Your Safety Plan and Fall Rescue Strategy - Important Tools For Worker Safety

There are several professions that do not include the risk of being exposed to hazardous chemicals, heavy machinery, or substantial heights. However, it is vital that appropriate fall protection be put into place for employees who work at heights. OSHA is of the opinion that fall protection strategies are essential because falls are the most common cause of serious injuries and fatalities in the workplace.

Fall protection plans are tactics that businesses put into place to maintain workers' safety in potentially dangerous industrial settings. These plans are designed to comply with OSHA rules as well. Fall protection plans identify the areas of concern as well as the appropriate safety equipment and supplies that are required to accomplish the task. This is especially helpful for smaller firms that may not have safety supervisors or the means to employ a safety consultant. On top of the plan, all workers who work on these locations that pose particular risks need to be trained in and thoroughly comprehend what it takes to carry out their responsibilities while adhering to all safety requirements. This is a need that must be met by all employees.

Additionally, you are required to have a rescue plan in place as part of your fall protection for any jobs that take place at a height of 10 feet or greater. While no one wants an injury to take place on the job, accidents do take place. And the fall itself is only part of the problem. The second phase, which is an even more crucial one, is how to rescue the injured worker. 

Although the equipment and other components of your plan will fluctuate depending on your worksite and the threats that are currently present, the following details are often included in most fall prevention plans:

The designation of the specific work site for which the plan is being put together (Spot 4, Bay 6 for example), as well as the activities and tasks that take place there, and any additional information that is specific to the site.

• All of the potential hazards that exist within the working area.
• All of the types of personal fall protection equipment, including prevention methods (such as position lanyards, SRLs, horizontal lifelines, and carabiners); measures for assembly, maintenance, and inspection; and disassembly procedures. Your rescue plan should be clearly spelled out and all employees in that area should be trained on them on a regular basis.
• The appropriate protocols for ensuring everyone's safety in the workplace.
• Methods for safely operating and stowing away apparatus and tools.
• A contingency plan that details how to safely leave the work zone in the event of an emergency. Maps with stairways, fire doors, etc. clearly indicated.

 This plan should be kept current as situations and equipment change.

 Fall Protection Plan Phase Two:

According to OSHA 1926.502(d)20: “The employer shall provide for prompt rescue of employees in the event of a fall or shall assure that employees are able to rescue themselves.”

In the event that a fall does take place, it is imperative that a worker not be left dangling or suspended in his or her harness. It's possible that this will only make the situation worse. Someone will undoubtedly dial 911, but what should you do in the meantime while you wait for emergency medical services to arrive? How long will the expected wait be?

You can reduce the likelihood of experiencing a fall or injury by ensuring that you have the appropriate training and gear. If an accident does take place, it is up to the injured worker and the employer to decide whether or not the injury is serious enough to warrant a call to 911.

In certain circumstances, it will be very clear that you require more assistance and should make a call to receive it. However, not every injury is of such a serious kind. For instance, a fall could cause a worker to suffer from a suspected ankle fracture; but, rather than waiting for an ambulance, the worker might choose to have someone drive them to the hospital rather than calling for one.

In the event that you conclude that immediate medical assistance is required, the personnel that are dispatched to your location may take some time to get there, depending on where your site is located. It is quite important how the injured worker is cared for during the wait. For instance, if an employee were to fall and become stranded in his or her harness, you could not just leave them dangling in midair for an extended period of time. After being suspended vertically for more than 10 minutes, a person's condition has a high risk of becoming lethal very fast. When a person is hung vertically, they run the risk of going into shock, which causes blood to pool in the legs and places additional strain on the heart as it works to pump blood to the brain. This is referred to as harness hang syndrome.

Even though they have a reputation for being difficult to carry out, rescue plans aren't always as challenging as their detractors make them out to be. In fact, if there were perfect circumstances, a rescue strategy would comprise self-rescue, which is uncomplicated and straightforward. The ideal situation for a worker who is suspended would be for them to be able to lower themselves to safety.

In circumstances in which this is not feasible, many rescue operations require the participation of one or two other employees. It is important that your plan does not put more staff in danger than is necessary. Therefore, make sure that you take the time to formulate a strategy that is straightforward while still being efficient.

When operating at elevated levels, falls are not the only potential risk. Other injuries include medical crises such as heat exhaustion, being jolted by electricity, having a heart attack, or suffering an allergic response. Therefore, your rescue plans shouldn't just apply to falls; rather, they should apply to falls as well as any other major injuries.

In general, a rescue plan details how other workers should monitor an accident, respond to the situation, and prepare the injured while waiting for medical assistance to come — or how they should care for the injured on the spot if there is no medical assistance available.