Contents

Evacuation and Rescue

32.1 Risk assessment [Repealed]
32.2 Training
32.3 Equipment
32.4 Ropes
32.5 Inspection of equipment
32.6 Maintenance records
32.7 First aid
32.8 Communications
32.9 Work areas over water

Evacuation and Rescue

32.1 Risk assessment

Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 312/2003, effective October 29, 2003.]

32.2 Training

(1) Workers designated to provide rescue or evacuation services must be adequately trained.

(2) The training program must include simulated rescue or evacuation exercises and regular retraining, appropriate to the type of rescue or evacuation being provided, and training records must be kept.

32.3 Equipment

(1) Workers performing rescue or evacuation must wear personal protective clothing and equipment appropriate to the hazards likely to be encountered.

(2) Harnesses must meet the requirements of the applicable standards or code issued by the International Union of Alpinist Associations, National Fire Protection Association or Canadian Standards Association.

(3) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 312/2003, effective October 29, 2003.]

(4) When a platform suspended from a crane or hoist or attached to a crane boom is used for rescue, an injured worker on the platform is not required to use a personal fall protection system, if

(a) the worker is belted to a stretcher and the stretcher is securely fastened to the platform floor, and

(b) the platform has a safety strap that will prevent the platform from falling more than 15 cm (6 in) if the platform becomes dislodged from the hook.

[Amended by B.C. Reg. 312/2003, effective October 29, 2003.]

32.4 Ropes

(1) Ropes and associated rigging equipment used only for rescue or evacuation or training in such procedures must

(a) be of low stretch (static) kernmantle construction or equivalent,

(b) when new, have a minimum safety factor of 10 to 1, based upon a one-person load of 140 kilograms (300 pounds), and

(c) be replaced at intervals stated by the manufacturer, but not exceeding 5 years.

(2) A worker suspended on a rope for rescue purposes other than from a helicopter must where practicable be secured to an independent lifeline or belay line.

Note: Ropes used for purposes other than just rescue are required to meet the applicable requirements provided in the other parts of this Regulation. For example, Part 11 addresses ropes used for fall protection and work positioning; Part 15 addresses rigging.

32.5 Inspection of equipment

(1) Ropes and associated equipment must be inspected visually and physically by qualified workers after each use for rescue, evacuation or training purposes.

(2) Equipment must not be used after it

(a) has been overstressed,

(b) has been subject to temperatures above 150°C (300°F), or

(c) shows significant damage due to contact with chemicals or due to any other cause.

32.6 Maintenance records

(1) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 312/2003, effective October 29, 2003.]

(2) Maintenance records must be kept, including but not limited to

(a) the name of manufacturer,

(b) the type of equipment,

(c) the date put into service,

(d) when and for what purpose the equipment has been used,

(e) the date of the last inspection and name of the inspecting person,

(f) any damage suffered, and

(g) the date and nature of any maintenance.

(3) Maintenance records must be available upon request to any worker concerned with the safe operation of the equipment or to an officer.

[Amended by B.C. Reg. 312/2003, effective October 29, 2003.]

32.7 First aid

At least one member of a rescue team must be a first aid attendant trained to immobilize an injured worker.

[Amended by B.C. Reg. 348/2003, effective March 30, 2004.]

32.8 Communications

Effective communications must be maintained between the workers engaged in rescue or evacuation and support persons.

32.9 Work areas over water

If workers are required to work in places from which they could fall and drown, and are not protected by guardrails or other means of fall protection permitted by this Regulation, the employer must provide

(a) a suitable rescue boat, equipped with a boat hook, available at the site and capable of being used for rescue at all times,

(b) a buoyant apparatus attached to a nylon rope not less than 9 mm (3/8 in) in diameter, and not less than 15 m (50 ft) in length, and

(c) a sufficient number of workers who are available when work is underway to implement rescue procedures and who are properly equipped and instructed in those procedures.

Disclaimer: The Workers' Compensation Board of B.C. (WorkSafeBC) publishes the online versions of the Workers Compensation Act (Act) and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (Regulation) in accordance with its mandate under the Act to provide information and promote public awareness of occupational health and safety matters. The online Act and Regulation are not the official versions, which may be purchased from Crown Publications. WorkSafeBC endeavours to update the online Act and Regulation as soon as possible following any legislative amendments. However, WorkSafeBC does not warrant the accuracy or the completeness of the online Act or Regulation, and neither WorkSafeBC nor its board of directors, employees or agents shall be liable to any person for any loss or damage of any nature, whether arising out of negligence or otherwise, arising from the use of the online versions. Employers are legally obligated to make a copy of the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation readily available for review by workers. The circumstances under which WorkSafeBC may consider an employer's providing access to electronic versions of the Act and Regulation to have satisfied this obligation are described in OHS guideline G-P2-21(2)(f).