Post-Fall Rescue Hazard Alert

Summary

After an arrested fall, the victim has to be taken off his/her Fall Arrest System (FAS) as soon as possible. The Post-fall Rescue is not only a common sense action, but also a legal requirement in several jurisdictions. When the fall victim has been injured during the fall or its arrest, the speed with which the victim is given first aid or full medical attention is often critical. It is known [1] that oxygen deprivation to the brain may lead to permanent changes within only 4 minutes. On the other hand, an uninjured fall victim can tolerate static, motionless suspension in a full body harness from 15 to 30 minutes [2] on average, depending on the design of the harness. When the victim’s immediate post-fall condition allows for safe self-repositioning within the harness (in order to relieve an excessive pressure from the straps), the safe suspension time increases, however no exact limits can be assigned in such cases.

The Hazard

What is it? Late Post-Fall Rescue may result in a serious injury or death, if the fall victim is injured during the fall. An uninjured fall victim may develop suspension trauma when hanging in a harness for a prolonged period of time, particularly when cared for improperly after taking him/her off the Fall Arrest System (FAS).

Post-fall suspension trauma is still being researched, and more information about it should be available in the future. An uninjured fall victim who used the so called light-weight harness with no waist strap, and no back strap (below the back D-ring) - may fall out of such harness. This could occur during an attempt by the victim to relieve the straps pressure on his/her thighs. If the victim manages to relocate the thigh straps too close to the knees, a large opening in the harness, free of any strap, develops at the back of the victim. He/she may subsequently fall out of the harness with the buttocks being the first to get out. This phenomenon is known as butting-out and while it has been known for some time [3] it has only recently claimed its first victim [4]. (See Hazard Alert HA-004)

Why does it exist? Late Post-Fall Rescue Hazard exists because of physiological limitations of the human body which are expressed by injury thresholds and endurance limits. These in turn are known only with certain accuracy and in the form of quantitative averages which seldom apply directly to a specific industrial situation. These thresholds and limits should be applied with great caution. This Hazard exists also because of the limitations of the fall protection and rescue equipment which has to be “user friendly” (light weight, small size, easy to operate, inexpensive) when not involved in fall arrest and post-fall rescue. A lack of proper training in fall protection in general, and even worse in post-fall rescue, contributes to this hazard. It is quite common that the rescue is left to the ad hoc improvisation of the co-workers of the victim and the subsequent delay in getting the fall victim off his/her harness.

Where can you experience it? In any situation where a fall arrest system is used. It is particularly dangerous when in addition to falling other hazards exist, such as, a confined space, an open tank, water, electrical contact, etc. The risk is also very high when the work aloft is performed by a single person in a remote location e.g: a worker changing billboard signs.

How to Eliminate It Or Minimize Its Consequences?

1. Workers who use Fall Arrest Systems (FASs) should be trained in self-rescue, as well as in rescue by co-workers who are regularly retrained under simulated accident conditions. Each shift should have a group of employees who are trained in post-fall rescue.
2. Develop rescue methods which employ typical fall arrest equipment to which users are already accustomed and which is with them when the fall happens. For example, when using self-retracting lifelines, employ those which are equipped with retrieval winches.
3. When work at elevation is performed infrequently (e.g.; every ten years) and involves particularly high hazard of falling which may be accompanied by additional hazard, consider hiring a stand-by, professional rescue team.
4. Do not rely on public emergency services to take the fall victim off his/her harness unless these services are a part of a plant’s regular operation, e.g.: some oil refineries and some mines have their own fire departments. Public emergency services may take too long to arrive at the accident scene.
5. When constructing or operating very high structures (e.g.: 2000 ft tall guy-wired telecommunication towers) consider training some of your personnel in high angle and vertical rescue techniques based on methods employed in mountaineering. Ensure that when such techniques are employed, the rescuers have a secondary, back-up Fall Arrest System (FAS) in case they fall. If such a system is impractical because it may introduce more risks, such cases should be fully documented before rescuers are allowed to perform their duties without a back up Fall Arrest System (FAS).
6. In general, the Post-Fall Rescue should be accomplished in a minimum amount of time. However it has to be performed with full assessment of the safety of the rescuers.
7. When using commercially available height rescue equipment, follow strictly all User’s Instructions supplied by manufacturers.
8. Provide proper fall protection training to all users of Fall Arrest Systems (FASs).

Additional Information and Comments

It is statistically proven that among fatalities related to confined spaces, 40% were among rescuers whose only knowledge was that their colleague was in danger and that they had to do something, but were given neither rescue equipment nor training. Remember that both are mandated by law [6], [7].

Today the importance of the post-fall rescue is underestimated. In approximately 80% of workplaces where Fall Arrest Systems (FASs) are routinely used, no rescue plan exists. An exception are electric utilities and oil refineries where a combination of at least two hazards (respectively: falling and electrical contact, and falling, fire and toxic atmosphere) resulted in well developed rescue methods and procedures.

Local fire departments are usually an excellent source of information regarding rescue at heights. There are also professional height rescue training schools which may assist companies in developing post-fall rescue methods.

References

1. “Encyclopaedia of Occupational Health and Safety”, International Labour Office, Geneva
2. “Fall Arrest and Post-Fall Suspension: Literature Review and Directions for Further Research”, Hearon, B.F., Brinkley J.W., in “Fundamentals of Fall protection” Sulowski et al, ISFP, Toronto, ON, 1991
3. “Proposed method to Test Harness for Strength and Human Factors Criteria”, Arteau, J., Giguere, D., in “Fundamentals of Fall Protection” Sulowski et al, ISFP, Toronto, 1991
4. “Some Aspects of Fall Protection Equipment Employed in Construction and Public Works Industries” Noel, G., Ardouin, M.G., Archer, P., Amphoux M., Sevin A., in “Fundamentals of Fall Protection” - ditto
5. Falling Fatality - Billboard Worker. Sulowski, A.C., 1999. Personal communication.
6. “Fall protection systems criteria and practices” 1926.502 (d)(20) in 29 CFR Parts 1910 and 1926; Safety Standards for Fall Protection in the Construction Industry; Final Rule, Department of Labor, OSHA, Washington, D.C., August 9, 1994
7. Ontario Regulation 145/00, Toronto, ON, 2000
8. “Fall Arrest Systems - Practical Essentials”, Sulowski, A.C., CSA International, Toronto, ON, 2000.
9. “Introduction to Fall Protection”, Second Edition, Ellis, J.N., ASSE, Des Plaines, IL, 1993.
10. “Fundamentals of Fall Protection”, Sulowski A.C., et al, International Society for Fall Protection, Toronto, ON, 1991.
11. “The Fundamentals of Fall Protection” Seminar, CSA International, Toronto, ON, 1999.