The U.S. Department of Labor issues an OSHA National News Release that announces new enforcement guidelines that could exponentially increase penalties for companies who prioritize profits over safety. Specifically, OSHA addresses the expanded application of instance-by-instance citations and non-grouping of violations in certain cases that will go into effect on March 27th of this year.
We are proud to announce that once again Roco has been reapproved as an OSHA VPP Star Worksite organization. VPP Star is the highest level of recognition awarded by OSHA. VPP participants serve as models for other employers, workers, and unions by operating excellent safety and health management programs. Roco has been a VPP Star...
As part of our efforts to support municipal emergency responders, Roco Rescue will be offering quarterly scholarships to our open-enrollment 50-hour Rescue Essentials Courses conducted at the Roco Training Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. To be considered, applicants will complete an online form and explain why they are interested in attending a course and how it...
Safety professionals want to make sure all workers get home safely, but what are the best ways to do that?
There are so many angles to talk about in rope rescue but for now, let’s focus on Low Angle vs. Steep Angle vs. High Angle rescue.
It’s December 21st on a Saturday night, and the plant is running on a skeleton crew. Operations wants to get a head start on annual preventive maintenance and decides to knock out several permit required confined space entries before the majority of the work is to be done after the New Year.
We’re often asked by plant managers or rescue team supervisors about how they can make sure their rescue team is ready and in compliance should a confined space emergency occur at their site. Our answer usually revolves around practice, practice, practice; but here are a few other recommendations that you may want to consider.
We’re often asked, “Can I use a crane as part of my rescue plan?” If you’re referring to using a crane as part of moving personnel or victims, the answer is “No, except in very rare and unique circumstances.” The justification for using a crane to move personnel, even for the purposes of rescue, is extremely...
Do you have a rescue plan for your permit-required confined space entry work? One that has been practiced regularly and revised if necessary? If you can’t emphatically say “yes” to these questions, consider this sobering statistic: Over 60% of confined-space fatalities in multifatality confined-space incidents involve the would-be rescuer. This is often due to poor...
By Brad Warr, Roco Rescue Chief Instructor I took my first rope rescue class in 1995. I spent a lot of my youth in the outdoors and did some knot-tying and rappelling at scout camp. I have fond memories of flying down the (super-sketchy) zip line at summer camp. Climbing over the edge at my...
