It’s all over the safety news right now – heat stress is finally getting the recognition it deserves for the millions of employees who have to work out in the heat every day. As the heat wave continues, we’ve got to do a better job of taking care of our personnel and watching out for any signs or symptoms of heat distress. 

The July/August 2023 issue of ISHN featured an article written by our own Chris McGlynn and Chris Warrick that explores what we can do to combat this dangerous hazard. Click HERE to read the original article. 

Additional Resources

• Confined Space Rescue Types Chart & Compliance Guide
• OSHA Heat Hazard Recognition
  
  

Emergency responders are more likely to develop significant mental health problems than the general population. It is estimated that nearly 30% of first responders will develop depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or even suicidal ideations at some point during their lifetime [1]. Unfortunately, a pervasive stigma surrounding mental health prevents many of these dedicated individuals from seeking help when they need it the most. It’s time to break the stigma and normalize providing help for those who dedicate their lives to helping others.  

Rescue workers are exposed to harrowing scenes of devastation, suffering, and loss on a regular basis. Repeated exposure to these critical incidents can impart serious psychological scars throughout the course of even a short-lived career. Some studies suggest that emergency workers are 3 times more likely to develop mental health issues as a result of these exposures [2]. Despite this idea becoming more and more mainstream, emergency workers rarely have an opportunity to process these emotions, and worse, the culture sometimes discourages and chastises this type of vulnerability.  

The misguided notion that seeking help is a sign of weakness or an inability to handle the job perpetuates the stigma surrounding mental health in emergency response professions. Consequently, many workers suffer from mental health issues silently, unable to admit they need assistance. This hesitancy to seek help leads to coping with unhealthy habits, placing them at high risk for developing alcohol and substance abuse issues. The reluctance to seek help, combined with these risk factors, can lead to severe and sometimes fatal outcomes.

The importance of mental health support for rescue workers has never been clearer. Just as they are equipped with the physical tools to perform their duties, rescue workers should be provided with adequate mental health resources which are crucial in safeguarding their emotional wellbeing and overall performance. Early intervention is key, and recognizing signs of mental distress, such as changes in behavior, increased irritability, emotional exhaustion, and social withdrawal, can make a significant difference.

It’s time to break the stigma and normalize providing help for those who dedicate their lives to helping others.  

While therapy and counseling are often used as reactive measures, there is a need for proactive programs on the front end. Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) teams are becoming a staple in emergency response agencies. These individuals proactively combat the mental health endemic by helping clinicians deal with stress at its inception. By fostering a culture where seeing help is encouraged and normalized, we can empower emergency response workers to take care of their mental health without fear of judgment. 

As emergency responders, we are an integral part of ensuring the safety and health of those in our workplace and communities. While performing this job requires incredible amounts of dedication, courage, and resilience, we must also remember that we are not invincible. By advocating for the normalization of seeking help, we can better support the emotional well-being of rescue professionals and enable them to perform at their best while facing the challenges of their noble profession.

[1] https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/dtac/supplementalresearchbulletin-firstresponders-may2018.pdf

[2] https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/733519

Additional Resources

• OSHA Resource for Workplace Stress
• National Institute of Mental Health 
  
  

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 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

Roco Rescue has been recognized with LWCC’s Safest 70 Award for 2022. Established in 2008, the award honors LWCC policyholders who exemplify the company’s commitment to workplace safety. Roco is proud to be recognized for fostering a culture of well-being in Louisiana’s workforce by establishing safe work environments. 

Recognized companies seek ways to proactively improve workplace safety and are also quick to react and respond when potential safety hazards are identified, often in partnership with LWCC’s Safety Services team.

“Our Safest 70 Awards provide an excellent opportunity to put a spotlight on policyholders who are actively committed to creating a safer workplace for all. In addition to benefitting their own employees and stakeholders, these companies’ efforts serve to inspire other policyholders, businesses, and industries in Louisiana and beyond,” stated Kristin W. Wall, LWCC’s president and CEO.

To learn more about this special recognition and other businesses across Louisiana that were recognized click here. 

Additional Resources

• Confined Space Entry Checklist
• Evaluating Your Rescue Service
• Safety Services