ESCAPE:
Plan for the Emergency Before You Need It
When something goes wrong on a high-risk site, you don't rise to the occasion. You fall back on what you planned. ESCAPE is how you build that plan, before the worst day.
Why this matters.
Most of us never plan for an accident on the job site. And there's no way to know how a crew will respond to the trauma of seeing a teammate hurt or killed. That's exactly why you plan it before it happens. Considering these six elements as you design your emergency action plan can significantly increase preparedness and the odds of a safe, timely rescue.
The framework.
E. Exercise. Practice the rescue before you need it. Pole-top and tower rescue, first aid, CPR. Drill them until the response is close to second nature, because when you see someone you work with get hurt, you don't rise to the moment. You fall back on what your hands already know.
S. Site Conditions. What could hinder your rescue or evacuation? Run it like a job site hazard assessment. Did you pass through any locked gates? Is the area safe for EMS to enter, and if not, what has to be addressed? Note the condition of the electrical system you're working on too.
C. Communication. How will you communicate the emergency? Cell service is the first option, but sometimes you're outside the range. Mark the spots on the way in where you had service, and carry GPS communication devices so you can reach your crew and responders when the bars run out.
A. Access. How did you get to the job site? Could you drive right to it, or did you have to hike in? Note the exact route so you can give it to responders. Drop cones or hang flags at your turn points on the way in. Then you can tell them where you left the main road and say, "Follow the flags."
P. Position. Where are you? Use a street address if there is one. If not, note the nearest cross street to get EMS closer, and your GPS coordinates, especially if a helicopter is part of the plan. Give your position in terms of the electrical system you're working on too.
E. Egress. How are you getting out, and how are you getting an injured worker out? Is your access route the best one for egress with an employee on a backboard? Factor in the weather. Can you use a helicopter for the rescue in today's conditions? Know the way out before you're in it.
On the tailboard.
Don't just check "emergency plan discussed." Run the six letters out loud. It takes five minutes. It's the five minutes you'll be glad you spent on the day you hoped would never come.
