PreventingSuspensionTraumaArrestingafallisonlythefirststepinpreventinginjuryordeath.Evenifthearrestdoesnotcauseinjury,afallenworkercandiefromsuspensiontrauma(orthostaticshock)ifnotrescuedintime.Toooften,aworkerissavedbyapersonalfallarrestsystem(PFAS),onlytosuccumbtosuspensiontraumawhilewaitingforrescue.Suspensiontraumareliefstraps:Afallenworkercandeploytraumareliefstraps,creatingaloopthattheworkerstepsintoandpressesagainsttostandup.Reliefstrapsaretypicallypackagedintwopouchesthatattachtoeachsideofaharness.Everyonewhoworksatheightsmustbefullytrainedinfallprotection.TrainingshouldincludePFASrescueandfirstaid/CPR.PlanningandPreparationManysafetymanagers,superintendents,andforemenassumetheirjobisdoneiftheylimittotalPFASarrestingforceto1,800poundsandpreventimpactinjuryduringafall.Unfortunately,post-fallsuspensiontraumaandthetimeneededforrescueareoftenleftoutoffallprotectionplans.Forafallenworkerawaitingrescue,suspensiontraumacanbecomealife-threateningemergencyifnothandledproperly.Therefore,afallprotectionplanshouldalwaysincludeaplanforrescue.Suspensiontraumahappenswhenafallenworkerissuspendedinaharnesswithlegshanging.Whilearteriesnearthefrontsofthelegscontinuepumpingblood,theharnessstrapsactliketourniquetsontheveinsinthebacksofthelegsandpreventused(deoxygenated)bloodreturningtotheheart.Ifcirculationisimpededenough,theheartratewillabruptlyslowandreduceoxygentothebrain.WhatIsSuspensionTrauma?Evenunderidealcircumstances,witharescueplaninplace,suspensiontraumamustbetreatedasanemergency.Itcanbefatalinaslittleas10minutes.Typically,suspensiontraumacausesdeathin15to40minutes.Thebestwaytoslowprogressionofsuspensiontraumaistostand.Whenaworkerstands,thelegmusclesmustcontract,whichputspressureontheveins.Thispressure,alongwithaseriesofone-wayvalveswithintheveins,helpsbloodreturntotheheartandreducestheamountofbloodpoolinginthelegs.Afallenworkercanstandinoneofseveralways:ImmediateStepstoReducetheRiskofSuspensionTraumaOnsiteworkequipment:Theonsiterescueteammaybeabletobringaladder,anaeriallift,orotherequipmentforthesuspendedworkertostandon.Structuralmember:Theonsiterescueteammaybeabletopullthesuspendedworkerovertoastructuralmember,alowerlevel,ortheground.suspensiontraumareliefstraps,self-rescuedevices,and/ortechnicalrescueequipmentforassistedrescuebytrainedonsiteworkers.Thismayincludepulleysystems,brake-tubesystems,winchsystems,controlleddescentdevices,ropeladders,orotherdevices.ReliefStrapsHands-OnTrainingAspecificrescueplanmustbedevelopedforeachjobsite.Thesupervisorshouldassignduties,suchaswhocalls911andwhoperformstherescue.Thesupervisorshouldevaluateinadvancehowonsiteworkequipmentcouldbeused.Employersshouldalsoprovidespecializedequipment:VeinsArteriesThismaterialisbasedonworksupportedbytheFederalHighwayAdministrationunderGrantAgreementNo.DTFH61-11-H-00029.Anyopinions,findingsandconclusionsorrecommendationsexpressedinthispublicationarethoseoftheauthor(s)anddonotnecessarilyreflecttheviewoftheFederalHighwayAdministration.Thispublicationdoesnotconstituteanationalstandard,specification,orregulation.ARTBAWorkZoneSafetyConsortiumAmericanRoadandTransportationBuildersAssociationNationalAsphaltPavementAssociationInternationalUnionofOperatingEngineersCommunityCollegeConsortiumForHealthandSafetyTrainingU.S.DepartmentofTransportationFederalHighwayAdministrationTexasA&MTransportationInstituteFOFCommuni...
