Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2021 Mar;27(1):194-200. doi: 10.1080/10803548.2018.1553752. Epub 2019 Feb 04.
International journal of occupational safety and ergonomics : JOSE
Peter Jackovics
PMID: 30556794 DOI: 10.1080/10803548.2018.1553752
In one of the extreme areas of disaster relief, the volunteer rescue organizations that carry out special rescue operations - most of their civil volunteers having gained their knowledge by practising extreme sports - have an increasingly significant role. Professional-level alpine activity or cave tour guiding has developed from amateur, hobby-like rock climbing or caving; however, there were no professional specifications elaborated for the former activities. Although the activities of a large number of such organizations, in general, are regulated, the safety specifications of the equipment and devices used for rescue, in particular, are not regulated. The methodology and operational procedures of special rescues are not sufficiently elaborated either. The purpose of this study is to provide answers to the issue of safe usability of rope-technology equipment by a related Q-sort on equipment use and to make suggestions of improvements, thus preventing accidents.
Keywords: Q-sort; ascender; carabiner; descender; rope technology; safety; usability
