Welcome Guest! The IOSH forums are a free resource to both members and non-members. Login or register to use them

Postings made by forum users are personal opinions. IOSH is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any of the information contained in forum postings. Please carefully consider any advice you receive.

Notification

Icon
Error

Options
Go to last post Go to first unread
Admin  
#1 Posted : 11 November 2008 12:16:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Admin

Posted By Stephen Sherratt Firstly may I state that I have been well supported by our directors since 2005 in totally funding the overhaul of our harness use by introducing competent inspection, User and rescue training, Purchase of suitable rescue equipment, Fitting Suspension Safety Straps and Training in their use. I was troubled when one of our first Aiders on returning from his renewal alerted me to the following: http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/harness.htm And what do we think about the response at: http://www.suspensiontrauma.info/faq/uk-hse.php Unfortunately, I have discovered amongst some First Aid Training Providers they are using the phrase “Urban Myth” to describe Suspension Truma or Pre – Syncopal or just plain Orthostatic intolerance. Any comments? Steve
Admin  
#2 Posted : 11 November 2008 12:25:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Admin

Posted By Kenneth Patrick If we take this advice from HSE seriously then I would judge that there should be a lot less "casual" use of harnesses. "The key is to get the person down safely in the shortest possible time and before the emergency service response. If employers cannot do this, then harness work is not the correct system of work.
Admin  
#3 Posted : 11 November 2008 12:36:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Admin

Posted By Stephen Sherratt Thanks Ken I totally agree Steve
Admin  
#4 Posted : 11 November 2008 12:50:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Admin

Posted By Andrew W Due to the nature of our business it is impossible to get away from the use of harness and fall arrest equipment, and as Steven states we also carry out thorough training in use of equipment, rescue equipment and methods of rescue. Having briefly read both documents I feel that clarity is required. The basis of the evidence in the HSE report appears to be quite narrow if the suspensiontrauma response is correct. My personal feeling is that all involved parties should get together and produce a statement of clarity and proper medically researched evidence. We will continue to train and address the issue of suspension trauma (or reflow or what ever other terminology people wish to use) until such a time as correctly researched evidential proof is presented. Andy
Admin  
#5 Posted : 11 November 2008 12:57:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Admin

Posted By A Campbell You will proberly find that a lot of their way of thinking may have been born out of the problems encountered when being rescued from sea. With the ... pooling effect of floating at sea rescue was sometimes periless for the person being rescued due to being suddenly being lifted out of the water... sub sequence of blood rushing downwards with toxins etc in the ingredients led to fatal rescue attempts. That was until they developed systems for scooping on semi lateral position instead of near vertical.
Admin  
#6 Posted : 11 November 2008 13:59:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Admin

Posted By Sen Sar You have mail
Admin  
#7 Posted : 11 November 2008 14:03:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Admin

Posted By ianmilne69 I previously had several years experience using harnesses for entry/exit during tank cleaning. Suspension trauma is real and the people on teh job need to know about it. At a recent (okay, it was last year maybe), we had a reminder pep talk at the Aberdeen (NoS) branch and I developed a slideshow using that info and my own research via websites. I was alarmed that people have died because emergency personnel have rescued people in similar circumstances and lifted them up, which released the toxic blood to heart 'n' head - you do now. Even in these circumstances, I still fully support any emergency services person, who put their lives in danger for others and look down on those who keep trying to sue them, for doing their job and bests.
Admin  
#8 Posted : 11 November 2008 14:41:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Admin

Posted By Phil We too will continue to train Firefighters and construction guys to the existing regime until Prof. Porter et al provide some better evidence.
Admin  
#9 Posted : 11 November 2008 20:17:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Admin

Posted By nheathsiae Agree with all previous posters suspension trauma, as we believe the experts is very real, so our response is, Working at Heights Rescue. The "Suspension Trauma" website is very well known, but the biggest issue is RESCUE. As for the First Aid aspect, can only repeat, treat as crush injury. It is what all the major UK WAH and Rescue companies are currently teaching. OK, real life, you have a guy in "suspension", hanging in his harness from a fixed structure. You are told in all the training "we" have 20 mins to get him down!!! OK, there is a second person above the suspendee, WITH a rescue kit , I mean above the suspendee, of course there is. All rescue is DOWN to the ground. You now deploy a single rope descending device, nobody is allowed to use rope access without a backup rope (two ropes) but we now commit two people to a single rope, but this is an emergency. Now the FUN part, you commit yourself or another fully trained person, to descend to the "suspendee", YOU HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THE MAIN ATTACHMENT POINTS, I HOPE FOR YOUR RESCUE KIT!!, on a single rope, attach yourself to them, cut their suspension ropes/lanyards away, now with their "dead" weight fully on you, descend to the ground. Sounds easy, try it on a mobile phone mast with lots of "sticking" out metal work. Forgot to add while doing all of this you have phoned 999!!! In training we use "dummies" the actual rescue process is too hazardous for a "live" person. All in 20 minutes? I tried to write a risk assessment for Rescue for WAH, it was too hazardous. Best left to to "999" boys, greatest rescpect for them and have been on many courses with them!! E-mail me if you like, I re-do my WAH Rescue next week. Nick
Admin  
#10 Posted : 12 November 2008 10:36:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Admin

Posted By Stephen Sherratt Nick I am glad I don’t have to RA work like yours however we should draw the same conclusions. One feature of our Harness Kit is the fitting of Suspension Straps there are three our four on the market and mail me and I will send the details they were only £14 and I will include the Tool Box Talk Info cards. Thanks to all who have contributed and bolstered my resolve to carry on as before with confidence. Steve
Admin  
#11 Posted : 12 November 2008 13:11:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Admin

Posted By Phil Suspension straps are only usefull in the conscious casualty unfortunately. Its the unconscious casualty that will suffer if suspended. Phil
Admin  
#12 Posted : 12 November 2008 14:31:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Admin

Posted By Stephen Sherratt Phil, I get your point but we still fit the straps in the event the casualty is conscious and can self help, if not it very different matter. But at £14 its worth fitting and it give an opportunity for an Induction/Tool Box Talk on fitting the harness properly and how to deploy the Straps. Steve
Admin  
#13 Posted : 12 November 2008 15:55:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Admin

Posted By Phil Couldnt agree more Steve. Its encouraging that people in the industry are actually compiling rescue plans etc. I know many firms who still go down the dial 999 route though !!!
Users browsing this topic
Guest
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.