Many times, we hear teams say they don’t need to practice “on-air” rescue scenarios because their employees are not allowed to work in IDLH or low O2 areas. That always makes us ask, what about the confined spaces that have the potential for atmospheric hazards? What about those spaces that may unexpectedly become IDLH or low O2 – what then?  

It's important to note that OSHA states that a confined space must only have the “potential to contain” a hazardous atmosphere to be considered a permit-required confined space, which requires rescue capabilities.

For these unexpected instances, do you have the appropriate rescue response in place? At Roco, we believe that not training your rescue team to respond to IDLH emergencies is like setting up an expensive home protection system and then not turning it on.

Rescuers need to be prepared for the worst – as well as the unexpected – should an atmospheric hazard develop within a space. This is just one of the reasons that permit spaces can be so deadly.

NIOSH Fatal Facts:

• A little less than half the deaths from atmospheric conditions occurred in spaces that originally tested as being acceptable for entry. Something happens unexpectedly, and things go very wrong, very quickly.

• Approximately 60% of all fatalities in confined space incidents where multiple fatalities occurred were “would be” rescuers.

As rescuers, we need to be prepared for the worst case scenario as well as the unexpected! This is especially true when it comes to confined spaces. 

Roco Courses With On-Air Confined Space Scenarios:

• URBAN/INDUSTRIAL RESCUE ESSENTIALS™

• URBAN/INDUSTRIAL RESCUE TEAM OPERATIONS™

• FAST-TRACK™ CONFINED SPACE AND ROPE TECHNICIAN

• FAST-TRACK™ CONFINED SPACE TECHNICIAN

The Mandan Refinery in North Dakota is the biggest refinery in the state. The site and its leadership take its rescue program seriously, having made significant investments in rescue equipment and training for employees. This paid off recently when an employee’s previous knee injury decided to rear its ugly head and lock up 30’ off the ground, requiring technical rope rescue skills to safely move the employee to ground level.

Mandan Refinery Fire Chief Jamie Reinholt was in the area when a radio call came in for a response to assist the employee. He arrived to find that the employee was on a 30’ elevated unit deck and was unable to straighten out their knee due to a prior injury. Chief Reinholt quickly determined that a limited rescue response would be needed to lower the patient to the ground.

Late morning temperatures were in the 50’s, but high winds in the 30-mph plus range added to the challenge. Ten rescue team members ultimately responded to the scene and were assigned to patient packaging and rigging teams.

The packaging team assisted the patient into a horizontal stokes basket, where they were secured to a backboard using Tiger Straps. Because the patient was unable to straighten their leg, a rope bag was used to fill the void under the knee, placing the patient in a position of comfort. A Roco horizontal stokes bridal was connected, readying the patient for lower.

The rigging team accessed the deck above to set up a mainline and belay system. The anchor location provided a ready-made high point to assist with loading the patient over the edge. The rescue involved deploying the tried-and-true CMC MPD descent control device paired with an anchored Petzl ASAP, utilizing the rescue-rated Petzl Asap’Sorber Axess deceleration device. Tag lines were added, and the experienced rescue team lowered the patient to the ground where he was driven off-site for medical follow-up.

The site did an on-scene tailboard review of the rescue, which led to ongoing planning of similar rescues.

Roco Rescue is honored to present the Mandan Refinery Technical Rescue Team with the Roco Rescue “Real Rescue” Award.

Roco Would Like to Recognize Your Outstanding Rope Rescue!

Nominate your rescue team so we can recognize your professional efforts with a Roco Outstanding Rope Rescue Plaque. All reports that we receive highlighting an actual rescue event will be considered.

Click here to download the Real Rescue Form. You can then email form to info@RocoRescue.com.

Falls are one of the leading causes of accidents and fatalities across many industries. Whether it's in construction, manufacturing, or any other type of workplace, identifying and addressing fall hazards is essential to keeping workers safe. One of the most effective ways to do this is by conducting fall hazard analysis or completing a fall hazard survey.

