This Tower Rescue program provides a new and different perspective for rope rescue practitioners tasked with the rescue of individuals from towers, bridges, cranes, lighting towers, wind turbines, even structures such as monopoles, amusement rides and water towers. Unlike the traditional rope rescues, just getting to the victim(s) includes some unique access challenges. During the five, eight-to-ten-hour days, participants will use several different fall prevention and fall arrest techniques allowing them to safely climb a variety of structures.
The program provides an orientation to these new environments, discussing the various types of towers, their construction and the hazards associated with them, including Radio Frequency (RF) exposure and electrical hazards.
A variety of rescue techniques, both bottom-based and top-based will be presented, focusing on structures up to about 150 feet in height. While there are other factors to consider, generally speaking bottom or ground-based evolutions work well for these shorter structures. They are also useful when offsets, such as a Skate Block or Tracking Line are required. As the structure height increases or for smaller teams, top or structure-based techniques tend to work better.
Depending on the needs of the team, rope access-style movement and work positioning can be addressed during the training.
The program will discuss Harness Induced Pathology and the at-height assessment, care and packaging (using several options) of sick or injured patients. Participants are eligible to receive four (4) Medical Continuing Education credits. This program addresses the requirements of NFPA 1670, NFPA 1006, the National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) Climber/Rescuer Training Standard (CRTS) and Michigan OSHA Part 29.
Prerequisites:
This training involves a significant amount of climbing; participants should be in good physical condition and have already completed an NFPA Operations Level rope rescue program.