Corporate Profile 47Billion Information Technology
Developing and Maintaining Fall Protection Rescue Plans
1. DEVELOPING AND CONDUCTING RESCUE PLANS LJB University ™ has been approved as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), 1760 Old Meadow Road, Suite 500, McLean, VA 22102. . Moderator: Speaker: KIM MESSER THOMAS E. KRAMER, P.E., C.S.P. [email_address] TKramer@LJBinc.com
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Notes de l'éditeur
Page 28888 OSHA, of course, encourages employers to go beyond its minimum requirements and to take additional measures to address fall hazards in a comprehensive manner, starting with a discussion about the elimination of fall hazards and ending with a plan to rescue employees if they fall. To meet this requirement, the employer must evaluate the availability of rescue personnel, ladders, or other rescue equipment. In some situations, it may be appropriate to use equipment; for example, a mechanical device that has descent capability which allows employees to rescue themselves after a fall has been arrested. In other situations, a suspended employee may not be able to reach a work level independently, so the employer must ensure the ability to rescue the employee promptly. In recognition of hazards confronting employees, OSHA developed a Safety and Health Information Bulletin (SHIB) addressing the hazards associated with suspension trauma/orthostatic intolerance (SHIB 03–24–2004, available at http://www.osha.gov/dts/shib/shib032404.html). The SHIB states in part: Orthostatic intolerance may be experienced by workers using fall arrest systems. Following a fall, a worker may remain suspended in a harness. The sustained immobility may lead to a state of unconsciousness. Depending on the length of time the suspended worker is unconscious/immobile and the level of venous pooling, the resulting orthostatic intolerance may lead to death. While not common, such fatalities often are referred to as ‘‘harness-induced pathology’’ or ‘‘suspension trauma.’’ OSHA has already adopted this approach in the general industry, construction, and shipyard employment standards on fall protection. The proposal is also consistent with the national consensus standard, ANSI/ASSE A10.32–2004 (section 6.2.1). Additionally, section 7.3 of the ANSI/ASSE Z359.1–2007 standard addresses the need to be trained in rescue. Finally, the need for rescue is evident by the development of a new American National Standard entitled ‘‘Safety Requirements for Assisted-Rescue and Self-Rescue Systems, ANSI/ASSE Z359.4–2007.’’
Harness suspension: review and evaluation of existing information Prepared by Paul Seddon for the Health and Safety Executive Survivable Impact Forces on Human Body Constrained by Full Body Harness HSL/2003/09 Prepared by Harry Crawford for the Health and Safety Executive
First, do no harm, or, in Latin, primum non nocere, a medical injunction (the "Hippocratic oath").
LJB provides engineering, architectural and safety consulting services to many public and private clients. The divisions I represent focuses on safety and specifically, fall protection. In some ways, it is easier to explain what LJB does not do versus what we do. We do not sell equipment. Although equipment is a very important manner to protect workers from hazards, there are more important aspects to consider when creating a sustainable program. While we know all of the manufacturers from our work on the ANSI Z359 committee, we do not sell any equipment.