What are the rescue procedures for mobile towers?

Working safely with mobile towers doesn’t stop at correct assembly and use. Planning for emergencies is just as important. But when it comes to rescue procedures, there isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” approach.

An investigation conducted by PASMA found that it’s not possible to give specific guidance on rescue procedures as a result of numerous factors that may affect the rescue. These can include:

• The reason for the rescue
• The person(s) involved
• The dimensions of the tower and it’s design
• The state of the build (either partial or complete)
• The location
• The environmental conditions
• Other local circumstances

These variations means that sites need to think carefully about what their rescue procedure will look like in their specific environments.

General Hierarchy of Rescue

PASMA states that you might want to consider a general hierarchy of rescue measures that will apply in many situations.

• Self-help (preferred)
  Ideally, the person involved should be capable of descending the tower unassisted. This is the fastest and safest outcome.

• Assisted descent
  Another trained individual may assist in helping the person(s) descend. Effective communication and planning are essential.

• Professional rescue
  This will occur if the person or persons are totally incapacitated and incapable of descending the tower and need to be removed from the tower by trained medical or rescue services (e.g. Fire or ambulance service). In these situations, those who are untrained or lack the rescue knowledge and skills can potentially cause further injury and/or significant risk to themselves or the person(s) who are in need to rescue.

For more guidance on rescue procedures for mobile towers, speak to a member of our team who will be happy to help.

Alternatively, browse our PASMA Training courses.