Man-Lift Rescue / Extrication Training

A man-lift rescue / extrication scenario was set-up at a former mill facility slated for demolition.  Jamie Morelock (Toledo firefighter, NWOH Region 1 USAR team member, and instructor for Brotherhood Instructors) came to help instruct a crew of Huron firefighters on the technical aspects of this machinery rescue.

The scenario: a victim fell from one of the steps on the vertical lifting belt and became trapped above the 3rd floor.  All of the electrical and mechanical components were on the 8th floor.  When in use, this lift provided a quick vertical way up and down through all floors.

Crews first needed to get a hasty harness of some sort around the victim to prevent falling through the floor after the belt was loosened.  Fall protection for the rescuers was mandatory due to the floor opening around the lift.  They also needed to get to the 8th floor, secure the electrical components (lock-out/tag-out), and prevent the possibility of the belt moving in either direction.

Proper lock-out/tag-out procedures when dealing with machinery extrication is mandatory. 8th floor.

Once the electrical power was secured, rescuers (using fall protection) inserted a piece of cribbing and a wedge to prevent the belt from moving.  This wasn’t absolutely secure, so a hole on both the ascending and descending sides of the belt was cut with a reciprocating saw just below the roller.  A pry bar was inserted through both holes, eliminating the possibility of the belt moving.

Rescuers then cut the belt on the 1st floor to keep equal weight hanging on each side.  They were then able use a piece of webbing to pull the belt off of the victim and remove from the hazard.

Machinery extrication takes solid thinking, making the right decisions, and utilizing the people that work on this equipment daily.  Consider the resources you would need to make this rescue if it were a real incident.

Pass it on!