Emergency rescue

After a fall is arrested, the worker is often left hanging in the air and has to be rescued by others. In other cases the worker may have injuries that need first aid. Leaving a worker suspended for a long time can be dangerous to their health and safety. A rescue plan details how to return fallen workers to a safe place while keeping the rescuers safe.

Designated rescuers must be adequately trained and have easy access to all the equipment they need to rescue others safely and as fast as possible. The rescue plan must deal with:

• the safety of the people carrying out the rescue
• any anchor points for the safety equipment
• the suitability of the equipment
• how to attach the person to the rescue equipment
• how to move the person using the equipment
• any medical or other needs of the person during the rescue

Emergency procedures must be developed for reasonably foreseeable events in which workers might be trapped while working at height. The rescue method must be assessed for the actual location and casualty. Do not assume an injured person can climb from a net or improvise access with a ladder. In other circumstances other work equipment may have to be considered, such as a mobile elevating work platform or a proprietary rescue system.

Training and instruction

Everyone involved in work at height and in rescue procedures should be trained in fall protection, rescue equipment and procedures.

When personal fall protection is required, it protects the worker only if they are competent in its use, know why they must use it and are properly trained. Training for work at height should include:

• the hazards and risks of work at height
• the requirements and guidelines for work at height
• how to manage risk controls to prevent a fall
• the dos and don'ts of the different access and work-at-height equipment in use
• the requirements for all work from which a fall could cause injury; two metres is not a universal threshold for protection
• using a personal fall arrest system (PFAS)
• awareness of the work-at-height rescue plan

The authorised rescuer must be trained by a competent rescue trainer, and retrained if the nature of the work changes or other circumstances change. The rescuer should be able to inspect, anchor, assemble and use fall protection and rescue equipment safely. This includes the training and skills to:

• anchor, assemble and use rescue equipment and fall protection equipment safely and effectively
• inspect all equipment and systems before use
• identify potential hazards of work at height
• carry out any hazard control processes for work at height
• organise and run fall protection and rescue procedures

All training must be well documented, and the records archived for a number of years depending on the situation.

Summary notes for Element 8 · Cheat sheet · Glossary. A study aid, not published or endorsed by NEBOSH.