Recently I read an article in the LA Times about the tragic death of 80’s rapper Heavy D; which forced me to think of all the people that we aim to protect on a daily basis.
An autopsy revealed that a deep leg thrombosis caused a pulmonary embolism and in turn caused Heavy D’s death on November 8th 2011. In layman’s terms he died of a blood clot that traveled from his leg into a lung; which prevented getting oxygen to critical lung tissue.
Heavy had been on a return flight from London where he was stuck in an airplane seat for up to 12 hours without moving. His stasis restricted necessary circulation to his legs which essentially lead to his death.
So, what the heck does this have to do with fall protection? EVERYTHING! It’s just another example of what we in the fall protection industry refer to as “Suspension Trauma”. If not careful what happened to Heavy can easily happen to any of us that fall while utilizing fall arrest gear without a rescue plan.
Depending on the individual, clotting can begin within 3-5 minutes from the time the fall occurs. Most users of fall arrest equipment do not take into consideration the desperate need to rescue the fallen worker as quickly as possible. Although the fallen worker may appear to be “ok” and feel that they can be suspended for as long as it takes, they are usually unaware of the damage that is being done to their body. Heavy did not collapse and die at the airport when he finally sat up from that long flight. He died days later outside his home, when the clot finally found its way into his lungs.
When using fall arrest equipment it is vital that rescue procedures have been put into place and that the personnel using the equipment have been properly trained in not only how to correctly use it, but also what to do when the equipment actually does its job and arrests your fall. Versatile Systems always includes a user awareness course with our fall arrest systems. We need to know that the users understand the danger that they are placing themselves in and how to prevent further harm to their body once they have taken a fall.
Heavy D’s death was a tragic accident but it’s also a grim reminder that we need to be more responsible in protecting our employees. ALL employees using fall arrest equipment must have the proper training, never work alone, and understand the importance in having a rescue plan in place at all times.
Have a Safe Day, Safe Month, Safe New Year.
This is so sad to learn about the death of the famous rapper D. The people responsible for constructing the image should be questioned about their learning in the field and experience. OSHAcampus.com emphesizes on safety, proper job related training should be provided to workers.
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