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Whenever personal fall protection equipment is used, a rescue plan must be in place describing how an emergency situation will be managed. A rescue plan is a critical component of safe work at height.
The reason is that a person suspended in a fall protection system can quickly develop suspension trauma, making a rapid and well-planned rescue response essential.
Requirements for Rescue Planning
Occupational health and safety regulations require rescue procedures to be planned in advance.
This means that employers cannot rely on improvised solutions or solely on external emergency services. They must ensure that rescue operations can be carried out quickly and effectively.
Adapting the Rescue Plan to Working Conditions
The rescue plan must be adapted to the specific work activities and hazards present at the workplace.
The plan should consider factors such as:
- The layout of the worksite.
- Working height and accessibility.
- The equipment being used.
- The number of people working on site.
The objective is to ensure that rescue operations can be performed under the actual conditions that exist at the workplace.
Rescue Equipment Requirements
Suitable rescue equipment must be available whenever there is a risk of a fall. The selection of equipment should be based on the workplace risk assessment.
Examples of rescue equipment include:
Competence and Rescue Training Requirements
Rescue operations must be carried out by personnel with appropriate knowledge and training.
This means that:
- Responsible persons must be designated.
- They must receive rescue training.
- Rescue procedures should be practised regularly.
A rescue plan that cannot be implemented in practice does not meet legal requirements.
Rapid Rescue Is Essential
When a fall occurs, time is a critical factor.
A person suspended in a full body harness can quickly develop suspension trauma (also known as harness suspension syndrome), a circulatory condition that requires immediate rescue action.
This is one of the primary reasons why regulations require rescue procedures to be planned and organised in advance.
Emergency Services as a Supplement
External emergency services may form part of the rescue strategy, but they should not be the only solution.
Employers must ensure that:
- Rescue operations can begin immediately.
- The response is not dependent on lengthy arrival times.
- The organisation can manage the initial emergency response independently.
Sources and Regulatory References
AFS 2023:11
Chapter 2, Section 7 The employer shall ensure that work equipment [...] is used in a manner that provides adequate protection against ill health and accidents.
Chapter 2, Section 9 When work equipment is used, the employer shall ensure that the requirements of Appendix 2 are fulfilled.
Appendix 2
2.1 Assembly, installation, dismantling, servicing, maintenance, cleaning and inspection activities shall be carried out safely, with particular consideration given to the manufacturer's instructions.
4.1.1 It shall also be possible to evacuate the workplace in the event of an emergency.
Swedish Work Environment Act
Chapter 3, Section 2 The employer shall take all measures necessary to prevent employees from being exposed to ill health or accidents [...].
EN 365:2004
4.2.2 e) The instructions shall include a warning that a rescue plan shall be in place [...].
Source Documents
AFS 2023:11 – Work Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment
Swedish Work Environment Act (1977:1160)
EN 365:2004 – Personal Protective Equipment Against Falls from a Height