ASTM F2955-19

Standard Guide for Training for Advanced Rope Rescuer Endorsement

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This guide establishes a minimum standard for training rope rescuers in regard to their rope rescue specific knowledge and skills. A person trained to this guide is an advanced rope rescuer.  
4.1.1 Every person who is identified as an advanced rope rescuer shall have met the requirements of this guide.  
4.1.2 This guide is the third level of training for rope rescue personnel and, in conjunction with Guides F2751, F2752, and F2954, only establishes the minimum knowledge and skills required for a person to perform or lead advanced rope rescue. No other skills are included or implied.  
4.1.3 In addition to meeting the requirements of this guide, an advanced rope rescuer shall also be adequately trained to operate safely and effectively in the environment in which he or she is expected to work (i.e., wilderness, urban, etc.).  
4.2 Advanced rope rescue endorsement is an indication that a person possesses adequate field skills and knowledge to make mission-critical decisions. A person so endorsed is qualified to support or direct a rope rescue team in an area with high fall exposure and/or falling hazard potential, including high angle environments.  
4.3 This guide by itself is not a complete training document. It is only an outline of the topics required for training or evaluating an advanced rope rescuer. It may, however, be used in the development of, or as part of, a complete training document or program.  
4.3.1 This guide does not stand alone and must be used with the referenced documents to provide the specific information needed by an advanced rope rescuer or for an authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) to properly evaluate a training program or text.  
4.4 Though this guide establishes only minimum standards, it does not imply that an advanced rope rescuer is a “trainee,” “probationary,” or other similar term member of an organization.  
4.4.1 Determining the requirements and qualifications for land rescue team members is the responsibility of t...
SCOPE
1.1 This guide, in conjunction with, and as an add-on to, Guides F2751, F2752, and F2954 (or equivalent for other environments), defines the basic training required for a person who participates in rope rescue at the highest level of responsibility and complexity, as part of a larger rescue duty.  
1.1.1 Specifically, this guide defines the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for a person to support or direct a rope rescue team in advanced rope rescue functions including pre-planning and size-up of rope rescue operations, designing and directing the construction of rope systems for moving a victim in low and high angle environments, directing the construction and operation of highline and related rope systems, and performing advanced rope rigging functions, in conjunction with other rescue duties.  
1.1.2 This guide establishes the minimum training standard for an advanced rope rescue endorsed person in regard to general, field, and rope rescue-specific knowledge and skills.  
1.2 An advanced rope rescuer performs rope rescues in all terrain and is capable of directing basic and intermediate rope rescuers.  
1.2.1 An advanced rope rescuer endorsement applies only to rescues on the surface of the land; additional endorsements are required to perform this level of rope rescue in other environments. This guide alone does not define the minimum training requirements for performing or assisting with rescues in partially or fully collapsed structures, in or on water, in confined spaces, or underground (such as in caves, mines, and tunnels).  
1.2.2 This guide alone does not define the minimum training requirements for climbing Class 52 or higher rock and/or ice to perform a rescue.  
1.3 An advanced rope rescuer is required to have knowledge and skill sets pertaining to the advanced roped evacuation components of rescue. These include, but are not limited to, advanced knots and rigging, functioning as a litter att...

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2019
• ICS: 13.200 - Accident and disaster control
• Technical Committee: F32 - Search and Rescue
• Drafting Committee: F32.03 - Personnel, Training and Education

Relations

• Refers: ASTM F1768-97(2020) - Standard Guide for Using Whistle Signals During Rope Rescue Operations
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2020
• Refers: ASTM F2047-00(2019) - Standard Practice for Workers’ Compensation Coverage of Emergency Services Volunteers
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2019
• Refers: ASTM F2752-19 - Standard Guide for Training for Basic Rope Rescuer Endorsement
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2019
• Refers: ASTM F2954-19 - Standard Guide for Training for Intermediate Rope Rescuer Endorsement
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2019
• Refers: ASTM F1773-09(2015) - Standard Terminology Relating to Climbing, Mountaineering, Search and Rescue Equipment and Practices
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2015
• Refers: ASTM F3222-16 - Standard Terminology Relating to F32 Land Search and Rescue Standards and Guides
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2016
• Referred By: ASTM F2751-16 - Standard Guide for Training of a Land Search and Rescue Team Member
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2019
• Referred By: ASTM F3193-16 - Standard Guide for Training of a Land Search and Rescue Team Leader
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2019
• Referred By: ASTM F1993-16(2022) - Standard Classification System of Human Land Search and Rescue Resources
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2019

