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RescueTripods Save Lives

Johnwas a 50 year-old farmer exploring parts of his land he did notnormally till while his wife was away for the weekend. The farm hadbeen in John's family for several generations yet there were parts ofhis property he had never seen before. So on a sunny Saturday morninghe was poking around in a field at the far end of the property.Unbeknownst to him, he was approaching an old well as he strolledback towards the house.

Inone step John went from an exhilarating morning of discovery tofalling into the well he never knew was there. After the initialshock wore off he realised he had broken an arm, a wrist, andpossibly even a rib. And the worst part was that no one would know hewas missing until his wife came home the following day. When his wifedid finally find him, John had been in the well for almost 28 hours.He was weak, cold, and in serious condition.

Asthe rescue crews arrived some 30 minutes later, one of the workerspulled an aluminium rescue tripod off the truck, laid down someconcrete slabs, and had the tripod ready to go in under threeminutes. The crew lowered a worker into the well to check on John'scondition and prepare him for extraction. It was a difficult rescuedue to the fact that John was not in good health and the well was soconfining. Nonetheless, the worker managed to secure John in astretcher and he was hoisted up using the rescue tripod and a winch.

Speedand Survival

Althoughspeed and survival are not always inexorably linked, in John's casethey were. Having been in the well for such a long amount of time hewas in grave danger of dying from hypothermia and shock. By gettingdown into the well and getting him up as quickly as possible rescueworkers were able to provide emergency medical care and get and Johnto the hospital. In this case, the speedy set-up of the rescue tripodproved invaluable.

RescueTripods not Always Practical

Becauserescuers had fairly level ground to deal with, using the tripod forJohn was pretty straightforward. But that's not always the case.Without level ground, or a way to properly balance the tripod,rescuers would've had to use a confined space rescue davit. Somerescue units have a truck mounted davit which makes using them muchsimpler. Others don't have the money for such specialised equipmentand must rely on installing a ground mount in order to use the davit.Since that takes more time, it's lucky for John that rescuers wereable to use the tripod.

Thanksto an alert wife and trained rescuers, John survived his experience;albeit with a few broken bones and some minor scratches. From now onhe will use caution when strolling on his land; he'll also carry hismobile phone whenever he leaves the house.

RescueTripods Instead of Ladders

Arescue tripod is a great tool for helping perform successful confinedspace rescues. They allow for easy and controlled extraction of avictim from a confined space area, in a package that's lightweight,portable, an extremely easy to use. But rescue tripods have amultitude of other uses as well. For example, they are very usefulfor municipal and industrial company workers frequently working insewers and manholes.

Inmost modern cities manholes and sewers are built with ladder systemsthat allow workers to climb down into the space underneath. Yet thesespaces just under the street tend to be very damp, which meanscondensation can form on the ladders and make them inherently unsafe.Rather than use the ladders many companies are turning to rescuetripods to lower and raise workers' without the use of the laddersystem.

ControlledDescent and Ascent

Witha rescue tripod a sewer worker can control his descent into the spacebelow without risking injury. This can be accomplished with the helpof another worker who stays above, or with a remote control unit thatoperates the winch. For safety purposes it's always useful to have apartner on the job site at all times. But it's not completelynecessary. As long as the tripod is properly set up and a balanced,it is a fairly safe way to enter and leave confined spaces.

Andas an added bonus using rescue tripods instead of ladders greatlyreduces the chance of on-site accidents resulting in injuries. Thisreduces the number of medical insurance claims, temporary orpermanent disabilities, and lost work and wages. When workers arekept safer, everyone wins.

Workershave also found that using rescue tripods to lower and raiseequipment is much safer than trying to carry it up and down ladders.Using a tripod reduces the risk of falls, back injuries, and damageresulting from dropped tools. By simply placing tools in a bucketworkers can lower them into the space safely and bring them back outagain. Just in tool protection alone a tripod can pay for itself.

Portabilityis a Bonus

Forindustrial uses such as a sewer work, the portability of the tripodis indispensable. Where most rescue davits require a foot plate and apost to be used effectively, the tripod is a single, self-containedunit. It is made of lightweight but strong aluminium which canwithstand thousands of pounds of pull force. When workers need toutilize the tripod, it easily comes off the truck and sets up veryquickly. At the end of the job it is again collapsed and stored inthe truck without taking up much space.

Arescue davits system certainly has its place in a permanent location,or a remote location where using a tripod is not appropriate. Butwhere workers can effectively utilize the rescue tripod, it has a lotof benefits that make it favourable. It's safer than using ladders,it's easier for moving tools, and it's portable and lightweight.

