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1.1 This guide, in conjunction with, and as an add-on to, Guides F2751 and F2752 (or equivalents for other environments) defines the training required for a person who participates in rope rescue operations at an intermediate level of responsibility and complexity as part of larger rescue duty.

1.2 An Intermediate 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 rescuing in partially or fully collapsed structures, in or on water, in confined spaces, or underground (such as in caves, mines, and tunnels).

1.3 An Intermediate Rope Rescuer is required to have knowledge and skill sets pertaining to the intermediate roped evacuation and carryout component of rescue. These include but are not limited to patient packaging, construction of an anchor system, construction of simple, compound, and complex rope mechanical advantage systems, and construction and use of lowering (fixed-brake) rope systems.

1.4 An Intermediate Rope Rescuer may be a member of a Rope Rescue Team or Rope Rescue Task Force or Group, as defined in Guide F1993.

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, health, and environmental 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.

4.1 This guide establishes a minimum standard for training intermediate level rope rescuers as it relates to their general, field, and rope rescue specific knowledge and skills. A person trained to this guide is an Intermediate Rope Rescuer.

4.2 Intermediate Rope Rescue endorsement is not an indication that a person possesses adequate field skills or knowledge to make mission-critical decisions. Under qualified supervision an Intermediate Rope Rescuer is qualified to work in an area with high fall exposure and/or falling hazard potential, including high angle terrain.

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 Intermediate Rope Rescuer or by an AHJ. It may, however, be used in the development of, or as part of, a complete training document or program.

4.4 Though this guide establishes only minimum standards, it does not imply that an Intermediate Rope Rescuer is a “trainee,” “probationary,” or other similar term member of an organization.

4.5 Because technical rope rescue is inherently dangerous, and rope rescuers are frequently required to perform rigorous activities in adverse conditions, regional and national safety standards shall be included in agency and organization policies and procedures. Personnel endorsed as Intermediate Rope Rescuers shall complete all activities based on an analysis of risk versus benefit, and shall follow all applicable national, federal, state, provincial, and local safety standards.

4.6 This guide can be used to evaluate a document to determine if its content includes the topics necessary for training an Intermediate Rope Rescuer. Likewise, this guide can be used to evaluate an existing training program to see if it meets the requirements of this guide.

4.7 The knowledge and skill defined in the following sections are not presented in any particular order and do not represent a training sequence.

4.8 Except where a physical skill needs to be shown, it is up to the AHJ to determine the best way to evaluate a person’s knowledge. This may be by written exam, oral exam, demonstration, or by some combination of the three.