H
elico
p
ter
W
inc
h
in
g/H
oistin
g Op
erations
BOS-PRD-07.900611
4) Person tasked with tending the hoist cable holds the cable down on the deck using his foot and picks the
hook up ensuring that there is adequate slack. While the cable is under his foot, the ABs
should
pay close
attention to possible shifting of the helicopter.
5) Person tasked with tending the evacuee places the emergency rescue sling on the evacuee. Fitting
should be done outside the hoist zone.
6) Person tasked with tending the evacuee places the rescue sling under the armpits of the evacuee who
should hold the sling ends.
7) Person tasked with tending the evacuee properly attaches and adjusts safety strap on the evacuee.
8) The deck team in charge of tending the evacuee checks that the handle located on the back of the sling is
readily accessible.
9) Person tasked with tending the evacuee attaches the rescue sling to hoisting hook.
10) The person to be hoisted locks his forearms on his abdomen by holding one wrist with the other hand.
For tandem lifting using a swimmer harness and emergency rescue sling, the mandatory procedure is as
follows:
Secure ring on evacuee’s rescue sling to rescue swimmer’s harness.
Secure both rings to lifting hook.
Before signalling the
Ch
ie
f Off
icer
to begin hoisting, person tasked with tending the evacuee must check the
following:
- Ready accessibility of handle on the back of rescue sling.
- Hand position of person to be hoisted.
- Proper strap adjustment.
- Absence of kinks in straps.
- Ready accessibility of manual lifejacket inflators.
Person tasked with tending the evacuee places the evacuee directly under the winch (if necessary) then
gives regulatory hand signal to begin hoisting.
The deck team should guide the person to be lifted at the beginning of the lift and then withdraw immediately
when instructed to do so the
Ch
ie
f Off
icer
.
4.1.4.4 Steps for lowering from the helicopter:
After helicopter winch operator has attached the rescue sling and tightly adjusted the safety strap, the
evacuee can be lowered onto the vessel.
1) After the hoist cable has been grounded (using static discharge rod), the deck team tasked with
tending the cable can handle the hook. When instructed to do so, the deck team can take beneath
the helicopter in the hoisting zone.
2) Deck team will guide and stabilize touchdown of the stretcher on the deck.
3) Person tasked with the evacuee will disconnect the two rings from the rescue sling.
4) Deck team and evacuee will withdraw from hoisting zone when instructed to do so by the
Ch
ie
f
Off
icer
.
After being disconnected, the evacuee will quickly, withdraw from the hoisting zone with the attending deck
team.
The lifejacket, safety helmet, hoisting sling, and immersion suit (if used) will be returned to the helicopter.
4.1.4.5 Safety instructions
The hazards associated with rotor downwash and vessel movement (fall risk), static electricity discharge
(electrical shock), and swinging or sudden disconnection of load (falling objects) can be minimized by strict
application of this procedure.
The following safety precautions are compulsory for all helicopter hoisting operations:
1) Deck team
should
never stand beneath the helicopter rotors without express instruction from the
Ch
ie
f Off
icer
.
2) Deck team
shall
wear electric protective gloves.
3) Deck team
shall
never to
u
c
h
t
h
e
h
oist ca
b
le
b
e
f
ore t
h
e
p
ilot
h
it t
h
e
w
ater
or the boat (static
discharge)
4) Deck team
shall
never attac
h
t
h
e
h
oist ca
b
le to t
h
e vessel
otherwise the helicopter will cut the
hoist cable.
5) Deck team must ground the hoist cable using the static discharge grounding rod.
Version 01. Original date: 08/08/2014. Version date: N/A. Valid version only on QMS site. Uncontrolled document when printed
Procedure prepared by: BOS Ops Dpt Project Coordinator. Approved by: BOS Operations Department Director. Validated by: BOS Quality Representative.
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