Portabilitythe Key to Rescue Tripods

Takea few minutes and think about all the possible confined spaces youencounter on a daily basis which could prove hazardous if you weretrapped in one of them. Most of us think of things like manholes,sewers, crawl spaces, and so on. For the confined space rescue crewall of these areas are commonplace. Yet they also work in otherplaces like collapsed mines, collapsed buildings, dried-up wells,etc. Depending on the specific rescue scenario, crews may usedifferent tools in different ways.

Twoof the most common tools for confined space rescue are the rescuedavits and tripods. Both have their pros and cons, yet thecircumstances of an individual rescue determine which piece to use.In relation to the tripod, its most attractive feature is the factthat it is easily portable. Where a rescue davit can be fairly heavyand cumbersome to move, the rescue tripod is just the opposite. Itcan easily be carried by a single team member and stored away in atruck without taking up much space.

Notonly that, its simple construction makes it a snap to set up on siteas well. As long as crews are ready for the tripod upon its arrivalit can be open and in position within a matter of minutes. From thereit's a simple matter of running the rescue line and down through thepulley system and commencing with the extraction.

HeavyDuty Aluminium

Whatmakes rescue tripods so portable are their lightweight construction.Aluminium is the perfect material for this application. It islightweight, easy to construct as a collapsible tripod, and extremelystrong all the same time. The average rescue tripod can withstand upto 3,000 pounds of total pull force. This means that for the averageaccident victim, it is a suitable means of extraction from confinedspace.

Ifa load will exert more than 3,000 pounds of pull force rescue crewswill instead use a rescue davit. A rescue davit, unlike a tripod, isnot so easily portable. It's also not necessarily as easy to set upand get going. Unless crews are using a rescue davit mounted on aportable platform, they will have to install a ground plate and postbefore they can use it. All of this takes time - which may notnecessarily be available in abundance. Therefore, most rescue crewskeep a tripod in their inventory and use it whenever possible.

ProperUse of the Tripod

Likeany piece of rescue equipment, the tripod is only as a safe as itsoperators. In order to use it properly they must have fairly levelground which will only require slight adjustments to keep the tripodlevel. Without level ground the tripod represents too high a risk.The tripod also must be properly balanced so that it does not moveduring the extraction process. Needless to say, a rescue tripod whichis set up and utilized correctly could end up being a lifesaver.

Offthe Edge withRescue Tripods

Haveyou heard the phrase "living on the edge?" We're sure youhave. It's a philosophy that many people employ in their daily livesas a means of keeping things exciting. But when it comes to aconfined space rescue scenario, living on the edge is the last thingyou want. Instead, you want safety and assurance. You want a rescuetripod or in davit that will get you out of a tight situation asquickly and safely as possible.

Tounderstand what we're talking about here, think of hoisting a largerock out of a hole with nothing but a rope and a couple of friends.If you picture that in your mind you'll undoubtedly see the ropedragging on the edge of the hole as you pull up. This friction cancause the rope to wear and fray, and possibly even snap during yourpull. While that's not a problem for a large rock, it's a big problemfor a human victim.

ArtificialHigh Directionals

Rescuetripods are sometimes known as artificial high directionals. Thisdesignation comes from the fact that they present the pivot point ofa rope and pulley system at a centred location, 7 to 8 feet above theopening of an access hole. This type of arrangement is artificial inthe sense that the natural pivot point if such a device were not usedwould be at the edge of an access hole. Using the previous example,without the use of a rescue tripod or davit system the pivot point ofa rescue line would also represent its weakest point.

Bycreating this artificial pivot point rescuers are able to lowerworkers into a confined space area and lift victims out in the safestway possible. There is no danger of friction between rope and edgeand therefore, a greatly reduced likelihood of a rescue linebreaking. The rescue tripod also offers a much more controlleddescent of rescue workers and ascent of victims - primarily becausethere is less friction in pulley system and the winch draws the ropeat a consistent speed. With the proper use of a tripod and otherequipment victims trapped in confined spaces are offered the safestpossible extraction.

ProperTraining Required

Aslightweight and easy as rescue tripods are, they should not be usedcarelessly. It is critically important that rescue workers beproperly trained in confined space rescue methods before attemptingto use a tripod in a rescue scenario. Without proper training victimscan be injured or possibly killed. The same can be said for confinedspace rescue davits, harnesses and lanyards, and even basketstretchers.

Inthe hands of a trained crew a rescue tripod can mean the differencebetween life and death. Fortunately, they are extremely commonplacein this day and age. Most fire departments and rescue units have atleast one in their possession; some have multiple units. They areextremely portable, lightweight, and easy to store and use.