A fall hazard survey involves a thorough and comprehensive inspection of the workplace to identify potential hazards that could result in falls. This includes examining equipment, tools, and materials, as well as evaluating the physical environment, such as the layout or configuration of the workspace and the condition of floors, stairs, walkways, and other working platforms. The survey should be conducted by someone with expertise in fall prevention, such as a safety professional, qualified person, or fall protection competent person.

Whether it's in construction, manufacturing, or any other type of workplace, identifying and addressing fall hazards is essential to keeping workers safe.

During the survey, the inspector should look for all potential fall hazards in and around the worksite. Inspectors should also assess the potential risk to workers, considering factors such as the height of the work area, the type of work being performed, and the likelihood of workers being exposed to the hazard. Some of the most common fall hazards may include:

• Unprotected edges: Unprotected edges, such as open-sided floors, roofs, and platforms, can be dangerous fall hazards. Workers can accidentally step off these edges or be pushed off by equipment, materials, or other workers.
• Ladders: Ladders are a common tool in many industries, but they can also pose a significant fall hazard. Falls from ladders can be caused by using the wrong type of ladder, overreaching, and unstable placement of the ladder.
• Scaffolding: Scaffolding is used in construction, painting, and other industries to provide workers with access to elevated areas. However, if scaffolding is improperly erected or not used correctly, it can collapse or cause workers to fall.
• Roofs: Workers who perform tasks on roofs, such as installing solar panels or conducting maintenance, are at risk of falling off the roof or through skylights or roof openings.
• Elevated walkways: Elevated walkways, such as catwalks, bridges, and elevated work platforms, can also be dangerous fall hazards. These walkways can be slippery, and workers may fall through openings in the walkway.
• Unguarded machinery: Workers who operate machinery at elevated heights may be at risk of falling into the machinery or off of it. Unguarded machinery can also pose a danger to workers on the ground below.

Being proactive will not only help you prevent falls, but can significantly decrease the time that it takes to perform a rescue in the event that one is needed.

Once the survey is complete, the inspector should document their findings in a report that includes photographs or diagrams of the workplace as well as detailed descriptions of each hazard. The report should also include recommendations for corrective action, such as implementing fall protection systems, modifying work practices, or providing additional training for workers. Another consideration to include in the report is any prior history of known accidents or incidents related to the specific work area or task.

Perhaps the most commonly overlooked component of a fall hazard survey is ensuring that a documented rescue preplan is created and reviewed before beginning work. The worst time to try to develop a rescue plan is after someone has fallen! Being proactive will not only help you prevent falls, but can significantly decrease the time that it takes to perform a rescue in the event that one is needed.

OSHA provides a free fall protection plan template that can serve as an outstanding baseline for developing or improving your current fall protection plan. Additionally, you can access our Fall Hazard Survey Template here and our Rescue from Fall Protection Preplan Template here.

Whatever route you choose to implement, conducting fall hazard surveys is an essential component of an effective fall prevention program. It enables employers to identify potential hazards and take steps to eliminate or control them before an accident occurs. And remember, there’s a safe way and a SAFER way!

Additional Resources

• OSHA Fall Protection Plan Template
• Roco’s Fall Hazard Survey Template 
• Roco's Rescue from Fall Protection Preplan Template
  
  

Columbia Southern University recently awarded its annual Outstanding Safety Professional of the Year Award to Chris McGlynn, Roco Rescue's Director of Safety.

The Outstanding Safety Professional Award was established by CSU to recognize National Safety Month, observed in June, and to celebrate its occupational safety and health students and graduates for their commitments to safety, professionalism and their accomplishments.

CSU’s occupational safety and health faculty members selected McGlynn, who holds a bachelor’s degree in occupational safety and health. He is pursuing a master’s degree in the same field from the CSU. He has won several safety awards and was recently chosen to serve as president of the Baton Rouge ASSP chapter and on the group’s national advisory panel.

Click here to read the full press release.

Please join us in congratulating Chris on this incredible achievement!

