IPAF Emergency Rescue 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: After rescuing a person who has been suspended in a harness, what position should they be placed in?
- Lying flat on their back immediately
- In a seated or W-position with knees raised for at least 30 minutes, NOT laid flat (Correct answer)
- Standing upright to restore circulation
- Hung upside down to reverse blood flow
Correct answer: In a seated or W-position with knees raised for at least 30 minutes, NOT laid flat
A person rescued from harness suspension should NOT be laid flat immediately, as this can cause a sudden rush of toxin-laden blood from the legs to the heart and organs (rescue death). They should be kept in a seated or W-position with knees raised for at least 30 minutes while medical help arrives.
Question 2: What equipment should be readily available at ground level for MEWP emergency rescue?
- A spare MEWP
- Relevant rescue equipment including the machine key, an emergency lowering guide, and a first aid kit (Correct answer)
- A trampoline for the operator to jump onto
- A mobile phone only
Correct answer: Relevant rescue equipment including the machine key, an emergency lowering guide, and a first aid kit
Ground-level rescue equipment should include the machine key (or knowledge of keyless override), the manufacturer's emergency lowering procedure guide, communication devices, and a first aid kit. Additional equipment may include a rescue descent device depending on the site risk assessment.
Question 3: During an emergency rescue, the ground-level controls are not functioning. What alternative rescue method should be considered?
- Leave the operator and wait for the hire company to attend
- Use an adjacent MEWP to reach the stranded operator, or deploy a secondary rescue system (Correct answer)
- Ask the operator to climb down the boom
- Rock the machine to try to free the controls
Correct answer: Use an adjacent MEWP to reach the stranded operator, or deploy a secondary rescue system
If ground-level controls fail, the rescue plan should include alternative methods such as using an adjacent MEWP to reach the stranded operator, a rope rescue system, or a secondary lowering device. Climbing down the boom is extremely dangerous and must never be attempted.
Question 4: What communication method should be established between a MEWP operator and ground personnel for emergencies?
- Shouting is sufficient for all heights
- Two-way radios or an agreed signal system, tested before work begins (Correct answer)
- Mobile phone text messages only
- No communication is needed if a rescue plan exists
Correct answer: Two-way radios or an agreed signal system, tested before work begins
A reliable two-way communication system (such as radios or an agreed visual/audible signal system) must be established and tested before work begins. At height, wind noise and distance can make shouting unreliable, and the operator may be unable to use a phone if incapacitated.
Question 5: A MEWP operator has a medical emergency while elevated on a boom lift. In what order should the rescue proceed?
- Call 999, then lower the platform, then administer first aid
- Lower the platform using ground controls, call 999, then administer first aid on the ground (Correct answer)
- Administer first aid in the platform, then lower it, then call 999
- Call the hire company to send an engineer
Correct answer: Lower the platform using ground controls, call 999, then administer first aid on the ground
The priority is to lower the platform to ground level using the emergency controls (fastest way to access the casualty), call emergency services (can be done simultaneously by another person), then administer first aid once the casualty is at ground level where treatment is safer and more effective.
Question 6: What should be included in a MEWP emergency rescue drill?
- A written exam about rescue theory
- A practical simulation including activating ground controls, lowering the platform, and casualty handling (Correct answer)
- Watching a safety video
- Reading the manufacturer's manual aloud
Correct answer: A practical simulation including activating ground controls, lowering the platform, and casualty handling
Rescue drills must be practical and simulate real emergency conditions. They should include locating and operating the ground-level emergency controls, lowering the platform, extracting the casualty, applying appropriate first aid positions, and communicating with emergency services.
IPAF Emergency Rescue 2
After rescuing a person who has been suspended in a harness, what position should they be placed in?