TheImportance ofInertia Reels In a Confined Space Applications

Confinedspace work is by nature very difficult and dangerous, regardless ofwhether we're talking about a rescue effort or something that's partof your daily job. Often times confined space also involves heightswhich in themselves present further dangers. That's why it isextremely important that workers utilize every safety feature theyhave available to them - including inertia reels. The inertia reel iscommonly used in construction work, urban maintenance, rescueoperations, and industrial applications.

TheInertia Reel Defined

Ifyou're unfamiliar with what an inertia reel is, think of it in termsof the lap belt in your car. The device from which you pull out thebelt is actually an inertia reel. It is designed to immediately stopmovement of the lap belt at a point of rapid deceleration. Itutilizes fairly simple mechanics to take advantage of energy,applying the brakes and locking the belt during a crash. An inertiareel used in a confined space application works exactly the same way,except in reverse.

Theinertia real is designed to arrest a fall from height. Using aconfined space rescue as an example, a rescue crew may use a separatewinch and inertia real, or a winch with an inertia reel built in. Inthe event that the winch malfunctions and the individual being liftedbegins to fall, the brakes on the inertia reel will be activated andthe fall arrested. The inertia reel is one of the simplest, yet mosteffective, innovations ever added to confined space equipment.

AtHeight Applications

Withall of the at height regulations enacted in the UK over the lastdecade, it has become imperative for certain types of workers to takeevery safety precaution possible. At height occupations, such asconstruction work, utilize inertia reels extensively. Workers manyanchor to a vertical beam, a cantilever arm, or even a floor or wallplate. As long as they remain within one meter of their anchor pointthey should remain completely safe in the event of a fall.

However,in order for inertia reels to provide maximum safety they must beingused according to the manufacturer's instructions. For example, oneof the most common errors resulting in worker injury comes by way ofattaching a shock absorbing lanyard between a worker's harness andhis inertia reel system. Such a lanyard creates a vibration in thesystem during a fall which quite often renders the inertia reelineffective.

RescueOperations

Duringa rescue operation it's very important for an inertia reel to becentred over the access point or used in conjunction with a centredpulley system. Without centring the pivot point a rescue line couldrub against the edge of the access point and break. That's whytripods or rescue davits are normally used in a confined space rescueapplications. Nonetheless, the inertia reel provides an extra measureof safety to all rescue operations requiring the use of ropes orother lines.

FallArrest Blocks Part of a Larger Safety Scheme

Intoday's working world of heavy equipment, specialized technology, anda limited workspace, it is more important than ever for employers andtheir employees to practice high standards of safety. Failure to besafe results in the thousands of injuries annually and unfortunately,some deaths too. In a confined a space environment safety is of theutmost importance due to the fact that mobility is limited. Withlimited mobility also come limited options for reaction in the caseof an accident.

Oneof the more common tools used in confined space to work is the fallarrest block, to protect both workers and loads. The fall arrestblock is part of an overall safety scheme which makes lowering andraising in a confined space much more safe. But it's only one part ofan overall scheme.

FourLevels of Safety Management

Interms of a working procedures there are for general levels of safety.The first level is to limit the possibility of falling by a workingat ground level. This is typically practised in the window washingbusiness which now utilises long-handled equipment to perform as muchwork from the ground as possible. In a confined a space arrangementthis is not always a possibility, nor is there necessarily a risk inn doing the work itself. Sometimes in confined space scenarios themost dangerous part of the operation is lowering or raisingindividuals.

Thesecond level of safety is to complete work in an environment whereyou cannot fall; for example, working from a scaffold surrounded by acage which prevents you from falling off.

Thethird level of safety is where fall arrest blocks come in. Fallarrest blocks and inertia reels will not prevent you from falling,but they will stop your fall once it is in motion. Typically the fallarrest block or inertia reel is used to make sure any eventual fallsdo not result in serious injury or death.

Thefourth level of safety involves the use of bucket trucks or hydraulicplatforms to raise individuals to their work. Both solutions are usedin conjunction with fall arrest blocks and user harnesses. That way,if the bucket or platform fails a worker is still protected from aserious fall.

Installationand Use

Partof a comprehensive safety program is to ensure that any and allequipment you use is installed by professionals. According to UK lawsuch safety systems must be installed in a very specific way. Failingto do so could cause you unnecessary risk.

