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Natural disaster responses demand, above virtually everything else, speed. Teams need to be able to quickly assess affected areas, locate survivors, distribute supplies and medical care, and move people to safety. To achieve that speed, disaster response organizations need the tools, training, and direction to promptly and efficiently respond. Routinely assess your available resources and refine them over time so they're in the best possible condition by the time you need them. As you prepare your disaster response protocols or create inventory checks, make sure you have the essential emergency rescue safety hoist tools that give your team safe access to disaster sites.
The Most Important Tool in Disaster Response: Rope Descent Systems
Whether your teams are surveying damaged areas, looking for survivors, or pulling people to safety after any natural disaster, you need a safe and secure way to lift them out of caves, destroyed buildings, or other below-ground areas. Simple hoist systems are insufficient, and injured survivors won't be able to use rope ladders or self-propelled hoists. The only solution is a rope descent pulley system that allows for vertical rope access and precise material lifting.
These tools are sturdy pulley systems that provide a reliable anchor point. Rescuers can transport the pulley system to a building, cave, or mine entrance, hook hoisting systems and harnesses to the anchor points, and safely lower supplies or personnel into the area. These systems are irreplaceable for search, rescue, and supply operations.
Depending on your needs, there are two main types of rope descent tools:
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Pulley system frames that settle firmly on the ground and provide support for hundreds or thousands of pounds in lifting capacity through anchor points.
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Hand wheel winches that allow for rope-based descent and lifting.
Emergency rescue safety hoist systems are composed of multiple components and rope descent device tools, so you can customize your exact setup based on your rescue operations, the locations you operate in, and the variety of loads you typically lift. We recommend auditing your operations to determine what capabilities matter most and which new hardware investments can best increase your operations’ safety, compliance, and efficacy.
Applications for Rope Descent Systems in Natural Disasters
Every type of natural disaster is different—even hurricanes, fires, and tornados can strike differently and demand different responses from your organization. That's why it's important to invest in rope descent systems that can apply to a wide range of rescue missions and objectives. Some common applications for rope descent systems in natural disasters include the following:
Cave-Ins
Cave-ins can occur in natural parks, mines, and remote underground centers. Not only do cave-ins limit access and make the ground treacherous, but underground disasters mean people may have limited oxygen, making each second count. Emergency rescue equipment like rope descent systems and rescue team fall protection enable your teams to quickly navigate cave-ins with vertical descent systems. In addition, they can easily descend into caves and mine shafts, bypass inaccessible stairwells, and either hoist down life-saving supplies or evacuate survivors.
Flooding
When there are hurricanes, tsunamis, and massive floods, people try to move toward higher surfaces: tall buildings, roofs, and uphill. However, people can easily get stuck inside flooding buildings or trapped on rooftops exposed to the elements.
Rescue teams can use well-built hoist systems and rope descent devices to:
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Quickly access isolated rooftops where survivors are sheltering
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Pull survivors to safety via helicopters
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Access collapsed and spatially collapsed buildings to look for survivors
Earthquakes and Collapsed Structures
Earthquakes massively disrupt infrastructure and roadways, meaning there can be wide areas of towns, complexes, and coastlines that can be entirely inaccessible by car. Rescue teams instead will rely on helicopters as search vehicles and ways to distribute supplies. Helicopters with emergency rescue safety hoists give you a clear way to each victim with minimal delays.
How to Choose the Right Emergency Rescue Safety Hoist System
Hoist systems are complex. Choosing the right systems, components, and safety accessories significantly changes your team's ability to rescue people and keep themselves safe. Keep these key considerations in mind as you shop for the right vendors and specific products:
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Cross-Compatibility: Invest in vertical rope access systems, lifting devices, fall arrest devices, and anchor points that work together and won't require extra conversion hardware—or, even worse, be completely incompatible.
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Ease of Use: Choose emergency rescue equipment that can be easily carried and installed by one person. This often means looking for specific such as:
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Light weight of 70 pounds or less, so it can be carried by one person
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No requirement for accessories or adapters
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Does not require tools for installation
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Versatility: Invest in systems that facilitate manual or motorized lifting, suspended work operations, and easy vertical motion in a wide range of settings.
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Sufficient Lifting Capacity: Every device will be different, so carefully assess the specifications for material lifting, carrying users, and so on.
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Standards Compliance: Opt for systems that comply with applicable OSHA, CCOHS, or local standards. Frequently applicable standards include ANSI Z359.18-17, ANSI Z359.4-07, CSA Z259.2.3, and CSA Z259.15-17.
Additional Tools That Every Disaster Response Team Needs
However, you will need more than just emergency rescue safety hoist hardware. Consider these additional emergency rescue equipment systems:
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Rescue team fall protection systems, including lanyards and cables, harnesses, and D-rings or other connection hardware
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Harnesses that are built for either catching teams in the event of a fall while working in unsafe conditions or harnesses with supports for suspended work
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Lifelines that prevent users from falling
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Lanyards and cables that allow vertical descents, as well as anti-shock lanyards for absorbing the foe of an aborted fall
The more equipment you have at the ready, the better you can train your disaster response teams for different scenarios and ensure both your teams and disaster victims stay as safe as possible.
Stay Prepared with Tractel
Tractel specializes in fall protection gear and vertical descent systems for all applications ranging from commercial HVAC work to disaster response operations. We provide OSHA-compliant rescue team fall protection, rope descent device options for rescues and material distribution, and more. Contact us to learn more about the reliable and compliant solutions that can power your next mission.