Why SpanSet Developed the Gotcha Kit: A Lesson in Height Safety.
Understanding the Real Risk After a Fall
Harnesses and lanyards have become a standard part of height safety across industries. These essential tools prevent workers from hitting the ground in the event of a fall—but what happens after a fall is arrested?
This is where a lesser-known danger emerges: suspension trauma.
If a worker becomes suspended in a harness following a fall, time is critical. While the fall may have been stopped, the clock is ticking. Being suspended in an upright position for even a short period can cause serious health risks, including:
- Fainting or loss of consciousness
- Restricted blood flow
- Breathing difficulties
- Additional injuries from hitting structures during the fall
Even if the suspended worker is just metres away, they are out of reach, and first aid cannot begin until they are recovered. In many cases, injury has already occurred—and the longer they remain suspended, the greater the risk.
The Rescue Challenge
For workers in remote or elevated areas—such as towers, masts, scaffolding, or large structures—rescue becomes even more complicated. Waiting for emergency services isn’t always a viable solution. Response times may be slow, access might be limited, and depending on location or structure, emergency teams may not be equipped for the type of rescue needed.
This is why relying solely on external help isn’t considered best practice.
A proper rescue plan must be:
- Safe for both the rescuer and the casualty
- Efficient, to minimise suspension time
- Simple and effective, so trained personnel can act quickly
It became clear that many worksites lacked a practical, on-hand solution that empowered their teams to act immediately and safely.
The Solution: A Pre-Assembled Rescue Kit
Recognising this critical need, SpanSet developed a dedicated solution: the Gotcha Kit.
The Gotcha Kit was designed specifically for situations where a worker is suspended and needs urgent recovery. It allows trained personnel to perform a rescue quickly and safely—without requiring them to descend to the casualty.
Key principles behind the design of the Gotcha Kit:
Speed: Pre-assembled and ready to deploy
Simplicity: Easy to use with basic training
Safety: Keeps both rescuer and casualty secure throughout the process
Adaptability: Suitable for a variety of structures and height scenarios
GOTCHA is a tool built for real people in real workplaces—not theoretical solutions that only work in training rooms.
Why It Matters
Time is everything in a rescue situation. The faster a suspended worker can be recovered, the sooner first aid can begin—and the greater the chance of a positive outcome.
At SpanSet, we believe that protecting workers doesn’t stop at fall prevention—it extends to what happens next. The Gotcha Kit was developed out of a commitment to complete height safety: fall arrest and effective recovery.
Because when a fall happens, one thing is certain: you need a plan, and you need the right tools to act fast.
Gotcha: Because when it comes to safety, we’ve got your back.
Looking for Rescue Training
with the Gotcha Kit ?
SpanSet Australia is a registered RTO. We offer PUASAR002 Participate in a rescue operation course using the Gotcha kit in the practical exercise part of this course.
Rescue Scenarios where a Gotcha Kit is Essential
THE SCENARIO
A worker, climbing a tower has fallen and is suspended. The worker cannot safely climb down without help.
They need assistance from a co-worker or rescue person who is an experienced rigger to navigate a potentially complex descent to safety.
THE SOLUTION
The Gotcha Shark is the ideal solution for this scenario. This kit is ideal for experienced Tower/Mast Climbers and Riggers. In this scenario a second climber can assist the
THE SCENARIO
A worker on a highrise construction project has fallen while erecting scaffolding and they are suspended from their fall arrest equipment. They are out of reach of rescuers and are unconcious. The worker needs first aid urgently.
THE SOLUTION
The Gotcha2 is the ideal rescue solution for this scenario. It allows for rescues of up to 50 metres. It is intuitive for co-workers to operate. It can lift or lower a casualty using a pulley system.
THE SCENARIO
A rigger has fallen while working on a crane. There is limited access. The injured worker will need to be lowered to the ground level before First Aid can attend to the person.
THE SOLUTION
The Gotcha CRD can perform a rescue up to 200 metres from the ground.The automatic descender is suitable for direct lowerin with minimal user input. The winch system enables lifting for a short distance. It has a no-cut operation for extra safety.
