SUBJECT: Lifting Heavy Loads - Part 6
TOPIC: Safety When Lifting Heavy Loads
OBJECTIVE: Understand necessary safety considerations when lifting heavy loads
TASK: Given various scenarios where lifting of a heavy load is required, list and describe the safety considerations to be dealt with before, during and after the lift is accomplished.
The "Lifting Heavy Loads" University of Extrication series has focused on various aspects of lifting objects with tools and equipment available to rescue personnel. As the techniques presented in the previous lessons are learned and practiced, it becomes apparent to all participants that there is risk involved whenever a heavy object is lifted. Safety considerations during lift training as well as at real-world rescue incidents are the theme of this installment of the series. A model safety checklist is presented as a means of increasing the awareness of the risks and the safety considerations for lifting heavy loads.
There may be members of your organization who have experienced near-miss incidents during lifting of heavy loads. As an instructor during a lifting exercise where a large farm tractor was being lifted and stabilized, I experienced a catastrophic box crib failure. Although a heart-stopping event, no injuries resulted because strict safety processes were in place. In New York State, a student in a vehicle rescue class was struck by cribbing that suddenly flew out from an improperly built box crib supporting two air bags. Without a solid top layer, the cribbing failed; one piece struck a student more than 20 feet away, breaking a lower leg bone.
One lifting heavy load "training" activity that gained national attention and resulted in an investigation by a federal agency occurred in July 2003 in Dell Rapids, SD. An area fire department purchased their first set of rescue airbags. During a demonstration conducted by the equipment salesman, who was also a volunteer firefighter, the three stacked airbags catastrophically moved. As the bags flew out from beneath the 92-ton lifted load, the middle bag violently struck the salesman, who was five to 10 feet away at the time. He suffered massive head injuries resulting in his death.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) investigated and released its report (F2003-34) that included recommendations that pertain to lifting of heavy loads with airbags or any other lifting tools or equipment.
RON MOORE, a Firehouse® contributing editor, is a battalion chief and the training officer for the McKinney, TX, Fire Department. He also authors a monthly online article in the Firehouse.com "MembersZone" and serves as the Forum Moderator for the extrication section of the Firehouse.com website. Moore can be contacted directly at [email protected].
"Lifting Heavy Loads Model Safety Checklist"
To assist rescuers in managing safety during lifting of heavy loads, the following "Model Safety Checklist" is presented. The basic elements are designed to serve as a starting point for you and your organization to develop a checklist specific to your department's lifting equipment, procedures and capabilities. Fill in additional items in the blank areas to suit your department's specific operations and procedures.
INCIDENT MANAGEMENT
- "Command Officer" Identified
- Rescue Group Officer Assigned to Task and Identified
- Safety Officer(s) Assigned and Identified
- Sufficient personnel/crews with crew leaders assigned to continuously support all aspects of lifting task
- Action Plan Developed
- Strategy: Rescue or Recovery?
- Tactical Plan Developed; Plan A, Plan B and Plan C
- Hot Zone and Safe Zone at incident scene identified to on-scene personnel
- Collapse Zone and potential Load Shift Zone clearly identified to rescuers
- "Kick out" zone and "line of fire" areas identified where lifting tools such as airbags could unexpectedly move into in event of tool failure or load shift.
- Trained personnel only within Hot Zone; others excluded
- "Spotters" positioned to monitor lift and watch for any lean or tilt
- Enforce use of PPE; helmets, eye glasses/goggles, gloves and protective footwear
- Other
HEAVY LOAD OBJECT SIZE-UP
- Hazards and dangerous conditions at scene identified and managed
- Object determined safe for lifting or moving
- Adequate structural stability of heavy load determined
- Heavy load anticipated to remain intact during lift
- Lateral rolling and sliding-type movements anticipated and contained
- Moveable components, knuckle joints, swivel, damaged areas identified
- Movement of liquid or fluid contents and center of gravity shift anticipated during lifting
- Weight of object estimated and determined within capability of lifting equipment
- Other
LIFTING CHECKLIST
- Hazards controlled; Hot Zone work area deemed safe for rescue and EMS crews
- Work area well illuminated
- Object stabilized/secured in position as found upon arrival
- Area beneath object and collapse zone kept clear of personnel at all times
- Sharp areas, hazardous areas, and heat source areas (greater than 131 degrees Fahrenheit) of object identified
- Standard cribbing or struts with personnel available to continuously stabilize lifted load
- Lifting tools/equipment capable of lifting object available on scene
- Safety inspection verifies all components of lifting tools/equipment in good operating condition with all safety seals in place
- Lifting tools/equipment positioned at safe, strong lifting point(s) on object
- Lifting point(s) distribute load weight as evenly as possible over large surface area of lifted load
- Lifting tools/equipment positioned high enough to be in contact with object
- If used, adequate air supply available before beginning lifting operation with rescue airbag systems
- If used, airbag system colored hoses inflated/deflated slowly and monitored continually for any load shifting
- Operators following manufacturer's recommendations for specific lifting tools/equipment being used
- When lowering lifted load, procedures followed in reverse order.
- Adequate maintenance and care of lifting tools/equipment completed after use
- Other
TASK: Given various rescue scenarios that could occur within your jurisdiction where lifting of a heavy load is required, list and describe the safety considerations to be dealt with before, during, and after the lift is accomplished.
