Fall Protection Friday: Rescue Plans and Suspension Trauma

This Weeks Toolbox Talk Attached Below!

Welcome back, let's Build Smart & Build Safe! This week, we've covered comprehensive fall protection, from understanding hazards to the ABCs of your PFAS. Today, on Fall Protection Friday, we address a critical, often overlooked aspect: what happens after a fall is arrested – rescue plans and the danger of suspension trauma.

A PFAS is designed to stop your fall, not prevent it. If you fall, you will be left suspended in your harness. This is where the next set of dangers begins.

1. Beyond Fall Arrest: The Critical Need for a Rescue Plan

• Arrest is Not Rescue: A PFAS safely catches you, but it doesn't get you back to a safe surface. You will remain suspended.

• Pre-Planned Rescue: An effective, written rescue plan is absolutely essential before anyone works at height. This plan must cover:

  • Who will perform the rescue.

  • How they will do it (e.g., self-rescue, assisted rescue, mechanical retrieval).

  • What equipment is needed.

  • How emergency services will be contacted if necessary.

• Practice is Key: Rescue plans should be practiced regularly, not just theoretical.

2. The Danger of Suspension Trauma (Orthostatic Intolerance)

• What it is: This is a serious, potentially fatal condition that can occur when a worker is suspended motionless in a harness after a fall. Blood pools in the legs, reducing blood flow to vital organs.

• Symptoms: Can include lightheadedness, nausea, sweating, rapid heart rate, and ultimately, loss of consciousness and organ damage.

• Time is Critical: Suspension trauma can set in rapidly, sometimes within minutes.

3. Rapid Rescue: Every Second Counts

• Urgency: Due to the risk of suspension trauma, rescue must be swift. The goal is to retrieve the fallen worker to a safe surface as quickly as possible, ideally within minutes.

• Self-Rescue Options: If feasible and trained, the worker may be able to self-rescue using specific equipment (e.g., suspension relief straps).

• Assisted Rescue: Co-workers trained in rescue techniques, or dedicated rescue teams, must be ready to act.

Your Action: If you witness a fall, immediately activate the rescue plan. Do not attempt an untrained rescue, as this can put you at risk. Call for help and follow your site's emergency procedures.

Understanding that fall arrest is only half the battle, and that a rapid, planned rescue is equally vital, completes your comprehensive knowledge of fall protection.

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-The Safety Man