A fall rescue plan describes how a worker whose fall has been stopped by a harness will be reached and brought to safety, quickly and without putting rescuers at risk. Fall arrest only does half the job: a worker left hanging in a harness can be seriously harmed, so the rescue has to be planned, equipped and practised before anyone works at height.
Why prompt rescue matters
A worker suspended in a harness after a fall may be injured, in shock or unconscious. Even an uninjured worker faces a serious risk from suspension itself. Hanging still with the legs below the body restricts blood flow and lets blood pool in the legs, which can lead to loss of consciousness and, in severe cases, death. This is often called suspension intolerance or suspension trauma. How fast it develops varies from person to person, which is why rescue plans aim for the shortest practical time.
Workers who are conscious can reduce the effects by moving their legs, pushing against a structure, or using suspension relief straps fitted to many harnesses, which let them stand in a loop to take weight off the leg straps. These buy time but do not replace rescue.
Most of the time a suspended worker waits is not spent on the rescue itself. It is spent finding equipment, waiting for help and working out how to reach them. A plan removes those steps before the work starts.
Do not count on 911 alone. Public emergency services may not have the equipment or training for a high-angle rescue at your location, and may not arrive quickly enough. A fall rescue plan should rely first on people and equipment already on site.
Rescue options
Choose the simplest method that gets the worker down safely for each work location:
Self-rescue
Some systems allow a conscious, uninjured worker to lower themselves using a self-rescue device built into their lanyard or self-retracting device. This only works if the worker is able, trained and equipped.
Assisted rescue from a platform or ladder
Co-workers reach the fallen worker using an aerial work platform, a scissor lift, a ladder or an existing structure, connect to them, take their weight and bring them to a safe level. This is common on construction sites and in plants where lifts are already available. Rescuers stay protected from falls themselves.
Rescue from above using a rescue system
A pre-rigged or portable rescue system lets trained workers raise or lower the fallen worker from an anchor above, often without anyone having to go over the edge. Some self-retracting devices include a built-in retrieval winch.
Technical rescue
Complex locations such as towers, tanks, confined areas or areas with difficult access may need a specialized rope rescue team, either in-house or contracted. Confirm availability and response time in advance.
What the plan should include
- The work locations and tasks the plan covers
- The rescue method for each location and the reason it was chosen
- Who will perform the rescue, their training, and how they will be available during the work
- The rescue equipment, where it is kept and how it is inspected
- Anchors for the rescue system, which may differ from the worker's anchor
- How the alarm is raised and who calls emergency services
- First aid and the position for a rescued worker, following current first aid training and medical advice
- How the plan will be practised and reviewed
Planning for rescue at the start
The easiest time to solve rescue is when choosing the fall protection system. A travel restraint system, where the worker cannot reach the edge, avoids suspension altogether, which is one reason it sits above fall arrest in the fall protection hierarchy. Where fall arrest is needed, choose anchors, connecting devices and work positions with rescue in mind. A self-retracting device that limits free fall and keeps the worker close to a structure is usually easier to rescue from than a long lanyard over a drop.
Check that the equipment you plan to use can actually reach the worker. If a scissor lift is the rescue method, it must be on site, charged or fuelled, able to reach the worker's location over the ground conditions present, and operated by a trained person. See Aerial work platform safety.
Matching the method to the location
| Work location | Common rescue method | What must be in place |
|---|---|---|
| Steel erection or mezzanine edge inside a building | Assisted rescue from a scissor lift or boom lift | Lift on site, charged, able to reach over the floor conditions, trained operator present |
| Flat roof with fall arrest at the edge | Rescue from above with a pre-rigged raising or lowering system | Rescue anchor, system set up before work, workers trained to operate it |
| Exterior wall with no lift access | Rescue system from above, or lowering to the ground | Clear landing area, ground crew, communication between roof and ground |
| Tower, tank or other complex structure | Technical rope rescue team | Team confirmed available during the work, with known response time |
A typical case
A crew is installing ductwork from a mezzanine edge in a warehouse, using fall arrest because guardrails have to come down for the work. The rescue plan names a boom lift already on site as the rescue method. During a pre-job check, the supervisor finds the lift parked at the far end of the building behind stacked material, with a low battery. The fix is simple but would have cost valuable time in a real rescue: the lift is charged, parked near the work area with a clear route, and the operator for each shift is named on the plan. A short drill with a weighted dummy confirms the lift can reach and that the crew knows how to connect to the fallen worker and take their weight.
Practice and review
Rescue skills fade without use. Practise rescues with the equipment and in conditions as close as possible to the real work, using a weighted dummy or a volunteer under controlled conditions. Time each drill. Afterwards, review what slowed the rescue down and update the plan or equipment. Repeat drills when crews change, when the work location changes, and at intervals set by your program.
After any real fall, the worker should be assessed by medical personnel even if they seem fine, the equipment involved must be removed from service, and the incident should be investigated. See Incident investigation.
How ehZee can help
We review where workers use fall arrest, help choose practical rescue methods for each location and write fall rescue plans into your program. Our lift safety and fall arrest service explains how we work.
Common questions
Is a rescue plan legally required?
Provincial rules generally require employers who use fall arrest to have procedures for rescuing a worker after a fall. The specific requirements vary, so check the rules in your province.
Should workers wear suspension relief straps?
They are a useful addition, and many harnesses come with them. Workers need to know how to deploy them while hanging, which is worth practising. They buy time for a conscious worker but do nothing for one who is unconscious, so they never replace a rescue plan.
How quickly should a fallen worker be rescued?
As quickly as safely possible. Because the effects of suspension vary between people, plans should aim for the shortest practical rescue time rather than relying on a fixed safe period.