Emergency response, incident reporting and accident prevention on facade works
Emergency response, incident reporting and accident prevention is the domain that tests what happens when something goes wrong on a facade scaffold and how to stop it recurring.
Emergency response
Before work starts, prepare a rescue plan for a fallen or suspended worker, a collapsed bracket, a fire, and a dropped object. Keep first-aid arrangements, emergency numbers, access routes and a means of communication. If a fall arrest system operates, rescue promptly to reduce suspension trauma; do not wait for the worker to 'climb back'. Call 999 where needed, control the area, and prevent secondary falls.
Incident reporting
Report accidents, dangerous occurrences and near misses to the contractor immediately. The contractor must notify the Labour Department where required and preserve the scene for investigation, while making the site safe. Record what happened, who was involved, the equipment, the sequence and immediate causes. Workers must cooperate with the investigation.
Prevention
Use pre-task briefings, permits, exclusion zones, inspections, toolbox talks and stop-work authority. Investigate near misses as free lessons: a dropped coupler, a loose tie or an unauthorized alteration is a warning. Correct the system, not just the individual.
Worked example
A scaffolder's lanyard arrests a fall from a truss-out; he is suspended and conscious. Immediate actions: call emergency services, start the rescue plan, secure the area, keep communication with the worker and monitor for suspension trauma. Do not cut the lanyard or tell him to unclip unless he is supported. After rescue, report the incident, inspect the anchor and lifeline, and investigate why the fall occurred.
Traps
Do not assume 'no injury' means no report; near misses and dangerous occurrences matter. Do not rely on the fire service as the only rescue plan. Do not restart work after an incident without making the scaffold safe, investigating and briefing the workforce.