Readiness to the Rescue: Working High Above the Waters, Workers Must Be Prepared for the Worst

One morning in November of 2000, Jamie Barker and nine co-workers began the routine job of painting the Ambassador Bridge, the passageway that links Detroit with Windsor, Ontario. Soon after starting, the suspended scaffolding gave way. Barker and two colleagues were thrust into the frigid waters of the Detroit River, while seven other were left dangling beneath the bridge, attached to a horizontal lifeline. All but Barker were rescued. Negligence charges were filed against two engineers in the case for violating Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act. All 10 of the workers were wearing full-body harnesses. Barker and the two others who plunged into the river, however, weren’t connected to lifelines as were the other seven. This story illustrates the real need for a rescue plan any time a worker is exposed to the risk of a fall. The equipment and gear must be used in the right manner. Harnesses, lanyards, lifelines and all the associated components of a fall arrest system need to be properly worn and correctly attached in order to effectively save a life, as they’re designed to do. After the fallen worker has been safely retrieved, an incident investigation must be conducted to discover the reason of the fall. Workers should go over each step of the rescue to understand if everything went properly or if something should have been done differently. We must also have the right attitude toward maintaining caution and safety in the workplace.