Most people think that a Personal Fall Protection
Personal Fall Protection System (PFPS) is composed of only three parts: the harness, the lanyard, and the anchorage point.
What is missing in this equation is, in my opinion, of utmost importance: the rescue plan, which is vital so that, in a possible emergency, everything goes according to plan.
Fall prevention plans, such as guardrails and/or restraint systems do not require any type of rescue, because no one should be able to reach an unprotected edge with these systems. However, if we do not have the above protection options, we must follow nature’s own order, which is that a fall may occur! By mechanical failure, recklessness, and even by lack of proper preparation.
This means that if someone is left hanging from a platform, scaffolding, roof, or structure, that person will need to be rescued, and will need to be rescued quickly and purposefully. Once someone falls and is rescued by their SPIQ (Anti-Fall Prevention System), every minute that passes is critical and the consequence of this can be Suspension Trauma or Orthostatic Trauma (which will be covered shortly). It can begin to set in within minutes and put the worker’s life at risk. This means that even if your worker has been saved from the fall, his or her life could still be in danger.
Without a plan, you also run the risk of workers scrambling to try to rescue their co-workers in ways that could put their own lives in danger.
However, the worst case-scenario is to realize that you have no means to rescue someone who has fallen.
What could have been a happy and normal moment turns into dread and helplessness! Planning is crucial. This includes calling your local fire department to visit your company. If you plan to call them for rescue (NR-35 provides: 35.6.1.1 the team can be in-house or outside), and to ensure that they have the training and capability to rescue someone inside your company and the necessary equipment to make it happen.
Finding out that you do not have the means to rescue “after the fact” can be a fatal mistake.
Consult one of our height specialists for more information on equipment that can be used in Hércules height rescues, as well as tips on how to put together a plan of action.