Fall protection is very important when working at heights, and the complete system includes safety belts, lanyards, anchor connectors, etc.
But what happens when a fall occurs? The worker may have been rescued from the fall, but now he or she is strapped to a harness. Depending on how long it takes to rescue people, it could well be fatal.
Known as suspension trauma, this hazard is an often overlooked feature of fall protection plans. Specifically, when a fall does occur, what steps can be taken to prevent a suspension injury while the victim waits to be rescued.
What is suspension trauma?
After a fall, the worker may remain suspended in the harness. Continued immobility may result in a state of unconsciousness. Depending on the length of time the suspended worker is unconscious/immobilized and the level of the venous pool, the resulting orthostatic intolerance can lead to death. This death is often referred to as "seat belt-induced pathology" or "suspension trauma".
Death from suspension trauma can occur in as little as 30 minutes. The cause of death was that the brain and kidneys were deprived of blood and oxygen. However, the time to death can vary based on a number of factors: the fall itself, the fit of the seat belt, the worker's overall health, or whether the victim remained conscious.
How to Prevent Suspension Trauma
The method of prevention is to free a fallen worker from the suspension as quickly as possible. They want to see the rescue done within 30 minutes. It is the employer's responsibility to deploy rescue solutions quickly. Rescue was not an afterthought.
However, even if rescue is deployed quickly, there is an inexpensive technique available for hanging workers—suspension trauma belts. This inexpensive solution assures victims and employers that suspension trauma won't be a problem.
