(Go Back)Emergency Response Protocol

By now, thousands of arborists across North America have seen John Ball’s presentation on safety statistics in the arboriculture industry. The numbers are staggering—the tree care profession (when separated from landscaping) ranks fourth highest for fatalities in the United States. Our fatality rates are approximately triple those of police and firefighters. And a tree climber who works 20 years in the profession has approximately a 1 in 100 chance of being seriously injured or killed on the job.

These numbers are unacceptable, and our profession must take steps to reduce the risk. Recently, there have been moves in the right direction. Awareness of the problem is a big first step. Gone are the days when arborist audiences groaned at the prospect of a safety presentation, and most employers are no longer attempting to “hide” the safety statistics from the insurance company actuaries (who actually had the numbers before we did). The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) seems to be more widespread, and training resources have grown and expanded over the last decade.

One area that could benefit from a new industry-accepted, systematic approach is emergency response. Our profession needs realistic guidelines that are consistent with professional rescue procedures for handling traumatic or emergency situations. Dr. Ball and ArborMaster® Training have been working together under an OSHA grant to investigate one specific area of emergency response—aerial rescue.

According to Dr. Ball’s research, aerial rescues by industry personnel are not very common, but emergency personnel are often called on to extract injured workers from trees. Unfortunately, most tree care workers do not have the advanced training or equipment required to handle serious trauma or possible spinal injuries, and most emergency personnel lack the training and equipment to deal with aerial situations, especially those involving trees.

The goal is for new protocols to be developed, working in concert with emergency rescue personnel, that will help enable arborists to work with emergency personnel to assist in safe and efficient aerial rescue procedures. Until then, the following guidelines are offered as appropriate steps to avoid second victims or time lost due to indecision.

Emergency Response and Aerial Rescue

Accidents are prevented through the conscious recognition of potential hazards in the workplace and the effort to avoid them. Yet it takes only one lax moment or unexpected event for an accident to happen. Because of this, every worker on the crew should be trained in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and aerial rescue.

Workers must be trained to assess the emergency situation and make decisions based on the circumstances, the victim’s perceived condition, and the help that may be available. Education, training, and practice help workers handle emergencies more safely and efficiently. There is no time for panic. A rescuer who fails to take the proper precautions may become a second victim.

There are a number of ways a climber can be injured in a tree. Electrocution, heart attack, heat exhaustion, insect or animal attack, a blow from a swinging limb, or a chain-saw cut could leave a worker dangling helplessly in a tree. Ground workers should maintain a close watch on climbers and remain in voice contact. A climber could get hurt and lose consciousness without ever calling for help.

Contact Emergency Personnel

When a climber is injured or unconscious in a tree, emergency personnel should be contacted immediately. Cell phones are common these days, and most residential and commercial areas are just minutes away from emergency help.

When calling for emergency assistance, be sure to give the exact location of the accident and the nature of the emergency. Be sure to tell the 911 operator if it involves a high-angle rescue—otherwise, the wrong rescue crew may be dispatched.

Do not hang up first. Let the 911 operator obtain all necessary information and be the first to hang up. If there is only one rescuer on site, he or she should first call for assistance but should stay and help the injured worker if possible. No rescue attempt should be started without first contacting emergency help, as soon as possible.

Carefully Check for Electrical Hazards

The first step in assessing an emergency situation is to determine whether there is an electrical hazard. One of the most common reasons for electrocution in a tree is that the climber did not know the lines were there, which also implies that the ground crew did not see the lines, either.

Because the chance of the rescuer becoming a second victim is great, utility company experts recommend calling the local electric company to avoid any further direct or indirect contact. Be sure to inform the 911 operator that there may be an electrical hazard; in many cases, the 911 operator will contact the utility company. If the victim appears to have been electrocuted, you must make an informed decision whether to attempt a rescue or wait for the utility’s emergency help. Minutes can mean the difference between life and death. Yet, a hasty rescue attempt may lead to the electrocution of the rescuer or other personnel on site. Never attempt to climb a tree or rope that may be energized.

Check for Other Potential Hazards

If there is no electrical hazard and the tree is deemed safe to climb, it is important to get to the victim to assess his or her condition. First assess what may have caused the accident (for example, hanging limbs, insects, or a defect in the tree) before ascending. Use proper climbing equipment, and remain secured while climbing to the victim. Never risk becoming a second victim or putting others in danger. Preferably, you should use a second climbing line and tie in above the victim. If the tree is not energized, climbing spurs may be used to reach the victim, but a second climbing line should still be used.

Assess the Victim

Upon reaching the victim, try to determine the nature of the injury. If the victim appears to have a broken neck or spinal injury and is breathing, do not make an attempt to move him or her. Be sure the victim is secure and his or her equipment is safe—and then wait for emergency help to arrive.

One of the first tenets of first aid is to avoid moving the victim unless necessary. Although first-aid procedures can be performed more effectively on the ground, moving the victim may complicate injuries. However, an injured worker hanging for a prolonged period in the climbing harness could lose consciousness and/or go into shock, so you should continue to closely monitor breathing, pulse, and overall condition. In many cases, emergency personnel can be on site by the time a trained climber can reach the victim.

As a rescuer, you must exercise good judgment based on training and the severity of the situation when deciding whether it is necessary to move the victim. In some cases, the best decision may be to wait for emergency personnel, who will have equipment that can prevent further injuries while lowering the victim. Although most emergency rescue teams have training and equipment to reduce further injury, they are not trained or equipped to rescue victims out of trees. In many cases, it will still be up to the tree workers to work with emergency personnel to get the victim down. Specific training and practice are essential for aerial rescue and first-aid procedures.

Preparation and Training Are Critical Components

The necessary rescue equipment must be in good condition and readily available. Some companies keep a separate rescue kit that is not used for routine daily work. This kit should include a climbing line and saddle, a lanyard, a throwline, climbing spurs, a pole pruner, a sharp knife, and a first-aid kit. The rescue kit should be taken off the truck at the start of each job. It may not be accessible if it is on an energized truck.

Some companies now advocate that a second line, called an access line, be hung when working above 50 feet, particularly if the tree is difficult to enter or ascend. An access line can save valuable minutes if an aerial rescue becomes necessary.

The ability to respond swiftly and safely to save a life depends on keeping a cool head, using common sense, and being prepared. A proactive emergency preparedness program can help make arborists more aware of potential hazards and prevent accidents. Proper training and practice can save crucial minutes that could mean the difference between life and death.

References

Bishop, Phil, and Bill Weems. 2004. Hanging Around Could Be the Death of You: The Dangers of Suspension Trauma. Arborist News. 13(3):63–64.

Introduction to Arboriculture: Tree Worker Safety. 2004. DVD-ROM. International Society of Arboriculture, Champaign, IL.

Lilly, Sharon. 2005. Tree Climbers’ Guide (3rd ed.). International Society of Arboriculture, Champaign, IL. 166 pp.

Sharon Lilly is ISA’s director of educational goods and services and author of the Tree Climbers’ Guide, now available in its third edition.