IN THE FIELD By Julia Kunlo and Emily Thomas
Equipping Ironworkers with Life-Saving Skills Rescue training for falls, heat, and mental health crises
Providing workers with training on how to respond to an emergency can contribute to better outcomes to injured workers.
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s the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. But incidents can happen even when preventative measures are taken. When it comes to rescue training for ironworkers, the first thing that usually comes to mind is rescuing personnel from falls. However, there are many other safety awareness topics that warrant rescue training —including response to heat illness and mental health crises. Time is of the essence, whether you are talking about retrieving a worker from a fall, treating someone suffering from heat illness, or responding to indications that someone is having a mental health emergency. Providing workers with training on how to respond to these situations can contribute to better outcomes to injured and vulnerable workers.
Response to a Fall
Julia Kunlo is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) with a Master’s Degree in Occupational Safety and Health. She is an authorized OSHA Outreach Trainer in Construction and General Industry. As the President of Evolution Safety Resources, she leads a team of more than 40 safety professionals nationwide.
Emily Thomas has a Master’s Degree in Linguistics, specializing in producing Occupational Safety and Health content. As a technical author, she creates safety manuals, standard operating procedures, and training materials. She is an active participant in the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC).
Falling is one of – if not the most crucial – hazard associated with steel erection. Working at height is a high risk activity; the chance of falls are constant and almost imminent. While prevention and proper PPE usage is the priority, steel safety professionals understand that a rescue plan is a mandatory component of all safety programs. Rescue training equips workers with the knowledge necessary to respond effectively and gives them the skills necessary to respond promptly and properly after a fall. For any emergency rescue situation on the jobsite, knowledge of basic first aid can be critical. Before providing first aid or CPR to an injured person, assess the situation to make sure the area is safe and that the person requires assistance. Call 911 and stay
20 | THE STEEL ERECTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
with the person until help arrives. Check for any visible injuries, like bleeding, loss of consciousness, burns, or broken bones. Check that the person is breathing and ensure that their airway is open. Begin CPR if necessary and if you are trained to do so. If the person is injured due to a fall from height, ensure that they do not move until a medical professional arrives. In the event of a fall, the first step should be to calmly assess the situation to determine the appropriate rescue method. If the worker is able, they should initiate self-rescue techniques, like deploying trauma straps to prevent suspension trauma. If possible, they should locate a nearby structure (such as a ladder, scaffold, or platform) that they can reach safely, and use their fall protection lanyard or rope to pull themselves towards it and climb to a secure position. When self-rescue isn’t an option, the supervisor in charge of the jobsite should determine the best rescue method, assessing hazards present and equipment available to assist in rescue procedures. Equipment used for fall rescues can include ladders,