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714 Fall Protection Program
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Develop a Fall Protection ERP

Train on-site responders: An effective emergency-response plan ensures that on-site responders know emergency procedures, know how to use available rescue equipment, and - if necessary - know how to contact off-site responders.

Training on-site responders is an effective tool.

Workers who use personal fall-arrest systems and who work alone must know how to rescue themselves. Those who work at a remote site may need a higher level of emergency training than those who work near a trauma center or a fire department.

Establish a chain of command: All workers must know their roles and responsibilities during an emergency. A chain of command links one person with overall responsibility for managing an emergency to those responsible for carrying out specific emergency-response tasks. Make sure that back-up personnel can take over when primary responders aren't available.

Establish procedures for responding to emergencies: Procedures are instructions for accomplishing specific tasks. Emergency procedures are important because they tell workers exactly what to do to ensure their safety during an emergency. Your emergency-response plan should include the following procedures - preferably in writing - that describe what people must know and do to ensure that a fallen worker receives prompt attention:

  • How to report an emergency.
  • How to rescue a suspended worker.
  • How to provide first aid.

After an emergency, review the procedures; determine if they should be changed to prevent similar events and revise them accordingly.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

9-4. Which of the following links one person with overall responsibility for managing a fall emergency to those responsible for carrying out specific emergency-response tasks?