Chris McGlynn is the Director of Safety/VPP Coordinator for Roco Rescue. He is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) through the Board of Certified Safety Professionals as well as a Certified Confined Space and Rope Rescue Technician, and a Nationally Registered Paramedic. As Director of Safety, Chris oversees all corporate safety initiatives, ensuring that employees at Roco have the tools and training that they need to do their work safely and effectively. He is also responsible for managing Roco's Safety Services Division, which provides trained safety professionals for turnarounds and other special projects. Finally, Chris serves as the VPP Coordinator for Roco, continuing Roco’s long-standing commitment to excellence in safety and health. Roco has been an OSHA VPP Star Worksite since 2013.

The National Utility Contractors Association Trench Safety Stand Down is June 19-23, 2023. It encourages employers to “STOP” and remind workers of the dangers of trench and excavations hazards – and the ongoing importance of protecting workers in trenches and excavations.

Being in the safety business, Roco Rescue is a strong supporter of NUCA’s efforts to protect workers in trenches. At Roco, our motto is “There’s a safe way, and there is a safer way.” 

In the rescue world, “safe is safe.” It may not always be the most efficient way, but the rescuers will always be the top priority when we keep safety at the forefront of any rescue operation. At Roco, “There’s a safe way, and there is a safer way,” is much more than a catchy advertising slogan. We see it more as a Standard Operating Guideline.

If we take the slogan and break it down, it makes sense. “There’s a safe way” is the equivalent of saying, “My organization is meeting the standards that we are required to meet,” i.e., OSHA, NFPA, ANZI, etc. In the Roco world, “There is a safer way” says we will always do what is best for the safety of our people while still meeting the requirements of the applicable national standards.

Subtle difference? Not in our world. A safer way means we will routinely exceed national safety standards because it is safer for our employees when we do so. Even if it often costs more and always takes more time, we are committed to it. The June 19-23, 2023, NUCA Trench Safety Stand Down is another opportunity for Roco Rescue to show its commitment to safety.

“There is a safer way” says we will always do what is best for the safety of our people while still meeting the requirements of the applicable national standards.

As a rescue company, our job is to prevent trench incidents and prepare rescuers for the extremely dangerous conditions they might face in a trench collapse. Roco Rescue’s 3-Day Trench Rescue Technician Course is an excellent way to prepare for this type of emergency when lives hang in balance.

Our programs are conducted in live trenches dug specifically for the class. The trench is never the same and rarely stable. It creates some of the most realistic training conditions a rescuer will ever face. When you go back to work, you are prepared to rescue. What you might not be prepared for is the conversation that so often occurs when you get back to your industrial plant, your utility contractor, or your fire department. That conversation often centers around one subject, “We have trained rescuers, but are we capable of performing an actual rescue?”

OSHA is very clear about the need for trained, equipped, and readily available rescuers when we have employees working in Permit Required Confined Spaces. The private industry has for decades developed rescue programs to conform to this standard. OSHA 1926.650-652 Standard for Excavations does not require rescue capability unless there is a known or potential atmospheric hazard (i.e., the trench meets the definition of a confined space). Therefore, we must ask ourselves, have we confirmed that someone is coming to help if my employees get caught in a trench collapse?

We must ask ourselves, have we confirmed that someone is coming to help if my employees get caught in a trench collapse?

The upcoming NUCA Trench Stand Down reminds us to ask these questions. Does my local fire department have the capability to perform trench rescue? How long will it take them to get here? Do we need to explore starting a trench rescue program at our plant? If you already field a confined space rescue team, this may be the best option.

It’s a fact, every trench will eventually collapse if left to its own devices. Roco encourages everyone that works around open trenches and excavations to ask these questions about prevention and rescue. Our trench rescue professionals are available to answer any questions you might have.

Additional Resources

If you’re concerned that your rescue service may not be adequately prepared, give us a call or check out these resources for more information on how to keep you and your personnel safe around trenches.

• Trench Safety & Rescue Articles: Read More
• Trench Training: Competent Person | Trench Rescue Technician
• The LEADER 2023 Winter Issue: Trench Safety & Excavations