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Holmes42398  
#1 Posted : 08 July 2014 09:46:41(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
Holmes42398

There is sufficient information regarding work at height and the rescue of a fallen person, however. little info is readily available concerning the rescue of a person injured whilst working on a completed scaffold structure (replacing facia board or guttering on a house etc) and / or working on a flat roof or similar and sustaining a fractured arm / dislocated shoulder follwing a trip due to poor housekeeping. Other than relying on emergency services. How do you get them down from the elevated workplace?

Any suggestions, will be much appreciated.
Lawlee45239  
#2 Posted : 10 July 2014 13:55:06(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Lawlee45239

Holmes42398 wrote:
There is sufficient information regarding work at height and the rescue of a fallen person, however. little info is readily available concerning the rescue of a person injured whilst working on a completed scaffold structure (replacing facia board or guttering on a house etc) and / or working on a flat roof or similar and sustaining a fractured arm / dislocated shoulder follwing a trip due to poor housekeeping. Other than relying on emergency services. How do you get them down from the elevated workplace?

Any suggestions, will be much appreciated.



I would suggest the use of a man riding cage (first aid cage), if you have a piece of lifting equipment to lift it with. Failing that perhaps via a window opening on the building via the scaffold so as to not have to use the ladder access, as for the roof I'm not sure.........
TonyMullen  
#3 Posted : 11 July 2014 13:43:21(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
TonyMullen

The most obvious method is to fireman carry the IP down an access ladder, but that depends of the severity of injury sustained as well as the weight of the IP (the SWL of a ladder is around 27 stone).

The simplest way IMO is to rig the IP to a rescue winch with a rescue harness/stretcher and hoist them over the side and lower them to the ground. However I'd suggest that an IP sustaining a fracture arm could be treat on the scaffolding then he could climb down the ladder/stairs himself.
frankc  
#4 Posted : 12 July 2014 18:44:45(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
frankc

TonyMullen wrote:
However I'd suggest that an IP sustaining a fracture arm could be treat on the scaffolding then he could climb down the ladder/stairs himself.


Might struggle to maintain three points of contact. ;-)
firesafety101  
#5 Posted : 13 July 2014 11:21:05(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
firesafety101

Isn't one of the criteria to have all potential rescue equipment available at the site of the potential rescue?

Has anyone tried a fireman's lift carrying a person down a ladder?

I have and believe me it has to be done correctly following training/practice and the person doing the carry has to be rather strong.

Training for the fireman's lift has to be done with a safety device attached to the carried person in case he/she falls and nowadays probably a further device attached to the carrier. That would be very clumsy and make it impossible to practice, in my opinion.
boblewis  
#6 Posted : 13 July 2014 11:28:24(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
boblewis

This post really highlights why ladders on scaffolds should become a thing of the past except in exceptional circumstances. Stairways are so readily available that I can see no good reason not to use them. With proper planning they can be readily achieved. Look at the hierarchy of risk control and think about rescuer risks

Look at the mountain and cave rescue equipment they have some exceeedingly good rescue stretchers you just need the competent persons to use them:-)
chris42  
#7 Posted : 13 July 2014 17:36:30(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
chris42

A further question that may need to be asked. Are all scaffolds designed to allow rescue apparatus to dangle a person over the side ?

Just a thought (they may be for all I know)

Chris
sidestep45  
#8 Posted : 14 July 2014 11:22:36(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
sidestep45

How many people are trained to move casualties? I ask because it is not a part of First Aid training and moving a person with a broken limb, internal injuries can cause significant further injuries. I would advise that where a person has fallen a significant distance and has recieved injuries that a first aider would have difficulties diagnosing accurately leave them where they are and call the emergency services to help you move them. After all having got them off the scaffold wrenching their broken limbs around and jiggiling about their internal injuries are you going to dump them in a car and rush them to A&E or are you going to call an ambulance. Call an ambulance first leaving moving injured people to the professional where you can and only move a significantly injured person as a last resort.
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