[RIGGER’S CORNER]
SUSPENSION TRAUMA: 3 MUST-KNOW MYTHS
BY: HERCULES SLR
Suspension trauma has several names—Harness hang, harness-induced pathology and orthostatic intolerance (the medical term), and many misconceptions.
Consequences can be fatal, and it’s important to be aware of symptoms and ways to prevent its onset. Here are three myths you must know.
MYTH #1: SUSPENSION TRAUMA ISN’T REAL It is! Suspension trauma happens when a worker’s movement is vertically suspended, restricted and upright for an extended period of time and lose consciousness. But why does this happen? Blood pools in the legs and makes them swell, while blood pressure drops. Typically, when orthostatic intolerance sets in the victim faints so blood will re-circulate through the body—A worker in restrictive fall arresting equipment can’t do this. It can be minor, too—A common example is people
who are still for long periods of time and faint, or feel dizzy when they get up. Now, imagine you’ve arrested a fall, don’t have a rescue plan and first responders are still on the way. 5 minutes, 10 minutes, and now 25 minutes pass. You know that suspension trauma can set in after just 30 minutes. Time is ticking. You’re covered in sweat, you feel dizzy and terribly nauseous. Finally, you’re cut down and pass out, unconscious.
Yes, you’re alive, but next time, you’ll definitely have a rescue plan. And suspension trauma is real.
MYTH #2: SAFETY HARNESSES MAKE SUSPENSION TRAUMA EXTINCT Suspension trauma is still a reality. Yes, education, training and equipment reduce injuries and fatalities in industrial workplaces, but prevention is still a priority. Look at it this way—Vaccines exist for illness like the measles, but people still contract it when they don’t use preventative measures. Individual factors increase a worker’s risk to develop the trauma, and its effects are not easy to predict person-to-person. Tese factors include how well an individual manages stress, harness selection and fit, training, and previous injury or illness.
Tis is why training is vital. It’s important to teach employees psychological coping mechanisms to help a
80 MAY–JUNE 2019 WIRE ROPE EXCHANGE
worker deal with a potential fall. Proper training will also emphasize continuously moving your legs in specific ways to maintain circulation—It’s important. Te right safety harness and leg straps will allow the worker to move
MYTH #3: WHEN THE HARNESS IS OFF, IT’S OVER Okay, so when I take the safety harness off, I’m fine, right? Wrong. Workers in vertical positions must receive medical attention immediately after release. In past suspension trauma cases, victims have died after the harness comes off—Tis is known as ‘rescue death’. Some doctors think it’s caused when blood tries to
circulate through the body at its normal pace, and can’t. Did you know leg muscles are one of your body’s auxiliary pumps? When legs hang, motionless and upright, it pinches the arteries and blood can’t flow to crucial parts of the body, like the legs, heart and brain. Fortunately, industrial environments benefit with the right personal protective equipment (PPE) and training to prevent suspension trauma. Recorded injuries from suspension trauma are somewhat rare—But training and proper PPE are key to this. A body harness that doesn’t fit properly, is fit with the
wrong accessories or is uncomfortable, does more harm than good. Remember—Suspension trauma does exist, the right safety harness helps prevent it, and negative effects of suspension trauma can linger after the harness is off. It’s important to train yourself and workers (even those who may not be working at heights) of the risk and procedures to take before, during and after a fall. y
Hercules SLR Inc. is a privately-owned Canadian company, with a national footprint 30 location, and over 400 team members.Tey provide everything from securing, lifting and rigging product sales and rental equipment to custom fabrication, engineering, and supply of wire rope, chain, rope, safety and fall arrest equipment and related hardware. Learn more at
www.herculesslr.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85
