PART 2: OSHA 1910.146 APPENDIX F: Rescue Team Criteria and Factors

The Initial Evaluation

There are many different things that a qualified person needs to consider when they are developing fall rescue plans. During the initial evaluation of the potential rescue team, a qualified person needs to establish that a local rescue service can meet the needs of that specific worksite. However, the rescue team will need to agree to perform rescues in the types of situations that may occur at a worksite. A rescue service is allowed to deny a factory or worksite its service if the team does not feel that they are properly trained, prepared, and equipped to work in that situation.

Both a qualified person and the leader of the rescue team must establish that they are able to work inall of the spaces that may require a rescue at a worksite. This means that the team will need to practice rescues to determine how much time they will need to retrieve someone. Travel time from their dispatch location is included as part of their response timing. If they are not able to reach the worksite in a timely fashion, they may want to consider some of the external factors that are influencing their response time. Inclement weather, poorly managed roads, and having vehicles that are not reliable are all potential reasons that a rescue team may not be able to access a worksite in an efficient and timely manner.

All rescue teams need to have some sort of retrieval system that meets the following requirements. The system must have a chest or full-body harness with an attachment point either between the shoulder blades or over the head. If a body harness is not a feasible means of retrieving a worker, wristlets may be used to get the person out of their situation. The retrieval line must be connected to either a mechanical device or a fixed point outside of the rescue space. And a mechanical device must be used if the rescue location is over 5 feet (1.524 meters) in height or depth.

The worksite and the rescue team need to be able to communicate with each other. This is an especially critical requirement for a rescue team because being alerted to the emergency is the first step toward initiating a rescue. The team should be available during the working hours of the worksite. If the facility is open 24/7, then a qualified person must determine that the rescue team is also available 24/7. Plus, the rescue team must practice rescue scenarios at least once a year (or every 12 months).

In order to have a successful rescue, it is important that the rescue service has the proper equipment and training available for team members. All qualifying rescue teams need to be prepared to work in an environment that may have an atmospheric or hazardous material threat at the time of rescue. Rescue teams should have a means of performing a rescue in an area that is greater than 5 feet in height or depth. But, the worksite should ALWAYS have the necessary materials to rescue a worker if they experience a fall event. All of the members of the team should be able to perform medical evaluations, patient packaging, and should know proper protocol for emergency response. Additionally, at MINIMUM, one member of the team must be CPR certified. Once a qualified person has established that the rescue team meets all of these standards, the performance evaluation can be scheduled.

The Performance Evaluation

The performance evaluation is the second phase of establishing a qualified rescue team. All members must be trained in all of the potential hazards that apply to that worksite, PPE, fall arrest equipment, and trained to perform whatever their function is within their team. This team also needs to be trained in using their rescue equipment and performing first aid or medical skills. They need to know how to perform their tasks effectively, efficiently, professionally, and safely. Performing atmospheric tests for hazardous materials is another critical task that rescue teams must perform. And, the team will need to know how to read and interpret entry permits, hot work permits, and MSDS charts.

And finally, the team will need to prove that they are prepared to perform a rescue in confined spaces, at high angles, and any other circumstance that may be encountered at that particular worksite.

If a rescue service can meet all of these requirements and agrees to assist with rescues at that worksite, a qualified person can rely upon them to perform a rescue. However, if a team does not meet these requirements, the qualified person may ultimately want to consider using either another team or creating an in-house rescue team.

Thanks for reading!

Hannah Addison