Recently, we noticed a story in a leading safety and health magazine that questions the “two-piece, pass-through buckle” that is commonly used on many harnesses. The author, in fact, referred to it as a design flaw. However, we consider it more a matter of improper use than a design flaw. While he does identify some...
Prompted by the 2013 fire and explosion that killed 12 firefighters at a Texas fertilizer facility, as well as other recent incidents, OSHA is considering the development of a standard on emergency response and preparedness. Stakeholders are invited to provide input at an informal OSHA meeting in Washington on July 30 and, if needed, on...
A question that we often hear is, “How proficient should rescuers be with knot tying?” We recommend that rescuers be able to tie any of the knots used by their team without hesitation, or without even having to look at the knot as they are tying it. As part of the skills requirement in our...
Don’t Miss the Rescue Team Event of the Year! 2014 Roco Rescue Challenge October 8-9, 2014 RTC – Roco Training Center Rescue teams from across the country will participate in realistic confined space rescue exercises designed by Roco’s top instructors. And, although Challenge is more of a learning event than a competition, trophies will be...
Imagine donning a Class III harness in as little as 8 seconds! That’s just one of the many features of the new CMC/Roco Work-Rescue Harness. Because of its innovative “no-step” donning, comfort fit and lightweight design, this new harness will appeal to rescuers, rope access technicians, tower climbers, and other professionals working in the vertical...
The following article was featured on the cover of the March 2014 issue of ISHN, and authored by Roco’s own Chief Instructor Pat Furr.
NFPA has posted more guides to prepare firefighters and other emergency responders for incidents involving electric vehicles (EVs). The guides are part of NFPA’s Electric Vehicle Safety Training project, through which the association works with automobile manufacturers to inform the fire service and other first responders as the use of EVs increases.
READER QUESTION: Can a patient be lowered in a vertical or horizontal Sked without being lashed to a backboard or without a backboard at all? ROCO TECH PANEL RESPONSE: The answer is YES! This is one of the advantages of choosing the Sked stretcher.
This time, it was Tom Brady watching from the sidelines, as Boston firefighters battled the nine-alarm blaze near his home. From the back deck of his home, which was four doors down from the fire, Brady told how he watched the incident unfold. “I had a firsthand view of all the action and was blown...
6-10-14 Update on Petzl CROLL Potential Safety Issues After Petzl met with their distributors regarding the Petzl CROLL (B16 & B16AAA) issue, they have provided us with the following statements: • Estimated devices that would potentially be exposed to this event is less than 1 in 100,000 devices produced. • The exposure was only documented...
