|
|
|
Post-fall rescue of workers using fall protection
By John R. Peleaux
In recent years we have witnessed a dramatic increase in the manufacturing and use of fall protection equipment. Combined with proper training, this equipment provides a great step forward in saving lives, preventing injuries and protecting company assets. With the increased use of fall protection equipment and its successes, one of the next logical concerns is post-fall recovery. The following questions require some serious thought:
Dealing with prolonged suspension A hypothetical, simple emergency post-fall situation might run as follows: A fall occurs. The worker's fall is arrested safely, with no apparent injuries. He requires assistance. His system includes an I-beam anchorage, shock absorbing lanyard and a full-body harness. What are the consequences of prolonged suspension? In a 1987 Airforce/OSHA study regarding prolonged motionless suspension, the average amount of time that test subjects could hang motionless in a full-body harness before experiencing nausea, tingling or numbness was 14.38 minutes; in the commonly used "safety belt," 1.63 minutes. These are sobering statistics when one realizes the force of a fall was not even considered. OSHA Appendix C to Section 1910.66 OSHA plans to develop a generic fall protection equipment standard for general industry in the near future. The separate appendix will facilitate the transfer of fall protection requirements regarding powered platforms for building maintenance (1910.66, effective 1-24-90) into the general industry standards. Section I. Paragraph (e) (8) mandatory requirement states: The employer shall provide for prompt rescue of employees in the event of a fall or shall assure the self-rescue capability of employees. OSHA comments regarding the ruling state: The intent of this provision is that the employer evaluate the potential for fall arrest and that rescue support be provided in a timely manner to avoid long periods of post-fall suspension. When it is not possible to evaluate self-rescue capability in advance, prudent employees will need rescue assistance and accordingly be prepared to offer it.2 Post-fall recovery equipment and training If the belief exists that this "new" concern is just another reason for not using fall protection when fall hazards exist, remember our safety priorities. Before the use of fall protection, post-fall recovery consisted of picking up the fall victim after his contact with the concrete. At present, a few of the more innovative fall protection manufacturers have produced fall protection devices that incorporate an emergency rescue mode. These devices allow either fellow workers or the fall victim himself to effect the lowering to safety. Additionally, these devices can minimize suspension time, thereby decreasing risk to both the victim and rescue personnel. Pre-use training with these systems is essential for smooth and safe subject recovery. If full rescue training is not in the budget, but a fire department is just a few minutes away, consider a joint training session at your facility. While your personnel train in rescue hazard awareness, victim communication and fire/rescue team cooperation, the fire department can practice its recovery techniques. Pooling resources with other nearby facilities with fall risks can also reduce training costs. Planning ahead
Despite the most conscientious precautionary measures, situations develop that do not fit the "emergency plan." This is when an in-house response team can perform small miracles. If such immediate help is unavailable, the fall victim may be facing a period of prolonged suspension in a full-body harness or safety belt. How would one proceed in this situation? If a post-fall recovery is needed, the following emergency measures may be activated to protect both the fall victim and intended rescuers. (Several steps could be worked simultaneously.)
Several safe rescue techniques can help both non-injured and injured post-fall victims. They include belaying (protecting the rescuer and subject with rope), aerial traversing, controlled rope descent and mechanical advantage systems. These techniques use a simple and effective safety system to minimize risk; the personnel performing these rescues are usually a small, well-trained in-house group that is also available to management and fellow workers for the correct rigging of fall protection systems. Fire brigades are ideal as they are already emergency response oriented. The following case histories (from Industrial Fire World, June 1989) illustrate the value of having trained teams. The locations of the rescues have been omitted from the original article. Case Number 1: Tuesday, Jan. 17, 1989 A contract worker at a Texas refinery fell and lodged himself in a pipe rack structure 35 ft. high. The worker sustained a separated shoulder in addition to painful cuts and bruises. A rescue team was called to respond. Coincidentally, the rescue team was in the middle of a rescue training session nearby. The eight-person team arrived minutes after notification and quickly went to work. The rescuers reached the victim by ladder, stabilized him, and put an extraction harness on him. The team then performed a rope rescue hauling system called the "piggy back," which gave the team a four-to-one mechanical advantage for the lift. Once free of the pipe rack, the team easily converted the hauling system to a lowering system, and with the aid of a tag line, gently lowered the worker to an ambulance gurney for transport to the hospital. This rescue operation began at 11:05 a.m. and was completed in 22 minutes. Case Number 2: Wednesday, Feb. 2, 1989 At a refinery in Texas, a contract worker suffering from an ongoing kidney ailment had a severe pain attack in his lower back area, effectively doubling him over and rendering him unable to stand or walk. The worker was located in a pipe rack structure 75 ft. above the ground. Nearby workers tried to bring in a cherry picker to lower him, but deemed that strategy unsafe. The eight-man team was dispatched to the scene. The team quickly packaged the victim in a basket litter, and then incorporated a double lowering line technique to evacuate the victim to the ground. The rescue began at 4:00 p.m., and the ambulance transporting the victim passed through the plant's front gate at 4:21 p.m. Medical considerations In most emergency medical situations, accepted teaching stresses the importance of evaluating and stabilizing the subject before moving him. Head, neck and back injuries can be compounded if well-meaning (but untrained) fellow workers move the fall victim incorrectly. During a lowering rescue, unless the subject's airway is obstructed it is most efficient to carefully lower the victim to within three to four feet of the ground, and then administer medical care. If the post-fall subject has been suspended in a full-body harness for more than 15 minutes, the rescue team should be aware of the possibility of delayed shock symptoms occurring even one hour after rescue. While hanging in a harness or safety belt, circulation to the legs may be cut off. During this time, the blood in the legs may pool and develop a buildup of lactic acid and other biochemicals. The sudden release of pressure from the harness straps causes the blood from the legs with its chemical buildups to surge through the body, prompting a physical reaction that can lead to delayed shock symptoms. As a precautionary measure, the rescued subject should be placed in a prone position and monitored for a few hours. Conclusion "We don't need a safety director; we have a good insurance policy." Telephone quote - construction company It is evident how much value this company places on employee safety, health and well-being. Successful companies realize employees are the company, and not simply an expendable resource. As with fall protection installation, confined space entry and post-fall recovery, preplanning is the key ingredient to a safe and cost-efficient operation. With the value of human life being dictated by soaring insurance, litigation and medical costs, preplanning and prevention has become very cost effective. References 1. Orzech, Goodwin, Brinkley, Salerno, Seaworth. Air Force/OSHA, Test Program to Evaluate Human Response to Prolonged Motionless Suspension in Three Types of Fall Protection Harnesses, Sept. 1987, p. 19. 2. Federal Register--Vol. 54. No. 144--Friday, July 28, 1989 Rules and Regulations--29 CFR Part 1910, Powered Platforms for Building Maintenance; Final Rule. John Peleaux - Innovative Access, Inc. 719-783-3530 Innovative.access@juno.com - www.innovative-access.com
WILL YOUR FALL PROTECTION WORK?
