting in suspension, Is it reasonably practicable to rely on the emergency services to release an injured or ill operative from suspension in a harness at height within 10 minutes as stated in BS 8437:2005 pages 75-76 'Rescue''?
https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/media/departm ... ection.pdf
https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/media/departm ... ection.pdf
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Re: Work at height rescue plans
Hi, I hope you don't mind me resurrecting this thread. I am looking into this very issue just now. The scaffold in question, currently has access ladders. Would installing a scaffold staircase provide the necessary means to rescue an injured person or would more be needed? My view is it is then no different to getting someone down stairs in a block of flats. Thoughts?
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Re: Work at height rescue plans
Stairway would be easier to carry down a casualty if required. Could the scaffold not integrate rated lifting points where a pre-bagged evac kit could be rigged to allow lowering of a casualty to ground level? The rescue plan needs to be reasonably practicable but should at least be in existence.
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Re: Work at height rescue plans
Hi all
Just resurrecting this post following a talk at local safety group about the same subject again.
Speaker gave the summary of an incident:
Worker working on a roof space, its a protected area with guard rails all around but walkways are narrow and can only be walked on single file, but suffers injury by stepping backwards and falling over tool bag that means he cannot get out of that area on his own because of broken leg. Employer had risk assessments in place for the task but due to the area being classed as a "low risk" due to all work taking place in a safe guarded area did not have a work at height rescue plan in place.
Emergency services called to rescue person from roof space and following investigation of incident RIDDOR report submitted to HSE who investigate and look at prosecution because person was working at height and no rescue plan in place. Discuss...
After lots of rambling, talking and beer drinking the safety group came up with these bullet points:
Unfortunately the speaker couldn't give us any clear guidance on how it was handled in the real case apart from the HSE dropped the case and although he was involved in the case uses it as a conversation starter rather than an actual case study
Just resurrecting this post following a talk at local safety group about the same subject again.
Speaker gave the summary of an incident:
Worker working on a roof space, its a protected area with guard rails all around but walkways are narrow and can only be walked on single file, but suffers injury by stepping backwards and falling over tool bag that means he cannot get out of that area on his own because of broken leg. Employer had risk assessments in place for the task but due to the area being classed as a "low risk" due to all work taking place in a safe guarded area did not have a work at height rescue plan in place.
Emergency services called to rescue person from roof space and following investigation of incident RIDDOR report submitted to HSE who investigate and look at prosecution because person was working at height and no rescue plan in place. Discuss...
After lots of rambling, talking and beer drinking the safety group came up with these bullet points:
- As it was a roof space but protected was the person working at height?
WAH rescue plan would be required if the person was wearing fall arrest so not left dangling not on a safe roof area
- For such a serious accident it would be unreasonable for the employer to have trained medics on site who could get this person off the work area via a stretcher and it went beyond a first aiders duties
Unfortunately the speaker couldn't give us any clear guidance on how it was handled in the real case apart from the HSE dropped the case and although he was involved in the case uses it as a conversation starter rather than an actual case study
"If you can't beat them, arrange to have them beaten."
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Re: Work at height rescue plans
Following on this theme, at a very safety conscious EU site with a high cab crane. We had local emergency services come in and do rescue training. The cab was above ladder / aerial platform height. After about 3 days of fun, ropes and other stuff, the brigade's answer was that if they were called, the only timely method to get the person down would be to roughly man-handle them via the external ladders (hooped / cage protection fitted). They even had a session with the military helicopter and pilots ruled that out unless winds less than about 10mph. The lesson I learnt was that sometimes the rescue plan may be in place, but it may not always be slick and smooth in operation.
- ddlh
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Re: Work at height rescue plans
It needs to be remembered that a rescue plan requires to be in place that is reasonably practicable.
But if for any reason that plan fails then it is prudent to call on emergency services.
Also prudent to alert local emergency services of the works involved and the access points in case they are needed.
Only then would the plan be examined by officials to decide if fit for purpose.
So many variables so do not be afraid to approach local emergency services for support.
They would rather assist you get it right than try and recover a casualty
But if for any reason that plan fails then it is prudent to call on emergency services.
Also prudent to alert local emergency services of the works involved and the access points in case they are needed.
Only then would the plan be examined by officials to decide if fit for purpose.
So many variables so do not be afraid to approach local emergency services for support.
They would rather assist you get it right than try and recover a casualty
If you think safety is a pain, try a leg fracture.