Lessons learned: Rescue teams should be familiar with the stretchers used on board

The incident

The incident occurred just as the descent was starting. The area below the drill was a restricted access area; there were no injuries.

What went wrong

For the first transfer through the top hatch, using the tripod, the lifting point on the stretcher itself was correctly used. However, after the transfer to the descending davit, the descending cable was attached to the Dummy harness, not to the stretcher lifting point. This led to the stretcher and dummy not being secured to each other, and the stretcher slipping during the descent.

IMCA’s member noted the following:

• The rescue plan was too generic and did not address specifically the process by which the injured person in a stretcher would be lowered;
• Despite the presence of several rescue team members, nobody noticed that the rope was connected to the wrong attachment point.

Lessons learned

• Rescue teams ought to be familiar with the stretchers used on board, and follow the manufacturer’ instructions;
• Rescue plans should be specific and contain detailed information related to the equipment used (Stretcher, Tripod, Davit) and the descent/lowering process, load transfers and connections. The Plan should be reviewed at the toolbox talk before the drill, and this should include as much as possible hands-on practice with the specific stretcher;
• The Potential DROPS area below the area where the drill is occurring should be barricaded, marked, and vacated during the descent. Special attention may be required to ensure that the medical team stood by, are kept outside of the potential line of fire.
• Review the rescue plan in this case to:
  • Ensure that suitable rescue equipment is used (if space is limited, the use of a stretcher can pose additional hazards and use of a harness may be an acceptable alternative);
  • Incorporate more specific details on the process of lowering the casualty.