Objects Falling from Height – Awareness & Prevention CHSG | September 19 th 2012 Tony Horsfall,...
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Transcript of Objects Falling from Height – Awareness & Prevention CHSG | September 19 th 2012 Tony Horsfall,...
Objects Falling from Height – Awareness & Prevention
CHSG | September 19th 2012
Tony Horsfall, CHSG Director/Trustee
HI-DROPSHarsco Infrastructure - Dropped Object Prevention Scheme
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Understanding Dropped Objects
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Understanding Dropped Objects
What is a Dropped Object? Any item / object that falls from its previous position Has a capability for harm and damage derived from its kinetic energy Any item / object that falls from its previous static position under its
own weight – gravity Any item / object that falls from its previous static position due to
applied force from manual handling, equipment/machinery, vibration, high wind, additional weight or the force of a moving object – like a collision during lifting – now considered a dynamic dropped object
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The Law says …
The Work at Height Regulations 2005: Regulations 10 & 11, state
Every employer shall take suitable and sufficient steps to prevent, as far as reasonably practicable, the fall of materials or objects
Where the above cannot be achieved, steps must be taken to ensure that persons cannot be struck by falling objects and materials
Areas presenting danger of fall or being struck by objects must be clearly marked with entry prevented
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Objectives
Understanding Dropped Objects What is it and how bad is the problem? What are the consequences?
How to identify and assess potential Dropped Objects
Hazard observation, pre-start Task Risk Assessment, supervisor inspections
How to prevent Dropped Objects Education, awareness and communication Task pre-planning The tools and systems we can employ The improvements we can make
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How bad is the problem in UK industry?
HSE Statistics – UK Industry Fatalities 2001 – 2009HSE Statistics – UK Industry Serious Injuries 2001 – 2009
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Communication - HI SHEQ Portal
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Incident Reporting
www.emex.com - Incident Management System
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HI-DROPS Reporting
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Average Height (m) & Weight (kg) of Dropped Objects
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
one 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11+0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
one 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11+
Average Weight (kg) Average Height (m)
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Has anything changed?
Globally in 2011, Harsco Infrastructure reported 33 near misses and 39 minor injuries as a result of objects falling from height
Vehicles, windows, equipment have been damaged and potentially our reputation
If the circumstances were slightly different, if we hadn’t planned No Go zones, along with a modicum of luck, we could have experienced a number of serious injury incidents
We need to put a stop to this, now. The solution, we could say, “is in our hands’’
But is anything different than before? No. It is because we are focused on improved reporting since 2010 that this concern, which all the industry knows about, jumps out of the page at us
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Dropped Object Prevention Scheme
www.dropsonline.org
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What are we doing about it?
HI-DROPS is a company-wide initiative focused on preventing objects falling from height
Scope applies to all personnel at all worksites and facilities and is to apply to our customers, contractors and outside agencies
HI-DROPS reflects industry standards and best practice
The HI-DROPS Steering Committee and Working Groups are developing improved methods of handling material at height, implementing training and awareness campaigns and continually monitoring performance
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Dropped Objects
Objects that could and do fall from height at a worksite Scaffolding components, boards, clamps, ties (loose, stacked, stored,
handled, unsecured) Ladders, gates, lifting equipment, baskets Hand tools (spanners, hammers, spirit levels, measuring tapes, tool belts) Items from host structure (nuts, bolts, bricks, lights, aerials, slates, rivets,
rubble, windows, brackets) Scaffold structure (design, footings, ties, overload, wind, vibration etc) PPE (hard hat, safety glasses, fall arrest equipment) Debris on the scaffold (loose items, litter, rubble) Bottles, cans, phones, radios, personal items Customer / contractor materials, tools and equipment
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Contributory Factors
Incorrect fittings Poor inspection, repair and maintenance Poor housekeeping, no control of items aloft Environmental conditions (wind, rain, snow and ice) Lack of experience, hazards not identified.
Unnecessary distractions whilst undertaking task Not following the plan or procedure Failure to recognize and manage change Lack of experience or knowledge.
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Dropped Object incidents
Have you witnessed a dropped object incident?
What happened? Did anyone get hurt? What damage occurred? Why did it happen? Could it have been prevented? Has anything changed as a result?
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When PPE Becomes Essential
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PPE Saves a Life
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Rogues Gallery
TRANSOM (3kg)
BATTEN (6kg)
BOARD (11kg)
WHEEL (7.5kg) COUPLER (1.4kg)
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Consequences
FAT =
LTI =
RWC =
FAC / MTC =
IF THE SWIVEL COUPLER FALLS 5 LIFTS AND STRIKES A PERSON ON THE GROUND
WEIGHT: 1.4kg (approx 3lb)
FALLING FROM: 10.7m (35ft)
What is the Potential Consequence?
