Safety Toolbox Talk on Suspension trauma/ orthostatic intolerance
Suspension trauma is a condition of restricted blood circulation in the legs of person suspended in a Personal Fall Arrest System or especially in a full body harness after a fall from height.
Even after an individual is caught from a fall by a Personal Fall Arrester System, they are not out of danger. Within 15 to 20 minutes, suspension from a harness, causes blood to pool in the legs, eventually making the suspended individual pass out. Leg straps of body harness squeeze the blood arteries of the thighs and thus cutting off blood circulation. The non-circulating blood in the legs then loses oxygen and becomes toxic, a dangerous condition known as suspension trauma, also known as Harness Hang Syndrome (HHS), or orthostatic intolerance.
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.502 gives guidelines on Fall protection systems criteria and practices.
Under OSHA, employers must prepare an emergency rescue plan to rescue workers in the event of a fall, whenever personal fall arrest systems are used. While preparing the fall rescue emergency plan, the availability of rescue personnel, ladders, or other rescue equipment should be evaluated. Employers must ensure a competent supervisor, and all workers working at height using the personal fall arrest system must be trained in rescue. To avoid further injury and avoid medical complications, emergency rescues must be performed promptly in accordance with 29 CFR 1926.502 (d) (20).
Body belts are not acceptable as part of personal fall arrest system according to OSHA 29 CFR 1926.502(b) because they can cause serious injury during fall.
Personal fall arrester system must be designed and setup according to OSHA 29 CFR 1926.502 (d)(16)(iii). Personal fall arrester system equipment must be certified by a competent person at intervals of every six months.
Crossing the safe endurance time : Waist belts are designed to be used as restraints only. They have an average of two minutes of endurance. Chest harnesses are designed for rescue and restraint and have an average of six minutes of endurance. Sub-pelvic full body harnesses average ten minutes of endurance.
Venous pooling: Due to free hanging on harness and load on leg straps, blood can accumulate in the veins. Also, it occurs when victim moves suddenly after being inactive for a long time.
Increase in heart-rate: Blood circulation rate reduced due to an accumulation of blood in the legs and then human body try to make up by speeding up the heart rate to supply sufficient blood flow to the brain.
Decrease the heart-rate: After 15 to 20 minutes of hanging, blood supply is significantly reduced, and then the body will abruptly slow the heart rate and blood pressure will diminish in the arteries.
In case of severe venous pooling, oxygen deficient blood supply to the brain causes fainting. It can be occur due to low quantity supply of blood to brain.
Impact to other body vital organs: Reduction in blood supply may adversely affect the other vital organs, such as the kidneys.
Other hazards: Tremulousness, Palpitations, fatigue, nausea, poor concentration, dizziness, headache, weakness, sweating, etc.
1. Emergency rescue plan to rescue workers in the event of a fall must be prepared prior to commencement of work at height with personal fall arrester system.
4. In the event of fall and free hanging in harness
a) Ask for help so that rescuer can respond
d) Using Suspension Trauma Straps, which are a pair of straps, allows you to get up to relax your leg muscles by removing the load and restoring blood circulation until help arrives. When a worker falls and rests, he unwinds the straps, hooks them, and presses his weight against the straps.
1. What is suspension trauma?
2. According to OSHA, could suspension trauma be fetal in how long?
7. What things should be considered when preparing the rescue plan?
The consequences of suspension trauma/ orthostatic intolerance can be severe if not promptly rescued, therefore proper training for workers on rescue plan is very important before using personal fall arrester system equipment.
The use of suspension trauma strap, use of nearby structure to relax the body weight on harness and the frequent pumping action of the legs frequently can activate muscles, reduce the risk of venous accumulation, can used to relieve pressure, delay symptoms, support muscle pumping and restore blood circulation.
A record of Toolbox talk on suspension trauma or orthostatic intolerance should be maintained.
Originally published at https://www.safeworldhse.com.
