atsb final report released 16 may 2013 - Ambulance Service of NSW

tag line was connected to the stretcher via the weak link 22 . The other end of the linewas controlled by a tag line attendant (TLA) such that:Optimum tag line control is achieved through a shallow tag line angle ie, thefurther the TLA is displaced from the stretcher the better.The required displacement between the tag line and the stretcher was achievedeither by the TLA moving away from the stretcher, or alternatively via themovement of the helicopter, and therefore the stretcher, away from the TLA. In thefirst instance the angle of the tag line was controlled by the TLA and in the secondby the flight crew. The function of the TLA was performed by the SCATparamedics in their ARC role and included providing advice to the flight crew onhow the tag line would be controlled.The operations manual contained a warning that neither the bag containing the tagline nor the tag line itself was to be secured to the TLA.Spring-loaded camming devicesSpring-loaded camming devices use rock fissures to establish a series of anchorpoints. When combined, these points form an anchor system for an abseiling rope(Figures 22 and 23).Figure 22: Camming devicesSource: ATSBFigure 23: Rope anchor systemSource: New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service22The operations manual permitted the use of the tag line without the weak link. In such cases, thehelicopter crew was to be advised that the weak link was not connected.- 34 -