Prior to the start of any work at height, a plan must be developed for prompt rescue of employees in the event of a fall. It is the responsibility of the employee performing the work and his Supervisor to develop the rescue plan. In most cases self-rescue will be the practicable solution. In remote locations and work taking place on flat roofs employees shall be required to have a radio equipped with a panic button to notify management that a fall has occurred and to initiate the rescue plan. Equipment on site to aide in rescue include the JLG, lift cage that attaches to a fork truck, scissors lift, genie, ladder, scaffold, and emergency retrieval device.
Sample Rescue Plans
| Work Required | Rescue Plan |
| Employee working near the edge of the roof falls. | 1. Notify supervisor by radio or direct means.
2. Supervisor dial 9-911 3. Supervisor and maintenance employees go to roof and using the lanyard, pull the employee to safety, or employee is able to perform self-rescue. Using the Man-lifts would be another option. |
| Employee working from JLG falls. | 1. Hit Panic button and notify supervisor by radio.
2. Supervisor dials 75 and notifies first responders. 3. JLG is lowered to the ground, or self-rescue is completed. |
| Employee is working on overhead pipes in a rack. | 1. Notify supervisor by radio, or Notify people in area to get help.
2. Supervisor dial 9-911. 3. Supervisor and maintenance employees go to area and using cage on a fork truck rescue the employee. Here again self-rescue could be another option. |
| Process employee is painting from a fork truck with attached cage and falls | 1. Notify supervisor by radio, or notify people in area to get help.
2. Supervisor dial 9-911 and notify first responders 3. Supervisor and process employees use the cage on a fork truck and rescue the employee. (Self-rescue may be complete) |
Note: In all falls an investigation using the causal factor analysis technique must be conducted. All fall protection equipment involved in the fall must be tagged out and given to the site Safety Supervisor for inspection and possible replacement.
EXP Integrated Compliance Management Systems provide all of the necessary tools to implement comprehensive world-class QEHS and GRC programs.
