Fall protection and rescue
Domain 6 tests the last line of defence: the independent safety rope, the harness, and the rescue that must follow a fall.
The independent safety rope
- Each person wears a full-body harness with an energy-absorbing lanyard and a rope grab on a safety rope that is independent of the suspension ropes and the rig.
- The safety rope is anchored to a separate structural point above, kept reasonably vertical, protected from sharp edges, and long enough to reach the lowest working level.
- Never clip to the suspension rope, guardrail, control pendant, outrigger or tie-back.
Harness and fitting
- Inspect webbing, stitching, buckles, D-ring, karabiner, lanyard and shock absorber before each use; withdraw damaged equipment.
- Fit snugly: leg straps, chest strap, shoulder straps, D-ring between the shoulder blades.
- Use twin lanyards or a documented transfer procedure at access points so that one attachment is always connected.
- Enter and leave at the designated access point; do not climb over guardrails.
Rescue
- A rescue plan must exist before work starts, with equipment on site and trained rescuers.
- Self-rescue: controlled descent device or assisted lowering by a colleague.
- Assisted rescue: from the roof, an adjacent floor or another platform; emergency lowering using the manufacturer's manual descent system.
- Call 999 early; keep the casualty talking.
Suspension trauma
Prolonged hanging in a harness pools blood in the legs and can cause faintness, nausea and collapse after rescue. Keep the casualty sitting with knees bent, do not let them stand or walk, monitor breathing, give oxygen if trained, and hand over to ambulance staff.
Worked example
An operator slips; the lanyard deploys and he hangs about 1 m below the platform, conscious. The colleague stops the platform, calls for help, and lowers the platform to the nearest floor so the casualty can be brought in over the guardrail by two trained rescuers - while the casualty stays attached. He is kept sitting, not walked, until the ambulance arrives.
Traps
- Clipping the lanyard to the rig or suspension rope.
- Unclipping completely to step across a gap.
- Laying a rescued casualty flat or letting them walk.
- Trying to climb back onto the platform unaided.
- No rescue equipment on site.