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Procedures for Rescue of a Worker Suspended in a Safety Harness

The rescue of a worker who has fallen and is being suspended in his/her safety harnessneeds to be undertaken as quickly as possible for several reasons:

1. The worker ay have suffered in!uries during the fall and ay need edicalattention"

2. Workers suspended in their safety harness for long periods ay suffer froblood pooling in the lower body and this can result in #suspension trauma"$%See attached inforation on treating suspension traua & have thisavailable on site to provide to 'irst (id tea and to e)ternal eergencycrews"*

3. The suspended worker ay panic if they are not rescued quickly"

4. The event that led to the fall ay create additional risks that need to beaddressed"

General Rescue Procedures:

A. +f ,levating Work Platfor is available on site:

-ring it to the site and use it to reach the suspended worker"

,nsure that rescue workers are protected against falling"

,nsure that the ,WP has the load capacity for both the rescuer%s* and thevicti"

+f the victi is not conscious. rescuers will be probably be needed to safely

handle the weight of the victi" Position the ,WP platfor below the worker and disconnect his lanyard when

it is safe to do so" Treat the victi for Suspension Traua and any other in!uries"

(rrange for transport to nearest hospital"

B. +f no ,levating Work Platfor is available:

Where possible. use ladder%s* to reach the victi" Rig separate lifelines for rescuers to use while carrying out the rescue fro

the ladder%s*" +f worker is not conscious or cannot reliably help with his/her own rescue. at

least rescuers ay be needed" +f worker is suspended fro a lifeline. where possible. ove the suspended

victi to an area that can be safely reached by the ladder%s*"

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+f victi is suspended directly fro his/her lanyard or fro a lifeline. securely

attach a separate lowering line to the victi0s harness" 1ther rescuers should lower the victi while he/she is being guided by the

rescuer on the ladder" 1nce the victi has been brought to a safe location. adinister 'irst (id and

treat the person for Suspension Traua and any other in!uries" (rrange for transport to nearest hospital"

C. +f the in!ured person is suspended near the work area and can be safely reachedfro the floor below or the area they fell fro:

,nsure that rescuers are protected against falling"

+f possible. securely attach a second line to the workers0 harnesses to assist

in pulling the to a safe area" %2ote: at least strong workers will be neededto pull soeone up"*

,nsure that any slack in the retrieving lines is taken up to avoid slippage"

1nce the victi has been brought to a safe location. adinister 'irst (id andtreat the person for Suspension Traua and any other in!uries and arrangefor transport to the nearest hospital"

D. +f a person has fallen and is suspended in an inaccessible area %e"g" a tower.against a building or structure that has no openings*:

Speciali3ed rescue techniques are needed for this type of situation" +t ay

involve a rescuer rappelling or being lowered down to the victi. it ayinvolve using the lifeline to retrieve the fallen worker. or the use of high4reacheergency equipent"

5ue to the inherent risk to the rescuers and/or the victi. this type of rescue

should not be undertaken by people without speciali3ed training ande)perience"