Pat Furr

Patrick Furr, employed with Roco Rescue since 2000, has been actively involved with technical rescue since 1981. He is a Roco Chief Instructor as well as a Team Leader for on-site safety services in New Mexico. Pat teaches Confined Space Rescue, Rope Access, Tower Work/Rescue and Fall Protection programs across North America. He is a retired U.S. Air Force MSgt/Pararescueman. Visit www.rocorescue.com to view and download “Hierarchy of Fall Protection” and “Suspension Trauma” safety posters, as well as Fall Hazard Survey Report and Fallen Worker Rescue Pre-Plan templates.

How good is your fall protection training?

Close the gap

Pat Furr

December 4, 2019

Imagine that on the first day at your new job, the foreman tosses you a harness and a 6-foot lanyard and says, “Be careful out there!” That may seem like an extreme example of a woefully inadequate fall protection training program, but I will bet dollars to donuts it happens more often than we think.

Assessing the “ins and outs” of confined spaces

What’s going on in there?

Pat Furr

November 3, 2019

If your facility has confined spaces on site, it is critically important that you evaluate those spaces to determine if you need to have a permit-required confined space program.

Protecting workers at height from gravity’s pull is never-ending

Formal training is not enough

Pat Furr

July 18, 2019

Gravity doesn’t need to go to school. She is a master at pulling all objects toward the center of our blue planet and has been doing so since the dawn of time. So, yep, she is the grand master. Whereas we mere mortals are still learning how to counter her effects.

Confined spaces demand caution

First conduct an assessment, then consider three primary options when selecting a confined space rescue service

Pat Furr

April 1, 2019

A permit-required confined space has the potential to present inherent risks to worker health and safety and should be entered only when necessary and always with extreme caution. Unfortunately, there are times employees need to enter these work areas.

Who is your fall protection MVP?

Your “Competent Person” must be on top of their game

Pat Furr

September 3, 2014

OSHA defines a Competent Person as “One who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees

No cushy job: Confined space attendants play a crucial role

Pat Furr

July 1, 2014

Have you ever wondered who that person is who hovers around the portal of a permit space while workers are in the space?

Fall hazards “walkabout”

A job hazard analysis for work at height

Pat Furr

June 2, 2014

As part of my safety consulting duties, I have seen many fall protection programs for a wide variety of industries.

Prepare for all confined space rescue scenarios

Pat Furr

March 4, 2014

It’s a Saturday night December 21st and the plant is running on a skeleton crew. Operations decides to get a head start on annual preventative maintenance by knocking out several permit required confined space entries before the majority of the work is to be done when the regular shifts return after the New Year.