For years, the standard two-rope rescue system was built around a main line and a belay line. The main line carries the rescue load, the belay line was managed separately, and there to capture the load if the main line or primary system failed. That approach is still widely used, but more teams, especially in...
We recently came across an article from Honeywell that gives a useful overview of gas detection sensors, calibration, and the factors that can affect instrument accuracy over time. Gas detectors use several types of sensor technology, including catalytic bead, infrared, electrochemical, and photoionization sensors. Each one works differently and has its own limitations. Age, contamination,...
We hear it said in just about every fall protection class we teach. We’ll ask about fall protection policies and someone raises a hand and says, “We always tie off at four feet.” It’s usually said with confidence, like it’s a settled issue without considering the effectiveness of the equipment on hand. People are trying to follow the rules and keep themselves and their coworkers safe – and that’s a good...
Roco Rescue joins with thousands of emergency responders across the nation and around the globe in mourning the loss of Mr. Bud Calkin, founder of Skedco, Inc.
Working in and around trenches is a routine part of life in many industries. Industrial maintenance projects, utility work, construction activities, and municipal water or sewer repairs all rely heavily on excavation work. Because trenching occurs so frequently, it can begin to feel like just another part of the job. When that familiarity sets in,...
It’s not often you get called for a rescue right next door, but this is literally what happened for firefighters assigned to Baton Rouge Fire Department Rescues #1 and #2. They were just finishing up a training session at FD Headquarters when a call came in for a medical emergency/rescue directly across the street. And...
Spend a few minutes watching a rescue team work through a scenario and you’ll start to notice a pattern. Tripods go up, someone pulls the SKED out of the bag, and a haul system starts taking shape. Before long there’s a little mountain of equipment building up around the entry point. It looks busy. It...
Massachusetts-based construction contractor assessed $4.6M in proposed penalties. OSHA has cited a water and sewer line construction contractor for willfully and repeatedly exposing workers to trench hazards. Proposed penalties of $4.6M were assessed against the company in a trench collapse in 2025 that claimed the life of an employee and seriously injured another at a...
Two crew members were killed and two others injured during a confined space incident aboard a barge in southeast Alaska. According to the Coast Guard, the crew entered a confined space and lost contact with others on the tug. Initial information from family indicates methane gas may have been present, though details are still under...
Between 2011 and 2018, 1,030 workers died in confined spaces in the United States alone. More than 60% of those deaths were tied to hazardous atmospheres. In many cases, the air either wasn’t properly monitored, or it changed after entry. A space can meet acceptable entry conditions at the start of the shift and still...
