Planning Ahead

When you whittle down this rule, the core of the meaning is that employers need to provide some form of rescue if a fall occurs. It may seem silly, but this law is the only official OSHA requirement revolving around rescue plans. And, quite frankly, it seems like a pretty obvious and simple concept. In many ways, the simplicity is unsettling. OSHA says, “Make sure you have a rescue plan for your employees.” Maybe we could discuss what things are officially seen as hazards or perhaps we could describe different types of situations that can cause problems during a rescue. But, no, this law is the only thing that OSHA truly requires.

ANSI gets far more specific about the needs and requirements of the people who are training employees in post-fall rescue. But, OSHA gives many specifications about the types of circumstances that a rescue team or service should be prepared to handle.