Equallynecessary to professional installation is the proper use of allsafety equipment. If workers do not use safety equipment in the wayintended by the manufacture they are potentially setting themselvesup for great harm. Unfortunately, there are those workers who try tocircumvent some of the inconvenience of safety, only to their owndetriment later on. Whenever safety equipment is deployed, make sureis being deployed correctly.

ArmenianAccident Highlights Need for Confined Space Rescue

OnAugust 12, 2011 an Armenian woman fell into a manhole near a trainstation in the capital city of Yerevan. The 34 year-old womansurvived the fall with no serious injuries and was pulled from themanhole by witnesses. Yet the accident highlights the need forcompetent and trained confined space rescue crews in the world'smajor cities. For this woman, had she been seriously injured in afall, confined space rescue would have been her best hope ofsurvival.

Confinedspace rescue is a very specific type of rescue which uses specializedequipment and techniques to extract victims from confined spaces,while reducing the potential for further injury. It is not somethingthat is done recklessly and without proper consideration of theaccident victim and his or her surroundings. In the case of theArmenian woman, some of the things that might have been done had shebeen injured would include a preliminary medical evaluation, and theinstallation and use of a confined space rescue davit or tripod.

RescueDavits andTripods

Inall likelihood the woman could have been removed from the manholeusing a simple rescue tripod. The tripod is typically made of highstrength aluminium which is a lightweight yet incredibly strong. Thistype of rescue device is easily portable by fire and policedepartments and can be set up in a short amount of time. And sincemost of tripods can withstand up to 3,000 pounds of full force, theyare suitable for extracting the average victim from a manhole.

Whereheavier loads or a more flexible extraction is needed, a rescue davitis a better choice. Rescue davits use a cantilever arm suspended oneither a permanent fixture or portable stand.

Rescueapparatus such as tripods and davits are most often used inconjunction with motorized winches, fall arrest blocks, and harnessesor stretchers. The tripod or davit provides a stable platform forfoisting mechanisms used to pull people to safety. The idea behindthem is to centre and the rescue line in relation to the access holeso that the line makes no contact with the edge of the access itself,thus preventing friction or breakage.

Speedis of the Essence

Althoughthe Armenian woman was pulled from the manhole by witnesses, thingscould have a much worse. Had she broken some ribs or a leg in thefall, or even been knocked unconscious, the bystanders would not havebeen any help. In that case, the speed of rescuers is critical. Thesooner they can be on scene and setting up equipment the better it isfor victims. This is why rescue units routinely train for confinedspace rescues.

Itis fortunate that this young woman survived her fall largelyunscathed. But it's also good to know that had she suffered anyserious injuries a trained rescue crew was on its way. Better forthem to arrive on the scene and have nothing to do than not arrive atall.

Hurricane Irene Shows the Need for Rescue Preparedness


Although we in the UK are thousands of miles removed from hurricane Irene and its devastating consequences, we can nonetheless learn a lesson from a storm that swept up the eastern shores of the United States. That lesson is the need for emergency rescue preparedness. Like the thousands of emergency agencies throughout the U.S. that continually train and prepare for such disasters, similar teams in the UK do exactly the same thing. And at a moment’s notice they are ready to spring into action.

Just a day before hurricane Irene slammed into the States, a local Baltimore newspaper commented about preparations that were under way. They mentioned Maryland fire fighters specifically trained in water and confined space rescue checking all of their equipment and reviewing safety and rescue procedures. One particular fire unit was giving an extensive amount of time to ensuring its confined space rescue davits were in perfect working order in case they should have to deal with victims in collapsed houses and the like.


Training Is Key

Using the Maryland fire fighters and their confined space rescue davits as examples, it can never be said enough that training is the key to successful rescues. The best equipment in the world is useless if workers do not know the proper way to use it. They need to know how to correctly assess a disaster location, the health and risks of the victims, and how to best utilize the equipment available. Only through hours of training is this possible.

Though it may seem that emergency preparedness training is much to do about nothing, the idea is to make the skills learned second nature to rescuers. In other words, they need to be able to set up a rescue area quickly and effectively without having to pull out an installation manual or watch a video. In the case of confined space rescue davits, they need to go together quickly and seamlessly. The rescue team needs to get in, get set up, and get about the business of victim extraction.


Confined Space Rescue Is Tricky

Though all types of emergency rescue have their own measures of difficulty, confined space rescue is a bit trickier than the rest. In confined spaces a rescue team must extract a victim as quickly as possible without causing further injury or harm. Knowing exactly how to assess the situation, and specifically which equipment to use, is one of the hardest parts of this type of rescue. Thankfully, confined space rescue davits remove at least one concern from the equation. When properly set up and used, these systems make extraction much easier and safer to do.

