Developing a Rescue Plan
- Train on-site responders: An effective emergency rescue 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. Workers who use personal fall-arrest systems and who work alone must receive a higher level of training and so that they know how to rescue themselves.
- 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.
ENSA Access and Rescue perform hands-on rescue training on at elevation.
- 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
- Review the Plan: After an emergency, review the procedures to 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. What must a lone worker using a fall-arrest system know how to do?
You forgot to answer the question!