1.4kg
10.7m
FATALITY
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Prevention - Procedural Controls
Company Policy
Industry Standards
Equipment Maintenance and Certification
Site Inspections
Safe Working Practices
Permits
Toolbox Talks
Customer Programmes
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Preventive and Mitigating Controls
Preventive Controls
• Effective Planning
• Risk Assessment
• Primary Fixings / Secondary Retention
• Site Inspections, Maintenance
• Tools and Equipment Aloft Registers and Log Books
• Management of Distractions
• Observation (STOP), Individual Awareness and Vigilance
• HI-DROP Training
Mitigating Controls
• Safety Securing Systems
• Effective Use of Barriers
• Restricted Access Areas (Red Zones / No Go Zones)
• Tools at Height Kits
• PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
• Communications, Standby Persons and PA Warnings
PREVENTING AN INCIDENT BY REDUCING THE LIKELIHOOD THAT AN
INCIDENT WILL OCCUR
REDUCING THE CONSEQUENCES OF AN INCIDENT IF PREVENTIVE CONTROLS
FAIL OR ARE NOT EFFECTIVE
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Prevention - Incident Reporting/Learnings
UNSAFE ACT OR CONDITION
DROPPED OBJECT
INCIDENT
INJURY OR DAMAGE?
YESREPORT AND SUBSEQUENT
INVESTIGATION
BENEFITS OF REPORTING
=
Recommendations and Corrective Actions identified and implemented
Opportunities for Learning
Greater Awareness of Hazards
Improved Tools and Equipment
Improved Procedures and Working Practices
Shared Best Practice
Industry Safety Alerts
DANGEROUS OCCURENCE?
YES
NO
REPORT AND SUBSEQUENT
INVESTIGATION=
OBSERVATION & SUBSEQUENT
ACTIONS=
Quality of reporting is critical in understanding dropped object incidents so we can focus on elimination and prevention strategies
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Prevention - Training in the Basic Rules
Set up an exclusion zone wherever possible
Tether tools when working at height
Wear the correct gloves to provide improved grip of the materials being handled at height (ATG – Maxitherm)
Be cautious and exercise proper technique when handling heavy materials and awkward to carry objects, especially when working at height
Strap hard hat on properly, do up the chin strap and ensure all PPE being used fits securely
Keep the working area tidy to prevent any debris falling or being kicked from the scaffold/platform
Use hands free lifting methods to take objects to height eg hoists
Use same methods to bring objects down to ground - NEVER ‘bomb’ objects
Cost of Accidents: In the Real World
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Prevention - Site Inspections
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Prevention - Securing Methods
Nets
Lanyards
Securing Wires
IS THE METHOD SUITABLE?
ARE NEW RISKS INTRODUCED?
DOES IT CONFORM TO BEST PRACTICE?
IS IT CERTIFIED / RATED?
IS IT CORRECTLY INSTALLED?
HOW IS IT TESTED AND MAINTAINED?
HAS IT BEEN RECORDED IN THE EQUIPMENT ALOFT REGISTERS?
IF IT IS REMOVED, IS IT REINSTATED CORRECTLY?
MITIGATING CONTROLS
HI-DROPS safe handling of tools at height Best Practice in development
www.stopdroptooling.com
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Prevention - Planning for safe material storage
At the design stage (before work commences), it is imperative to plan for the safe storage of material during scaffold erection, methods of stopping objects falling and creating an exclusion zone during scaffold erection (and when other services are using the scaffold platform)
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Safe Zone Design for materials on a work platform
Strengthened platforms to be included in the scaffold design and scaffold plan
The strengthened platforms to be highlighted on the design drawing
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Storage of materials in fixed pallets
Material Storage Zone on Working Platform
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Caution: during dismantling, the risk of overloading the work platform increases if dismantling speed exceeds transport speed ie removing the material from the work platform and site
Material safe zones on a work platform
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Go Home Safe, Tools at Height
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5u6a_DY9J8w
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Summary
What are you going to do about preventing Dropped Objects in your workplace
Communicate, raise awareness, intervene where appropriate Reliable Securing – recognise its role List inherent hazards so others may learn Plan for the prevention of dropped objects
Dropped Objects occur everywhere, be vigilant
Thank you for your time and interest - Any Questions?
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All rights, including copyright and trademarks, are expressly reserved and no part of these materials may be reproduced or distributed outside of the customer's organization in any form without our (Harsco Infrastructure Services Limited) prior written consent.
0844 335 8860harsco-i.co.uk