Rescue plan to prevent

Suspension Trauma

Ahmed Agbomire

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 Why rescue plan

• To reduce risk of personal injury due to suspension trauma.

• Reduce the time a personnel stays while in suspension

Suspension Trauma
Suspension trauma is a term used to describe the condition where a person is
trapped in an upright position and is unable to move; blood is trapped in the
person’s legs and is unable to recirculate back into the heart efficiently due to
gravitational pull. As a result, the cardio-respiratory system of the person is unable
to function properly, which can result in the fatal condition of oxygen starvation of
the brain or other vital organs.
Another name for such a condition is ‘Harness Hang Syndrome’.

Symptoms
Feeling faint or light headache, Breathlessness, Profuse Sweating, Very Pale, Feeling very hot, Nausea, Decreased Heart Rate,
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Exceptional Low Blood pressure, Dizziness, Grey out or Loss of Vision, Numbness in Legs
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 Rescue Planning

Before the potential fall:

Workers should never be permitted to work alone in a harness.
Time in suspension should be limited to less than seven minutes. Longer
suspensions must have foothold straps or means for putting weight on
the legs.
Harnesses should be selected for specific applications and must consider:
compliance (convenience), potential arrest injury, and suspension
trauma. Use of safety belt is not allowed.
Tie-off lanyards should be anchored as high and tight as work permits.

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 Rescue Planning

After the fall

When planning for rescue, consideration should be given to the type of situation
from which the victim may need to be recovered and the type of fall protection
equipment which the victim would be using.
When considering rescue methods, always attempt to minimize the risk to
rescuers. Avoid placing additional personnel at risk.
The rescue plan must cover both scenarios of conscious and unconscious victims.
Ideally, the rescuer should be able to communicate with the victim at all times or
see the victim at all times or communicate with someone who is able to see the
victim at all

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Rescue Methods
Elevated Work Platform(EWP) Rescue
This is a mechanical device used to provide temporary access for people or equipment to inaccessible areas, usually at height.

EWP Procedure
Bring the elevating platform to the accident site and use it to reach the suspended worker.
Ensure the rescue workers are wearing full-body harness attached to appropriate anchors
in the EWP.
Ensure that the EWP has the load capacity for both the rescuer(s) and the fallen worker. If
the fallen worker is not conscious, two rescuers will probably be needed to safely handle
the weight of the fallen worker.
Position EWP platform below the worker and disconnect the worker’s lanyard when it is
safe to do so. When the worker is safely on the EWP, reattach the lanyard to an
appropriate anchor point on the EWP, if possible.
Lower the worker to a safe location and administer first aid.
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Rescue Methods

Ladder Rescue

If the fallen worker is suspended from a lifeline, move the worker (if possible) to an area that can be
accessed safely with ladder.
Set up appropriate ladders to reach the fallen worker.
Rig separate lifelines for rescuers to use while carrying out the rescue from the ladder(s).
If the fallen worker is not conscious or cannot reliably help with the rescue, at least two rescuers
may be needed.
If the fallen worker is suspended directly from a lanyard or a lifeline, securely attach a separate
lowering line to the harness. 4
Other rescuers on the ground (or closest work surface) should lower the fallen worker while the
rescuer on the ladder guides the fallen worker to the ground (or work surface).
Once the worker has been brought to a safe location , administer first aid and treat the person for
suspension trauma and other injury. 6
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 Rescue Method

Rescue from Work area or floor below.

If the fallen worker is suspended near a work area and can be safely
reached from the area from which he fell, use the following
procedure:
Ensure the rescuers are protected against falling.
If possible securely attach a second line to the fallen worker’s harness
to help rescuers pull someone up to the level from which he fell.
Take up any slack in the retrieving line to avoid any spillage.
Once the worker has been brought to a safe location, administer first
aid and treat the person for suspension trauma and other injury.
Arrange transportation to hospital if required.

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 Treatment for suspension trauma

The primary goal of the rescuer is to return oxygen supply

to the brain.
the initial 20-40 minutes after rescue, the victim should
never be allowed or be made to lie down on the floor,
even for an instant, unless there is the need to perform
cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR).
The victim should be moved first into a kneeling position
and then subsequently into a sitting or “huddled” position,
with the legs slightly bent at the knees. This will reduce the
pooling effect of gravity, but will keep most of the pooled
blood in the legs, preventing reflow.

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