Hands-On Pole Top Rescue

Course Description

The reaction to emergencies can be life or death situations. Pole top rescue training teaches the skills necessary to save another persons life.

This course will give actual Hands-On experience for both pole top rescue operations that require dynamic action. The rigging, lifting, and lowering skills necessary to get the victim down from elevated heights must be trained and practiced. Rescue techniques from pole tops should be included in all annual training so workers can be prepared for any emergency situation.

This rescue training will meet OSHA requirements for rescue instruction and a certification of completion for this training will be issued to each attendee.

Students Will Learn

Safety
Time is Critical
Basic Steps in Pole-Top Rescue
Evaluate the Situation
Provide for your Protection
Climb to the Rescue Position
Determine the Injured Persons Condition
Rescuer
Lower Injured
One Rescuer
Two Rescuers
One-Man Rescue versus Two-Man Rescue
Equipment
Hot-Line Work
Ropes, Straps and Blocks
Ring and Hooks
Securing and Lowering Victim
Victim Condition and Response
And More...

Target Audience

Anyone interested in being trained and to meet the OSHA standards and requirements for today's Pole Top Rescue.

Prerequisites

Student must have pole climbing experience and have received their pole climbing certification.

Course Outline

Module I: Time is Critical
You may have to help a man on a pole reach ground safely when he:
Becomes Ill
Is Injured
Loses consciousness

You must know:
When he needs help
When and why time is critical
The approved method of lowering

Module II: Basic Steps in Pole-Top Rescue
Evaluate the situation
Call for emergency help
Provide for your protection
Climb to rescue position
Determine the injured persons condition
Then, if necessary
Give first aid
Lower the injured
Give the follow-up care
Call for help

Module III: Evaluate the Situation?
Call to the man on the pole. If he does not answer or appears stunned or dazed, do the following:
Prepare to go to his aid Time is extremely important.

Module IV: Provide for your protection
Your safety is vital to the rescue. Use personnel tools and rubber gloves (also rubber sleeves, is required).
Checklist of Equipment and Site Conditions
o Extra rubber goods
o Live-line tools
o Physical condition of the pole
Damaged conductors or equipment?
Fire on the pole?
Broken Pole?
Hand line on pole in good condition?

Module V: Climb to the Rescue Position
Climb carefully and position yourself to Insure your safety.
Clear the injured from hazard.
Determine the injured persons conditions
Render aid as required
Start mouth-to-mouth, if required.
Lower the injured, if necessary.
The best position will usually be slightly above the injured.

Module VI: Determine the Injured persons Condition
He may be:
Conscious
Unconscious but breathing
Unconscious and not breathing
Unconscious, not breathing, heart stopped
If the Injured is conscious,
Time may no longer be critical.
Give necessary first aid on the pole
Reassure the injured
Help him descend the pole
Give first aid on the ground
Call for help, if necessary
If the injured is unconscious but breathing,
Watch him closely in case the breathing stops
Lower him to the ground
Give first aid on the ground
Call for help
The method of lowering an injured man is
Safe
Simple
Available
Equipment Needed:
- in hand line
Procedure:
Position Hand line
Tie injured
Remove slack in hand line
Take firm grip on fall line
Cut injured person safety strap
Lower injured

Module VII: Rescuer
Position the hand line over crossarm or other part of the structure.
Position the line for a clear path to ground (usually the best position is 2 or 3 ft. from the pole).
Wrap the short end of the line around the fall line twice (two wraps around the fall line)
Tie the hand line around the victims chest using three half-hitches.
Tie the injured as follows:
Pass the hand line around the injured, high on the chest
Tie a three half-hitch knot in front, near one armpit.
Snug the knot.
Remove the slack in the hand line.
If only one rescuer he removes slack while on pole
If two rescuers man on ground removes slack
Take firm grip on fall line
If only one rescuer - he holds fall line with one hand
If two rescuers man on ground holds
Cut injured persons safety strap
Cut strap on side opposite desired swing
Caution: Do not cut your own safety strap on hand line.

Module VIII:Lower Injured
One Rescuer
Guide load line with one hand
Control rate of descent with the other hand
Two Rescuers
Man on the pole guides the load line
Man on the ground controls rate of descent

Module IX: One-Man Rescue versus Two-Man Rescue
These rescues differ only in the control of the fall line.
Remember the approved method of lowering an injured man is
Position Hand line
Tie Injured
Remove slack in hand line
Take firm grip on fall line
Cut injured persons safety strap
Lower the injured

Lay the victim on his back and determine if they are conscious.
If the injured is unconscious and not breathing, provide an open airway and begin chest compressions until emergency services arrive.

If the victim regains consciousness, continue to monitor them closely until emergency services arrive.

Delivery Method

Instructor-led with numerous Hands-On exercises throughout the training.

Equipment Requirements
(This apply's to our hands-on courses only)

BTS always provides equipment to have a very successful Hands-On course. BTS also encourages all attendees to bring their own equipment to the course. This will provide attendees the opportunity to incorporate their own gear into the labs and gain valuable training using their specific equipment.

Course Length

1 Day