PTP Highlight: Roco Rescue

Roco Rescue, based in Louisiana and inducted as a PTP in 2020, covers every aspect of rescue, including training, standby rescue services, and equipment. From confined space to trench rescue, Roco can provide private training for industrial safety, municipal, and military teams worldwide.

As part of a new 2023 series highlighting the Petzl Technical Partner Program, we will feature a different Partner each month. The PTP Program aims to develop a diverse network of training company partners and recognized leaders that can help Petzl promote our products and solutions to a wide variety of industries and end-users. Our PTPs are recognized experts, companies, or individuals in vertical environments that demonstrate a thorough understanding of their respective industry, contribute to the development of best practices, and meaningfully integrate Petzl into their systems and curriculum. 

Roco Rescue, based in Louisiana and inducted as a PTP in 2020, covers every aspect of rescue, including training, standby rescue services, and equipment. From confined space to trench rescue, Roco can provide private training for industrial safety, municipal, and military teams worldwide.

Petzl recently spoke with Chris Carlsen, Director of Training and Heather Cavalier, Marketing Manager for Roco, about their company and operations. To contact Roco about their services email info@rocorescue.com. 

What is Roco Rescue’s mission statement?
Mission: To provide the highest quality rescue training, equipment and services, while treating our customers with courtesy, honesty and respect.
Mantra: Mission driven; safety focused.
Purpose: Save lives and serve emergency responders. 

Briefly describe Roco Rescue’s history. 
Roco is a pioneer in the rescue world – particularly in the field of industrial and confined space rescue. For more than 40 years, Roco has thrived by serving emergency responders and providing safe, effective rescue in high angle and industrial environments. In 2007, we opened the Roco Training Center, which provides realistic confined space rescue training for rescuers from around the world. Our company shares an unwavering commitment to safety while supporting first responders in providing elite caliber rescue and tactical training, equipment sales, standby services, and safety services. Roco has supported many disaster operations including the 9/11 World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks as well as the Hurricane Katrina efforts in Louisiana. Roco is a certified woman-owned business by the WBENC, an OSHA VPP Star worksite and an ISO-9001 Organization. 



How is Roco Rescue a leader for those you serve?
Roco Rescue has taught rope rescue for more than four decades – long before confined space rescue was considered a rescue discipline. Our focus has been on educating emergency responders in safe, effective rescue techniques and equipment. We are proud to have taught more than 70,000+ students over the years. In the early-1990’s, we were honored to participate in the efforts to create OSHA’s 1910.146 Confined Space Regulation with on-the-ground rescue experience in the industrial environment. Since then, we have remained a subject matter expert in the field of urban and industrial rescue. Our tactical expertise has allowed us to develop programs, techniques and equipment for the most elite military teams in the world.

What does success look like to Roco Rescue? 
For Roco Rescue, success looks like a student who has grown confident in their rescue skills over the course of a Roco training program or an industrial worker or military service member who goes home safely to their family at the end of a shift. Safety is critical to the foundation and the overall success of Roco – it truly is our #1 priority. We are proud to have been named an OSHA VPP Star Worksite since 2013 in recognition of our commitment to a safe and healthy workplace.

What is your favorite part of being a Petzl Technical Partner?
Our favorite part of being a Petzl Technical Partner is the opportunity to partner with a dynamic and innovative world leader in rescue equipment. Roco personnel are always looking for a new and better, safer way – and Petzl routinely provides the answers! It also means aligning with another industry leader in the rescue field to continually raise the bar in providing safe and effective rescue techniques and products while also enjoying the ability to network with other like-minded organizations at PTP-sponsored events. 

What is your favorite Petzl product? Why?
We can’t possibly choose just one! The I’D changed the market back in 2000 and has been a standard of ours ever since. The MAESTRO has quickly become an integral part of our training and stand-by services for its intuitive operation and efficiency. The ASAP LOCK is great for our small teams and is such an extremely versatile, light, simple, and cost-effective piece of equipment. For the tactical teams we serve, the MICRO TRAXION’s high efficiency and compact size make it a must-have for nearly any rope task we encounter. Finally, let’s face it, who doesn’t love the ROLLCLIP!  This simple piece of equipment has found a home on almost every harness we see.