Next time you hear a news report outlining mock drills or emergency situations being undertaken by a rescue unit, be thankful they are undergoing this training. In doing so they are ensuring they are prepared in the case of a local disaster. And if you should ever need their services, you'll be grateful they are prepared.

Confined Space Rescue Requires the Right Equipment


Rescue operations are serious business. That may seem like an obvious statement but if you've ever been in the position of having to be rescued you know that the importance of such a statement can never be underestimated. That's why it's vitally important for confined space rescue workers to not only be trained in proper methodology, but also to have the right equipment. They need equipment that is easily portable, quickly set up, and strong and dependable enough to do the job safely.

A standard component to almost every portable rescue system is either the confined space rescue davit or portable rescue tripod. This piece of equipment allows an accident victim to be extracted from a limited space as safely and efficiently as possible. It works on the principle of suspending the pivot point of a rope and pulley system over the centre of an access hole so as to allow extraction to move up in a straight line. This provides the best chance of rescuing a victim without incurring unnecessary additional injury.


Weight Rating

Confined space rescue davits are generally constructed of high quality steel and include a base plate, post, cantilever arm, and winch. The portable rescue tripod is generally made of high-strength aluminium and includes a pulley and winch. Regardless of the type of system used, materials must be rated to handle the total amount of weight and force put on the system. For example, though aluminium might seem to be unfit for the task, a good tripod system can stand up to 5,000 lbs. of vertical pull.

Confined space rescue davits are at least as strong - in most cases even stronger. They are designed to be used where a portable tripod is not practical or appropriate for the extraction. Sometimes you'll see a rescue davit mounted on a portable four-point frame while other times it is attached to a fixed base. Regardless of whether rescuers use a davit or a tripod, both systems also must have a fall arrest system as well. The fall arrest must be rated in proportion to the overall system.


Ropes, Pulleys, and Winches

Along with using confined space rescue davits and rescue tripods that are properly rated, rescuers also need to take a good hard look at the ropes, pulleys, and winches and they will be using. It doesn't do any good to have the finest davit on the market then turn around and use cheap ropes and pulleys. A low-stretch nylon rope is a good candidate as long as it meets the ratings for static strength, slippage, and knotability.

In addition to proper strength ratings police and winches also need to be designed and manufactured according to the highest standards. Using brand-name winches and pulleys may add a little more to the overall cost of your rescue system but it's well worth it. Remember that confined space rescue is serious business. Whether using confined space rescue davits or tripods you need the right equipment to do it safely.

Confined Spaces in the Workplace Should Utilize Davits


Did you know that according to official statistics there are tens of thousands of work places across the UK with confined spaces? When you consider that confined spaces are things like storage tanks, vaults, sewers, and silos, it's easy to see the truth of those statistics. Yet one thing that employers seem to forget is that such confined spaces are an open invitation to an accident. That's why confined space rescue davits should be installed in any workplace where these confined conditions exist.


Confined Space Defined

A confined space area is classified as one with limited access. Most of these spaces have only a single access point by which workers can get in and out. They also have the added danger of typically being very small work areas that require employees to work by lying on their backs, kneeling down, or squatting. Because these spaces are so small and tight any accidents could be significantly more serious.


Rescue Davits for These Spaces

For permanent confined spaces such as these, a portable aluminium tripod is not practical. It gets in the way of workers, is easily knocked over during the daily routine of the work day, and must be folded up and stored away when not in use. On the other hand, a rescue davit can be permanently mounted either on the wall or the floor where is always accessible - but never in the way when not in use. There are several different ways to utilize a confined space rescue davit in this way.

To mount a davit on the floor you typically use a base plate with a sleeve. That plate and sleeve is probably affixed to the floor using lag bolts, while the post of the davit slips into the sleeve and is secured another bolt or two. From there the cantilever arm is placed on the post and can usually be swivelled in 360° of rotation. When the davit is not in use it can be swivelled out of the way, or the post can be removed entirely.

A wall-mounted rescue davit has the added benefit of not taking up more space. However, it tends to not have the swivel capabilities of a floor-mounted unit. A wall unit utilizes a steel bracket mounted to the wall with several lag bolts, to which is attached either a cantilever arm or the davit itself. This type of system is ideal in situations where no other work is performed around the confined space access hole.


Winches

One of the most important aspects of the confined space rescue davit system is the winch. Some winches utilize electric motors while others are cranked by hand. Regardless, the winch utilizes a rope which is run through a pulley system in order to lift a person out of a confined space as safely and quickly as possible. In the event of a winch failure, the rescue system should have a backup fall arrest built in.