Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd

Lifesaving in mid-air

How do you rescue a tower crane driver taken ill? Not only a distressing question, this situation has hazards which could easily turn good intentions into fatal blunders. Specialist training is crucial - and also a statutory requirement. Which is why staff on King's Cross Northern Ticket Hall project for London Underground donned safety harnesses and helmets for the dizzy heights of a training course on rescuing crane drivers.

Three tower cranes are used at King's Cross, where a new main access is being built for the Tube station. Before erecting the first crane, a dozen people went on a course at a specialist training centre in Cheshire. They learnt the whole operation of bringing a man down to safety if he's taken ill while operating the crane, or falls while inspecting it. Both situations require careful planning and training to ensure the rescue team is not put at equal risk.

10 minute deadline

A natural candidate for the training was the projects Health & Safety Manager, who spelled out the urgency of a rescue. "Time is of the absolute essence," she said. "That's because you have only 10 minutes to lower someone to safety without their harness cutting off their blood circulation".

The rescue practice was carried out inside a specially designed hangar on a 10metre climbing frame. The Construction Team Leader was impressed by the realistic facilities provided. He explained "Although the rig is a simulation, you learn the techniques of setting-up and using different evacuation equipment for real.

"You're taught safety-critical issues too, such as the vital need to get a medical assessment before you start recovery, which means a first-aider must go up with you".

She concluded  "This training was fine. Now we need practice runs to refresh the team's skills. Wall climbing and abseiling are possibilities, and trials on the tower crane using a crash dummy".

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