Posted By NLR Toecap, In my humble opinion the answer is NO, the scaffold company should have operatives trained in both rescue and emergency procedures (including first aid) at height. There is training available for this from most reputable WAH training companies. Nigel

Posted By Brian Hagyard Toecap. I agree totally with NRL There have been a number of thread’s recently about suspension trauma and there’s lots of info on this on the web. I understand that the critical element is the length of time you are suspended. If you are conscious, and uninjured there are some systems on the market (effectively leg loops), which lengthen the safe time, but if you were unconscious or injured you would be unable to use these. In such a case it is critical that you put the rescue procedure in place without delay. If you call the local brigade how can you be sure they will respond? Not all brigades have appliances that can be used for this type of operation or staff trained in the correct procedures, and if they have they may all ready be on a shout (I knew watching London’s Burning would come in handy one day) else where, so how can relying on them be a safe system? I suspect I have just repeated answers or info given on other threads and if you search them you will get a fuller answer. Just saw MeiP comment before posting and I believe some forces have already stated they will not guarantee to respond just as the ambulance service have told nursing/residential homes they will not respond to fallen residents (unless they are injured in the fall). It is their view that these are not emergencies but foreseeable events in these types of industry that they should plan for themselves. Brian.

Posted By James K Gary, Any chance that you could give me details of the "gotcha gear" Cheers, Jim