Could we rescue a person injured while working on top of a transformer? Thankfully, we hadn’t faced this scenario yet, despite the risks inherent to working at heights of 20 to 40 feet, with electricity and tripping hazards all around. As members of the OH&S committee, Andrew Chibi and I were tasked with the following:

1. Identifying viable rescue solutions.
2. Proving their effectiveness for SaskPower.
3. Presenting our findings at Safety Days—our annual safety exhibition for all employees.

Our investigation into best practices revealed two potential options:

1. DBI-Sala portable rescue davit, recommended by AltaLink.
2. A ladder-and-rope rescue technique, commonly used by firefighters and recommended by a training expert in both industrial safety and volunteer firefighting.

To evaluate these options, we organized a simulation at the Hawarden switching station, where a transformer had been de-energized for maintenance. We assembled a mock crew, representative of the team likely to be on site during such an incident, along with management and representatives from both solution providers. Both methods were tested, and the entire process was video recorded.

The Results:

• We found that the ladder-and-rope technique required a specialized skill set that SaskPower could not practically train and maintain within our teams. This limitation only became clear when we attempted to implement the written procedures with our staff.
• Using the DBI-Sala davit, we successfully rescued our mock victim in 9 minutes. We later presented an edited, trailer-style video of the simulation at Safety Days, receiving valuable feedback from hundreds of field employees.
• We modified our transformer purchasing specifications to provision for the DBI-Sala rescue davit. Additionally, we adopted AltaLink’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for welding the DBI-Sala mounting point onto existing transformers, enabling SaskPower to retrofit transformers during planned service outages.