By John R. Peleaux
We see it over and over again. A construction worker wearing a full body harness is climbing a cement form; his lanyard and rope grab connected to a nice strong lifeline; the lifeline anchorage conforms to OSHA rules. This worker however, will hit the ground if he falls. The anchor for his fall protection system is 15' below and 5' to the right of his location 25' above the ground. True story. This could be just another "attitude problem" case, where the employee is fulfilling the company rules regarding the wearing of fall protection, but could care less about its correct use. Or, it could present another possibility I find even more alarming. The worker might have been given a tool he did not know how to use. Safety directors are becoming swamped with the ever growing list of safety and heath responsibilities. They are usually caught in the middle between a tight budget from management and workers old safety habits. It is very easy to purchase fall protection equipment, make it available to the worker, and consider fall protection dealt with. Apathy can also play a role in the misuse of fall protection. Do we really believe that every worker reads the warning literature packaged with lanyards? Is common sense really all that common? How many articles have you read explaining how a safe workplace is an investment towards protecting company profits? If education is left out of the fall protection system, the protection value of all that expensive fall protection equipment tumbles like gravity itself. There are several common weak points in the users fall protection education. Here are some of them: The worker should be in a vertical line with the anchorage directly overhead if possible to prevent a swing (or pendulum) fall. During a swing fall, the worker can lose his hard hat during the fall arresting jolt, then slam into a post sideways! When rope lanyards or lifelines are tied-off around a "H" or "I" beam, the rope can lose as much as 93% of it's strength due to the cutting action of the beam edge. Protection of the rope with padding can not only reduce the strength loss, but add to the life of the lanyard. Worn lanyards tend to be tossed back into the tool crib for the next trusting worker. A shock absorbing lanyard would also reduce the strength loss. One of the safest methods we have seen for beam anchorages uses a 3" webbing strap and a "D" ring compatible with the lanyard snap hook. Many lanyards have knots that have been tied accidentally, or used to shorten the length of the lanyard. Knots can reduce the strength of the lanyard by 5O% or more. Use an adjustable lanyard or one of the correct length. The "D" ring of a safety belt should be located in the center of the workers back. Severe spinal injuries can occur if the "D" ring is in the front or side of the worker during a free fall. Some ladder fall protection systems that retain the fall distance to within inches require the ring to be in the front of the safety belt. Avoid the "slung-low" John Wayne style of safety belt adjustment. After a free-fall in a safety belt, the workers top heavy torso usually inverts to a feet up position where a loose belt can slip over the hips and feet. Free-fall then resumes sans safety belt. Overweight workers should consider wearing a full body harness if the belt diameter is larger than their hips. Post-fall recovery or rescue of a worker suspended in a fall protection system should be considered before the work starts. If the worker is suspended for more than a few minutes, serious medical problems can develop. Inspection and storage are important. I have seen lifelines and lanyards thrown into oily tool boxes with all types of sharp cutting edges. They will not only become useless as safety devices, but may promote a false sense of security in the minds of both workers and management. Workers should make every effort to minimize their potential free-fall distance by adjusting lanyard length and keeping the anchorage shoulder high or above. Be aware of obstructions below the work area, and design the fall protection system to avoid them. The total vertical distance necessary to stop the workers fall before hitting an obstruction or the ground must be estimated. A factor commonly forgotten in this estimate is the deceleration distance required for a shock absorbing lanyard (up to 3'). Consider your fall protection system a chain. Find the weak link in it before it fails. Make sure that your workers are armed with not only the right equipment, but also the knowledge of how to use it correctly.
BIO - (Suggested only) John R. Peleaux, is the CEO of Innovative Access, Inc. in Westcliffe, Colorado, specializing in filling the educational gap involving fall protection and rope rescue techniques. Mr. Peleaux's background with gravity includes 40 years of mountaineering, 31 years of volunteer mountain rescue work, and 21 years of construction scaffold safety and rescue team training. He is a founder member of the International Society for Fall Protection, a member of the ASSE Colorado Chapter, and the founder of the Rope Rescue Educational Alliance.
John Peleaux - Innovative Access, Inc. 719-783-3530 Innovative.access@juno.com - www.innovative-access.com |