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: F2955 − 19
Standard Guide for
1
Training for Advanced Rope Rescuer Endorsement
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2955; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope a high angle lowering or raising operation, and directing a rope
rescueteamintherescueofasubjectsuspendedinahighangle
1.1 This guide, in conjunction with, and as an add-on to,
environment.
Guides F2751, F2752, and F2954 (or equivalent for other
environments), defines the basic training required for a person 1.4 An advanced rope rescuer may be part of a rope rescue
who participates in rope rescue at the highest level of respon- team as defined in Classification F1993.
sibility and complexity, as part of a larger rescue duty. 1.4.1 Further training may be required before an advanced
1.1.1 Specifically, this guide defines the knowledge, skills, rope rescuer may actually participate on a particular kind of
and abilities required for a person to support or direct a rope rope rescue team, depending on the regulations or policies of
rescue team in advanced rope rescue functions including the authority having jurisdiction.
pre-planning and size-up of rope rescue operations, designing
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
and directing the construction of rope systems for moving a
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
victim in low and high angle environments, directing the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
construction and operation of highline and related rope
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
systems, and performing advanced rope rigging functions, in
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
conjunction with other rescue duties.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
1.1.2 This guide establishes the minimum training standard
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
for an advanced rope rescue endorsed person in regard to
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
general, field, and rope rescue-specific knowledge and skills.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
1.2 An advanced rope rescuer performs rope rescues in all
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
terrain and is capable of directing basic and intermediate rope
rescuers.
1.2.1 Anadvancedroperescuerendorsementappliesonlyto 2. Referenced Documents
rescues on the surface of the land; additional endorsements are 3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
required to perform this level of rope rescue in other environ-
F1633 Guide for Techniques in Land Search (Withdrawn
ments. This guide alone does not define the minimum training 4
2017)
requirements for performing or assisting with rescues in
F1768 GuideforUsingWhistleSignalsDuringRopeRescue
partially or fully collapsed structures, in or on water, in
Operations
confined spaces, or underground (such as in caves, mines, and
F1773 Terminology Relating to Climbing, Mountaineering,
tunnels).
Search and Rescue Equipment and Practices
1.2.2 Thisguidealonedoesnotdefinetheminimumtraining
F1993 Classification System of Human Land Search and
2
requirements for climbing Class 5 or higher rock and/or ice to
Rescue Resources
perform a rescue.
F2047 Practice for Workers’ Compensation Coverage of
1.3 Anadvancedroperescuerisrequiredtohaveknowledge Emergency Services Volunteers
F2209 Guide for Training of Land Search Team Member
and skill sets pertaining to the advanced roped evacuation
components of rescue. These include, but are not limited to, F2751 Guide for Training of a Land Search and Rescue
Team Member
advanced knots and rigging, functioning as a litter attendant in
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F32 on Search and
3
Rescue and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F32.03 on Personnel, For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Training and Education. contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Current edition approved April 1, 2019. Published June 2019. Originally Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
approved in 2012. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as F2955–12. DOI: the ASTM website.
4
10.1520/F2955-19. The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
2
Classification per Yose
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: F2955 − 12 F2955 − 19
Standard Guide for
Training for Level III Rope Rescue (R3) Advanced Rope
1
Rescuer Endorsement
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2955; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This guide is intended to be used guide, in conjunction with, and as an add-on to, Guides F2751, F2752, and F2954 (or
equivalent for other environments), to address the specific knowledge and skills defines the basic training required for a
rescuerperson who participates in rope rescue at a higherthe highest level of responsibility and complexity.complexity, as part of
a larger rescue duty.
1.1.1 Specifically, this guide is intended to define the training that would prepare an endorsed Level III Rope Rescuer (LRT-R3)
or equivalent defines the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for a person to support or direct a rope rescue team in advanced
rope rescue functions,functions including pre-planning and size-up of rope rescue operations, designing and directing the
construction of rope systems for moving a victim in low and high angle environments, directing the construction and operation
of highline and related rope systems, and performing advanced rope rigging functions, in conjunction with other rescue duties.
1.1.2 This guide establishes the minimum training standard for an endorsed LRT-R3 Rescuer as related advanced rope rescue
endorsed person in regard to general, field, and rope rescue-specific knowledge and skills.
1.2 An endorsed LRT-R3 Rescueradvanced rope rescuer performs rope rescues in low and high angle all terrain and is capable
of directing LRT-R1 and LRT-R2 Rescuers.basic and intermediate rope rescuers.
1.2.1 An advanced rope rescuer endorsement applies only to rescues on the surface of the land; additional endorsements are
required to perform this level of rope rescue in other environments. This guide alone does not providedefine the minimum training
requirements for performing or assisting inwith rescues that occur in partially or fully collapsed structures, in or on water, in
confined spaces, or underground (such as in caves, mines, and tunnels).
2
1.2.2 This guide alone does not providedefine the minimum training requirements for climbing Class 5 or higher rock and/or
ice to perform a rescue.
1.3 An endorsed LRT-R3 Rescueradvanced rope rescuer is required to have knowledge and skill sets pertaining to technically
advanced subject evacuation. These includethe advanced roped evacuation components of rescue. These include, but are not
limited to, advanced knots and rigging, functioning as a litter tenderattendant in a high angle lowering or raising operation, and
directing a rope rescue team in the rescue of a subject suspended in a high angle environment.
1.4 Type III teams, as defined in ClassificationAn advanced rope rescuer may be part F1993, which may utilize personnel
trained to this guideof a rope rescue team as defined in Classification F1993are Kind A (wilderness), Kind B (urban), and Kind
C (mountainous).
1.4.1 Further training may be required before an endorsed LRT-R3 Rescuer canadvanced rope rescuer may actually participate
on a particular kind of rope rescue team, depending on the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) regulations or policies.regulations
or policies of the authority having jurisdiction.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F32 on Search and Rescue and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F32.03 on Personnel, Training and
Education.
Current edition approved June 1, 2012April 1, 2019. Published August 2012June 2019. Originally approved in 2012. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as F2955–12.
...