WORKING at HEIGHTS

If only I was

wearing a

safety

harness !!

Working at Heights Presentation Contents

Introduction

Ladder Safety

Safe Roofwork

Scaffolding

Mobile Scaffolds

Mobile Elevated Working Platforms

Fall Speed vs Reaction Time

Fall Protection

THE PAST

Falls are the number one cause of fatalities in the construction industry accounting for approximately 56% of

all fatalities

All employees shall be protected from falls of 2m or more by the use of an approved fall protection system

Railings are required at permanent elevated locations greater than or equal to 1.3m

Lethal Ladders: Make sure the ladder is:-

Right for the job. Would scaffolding or a cherry picker be

better?

In good shape.

Secured near the top.

On a firm base and footing: 4 up 1 out

Rising at least 1 meter beyond the landing place OR that there is

a proper hand hold.

Always have a firm grip on the ladder and keep a good balance.

Keep you hands free and tools in a shoulder bag or belt attachment

Lethal Ladders: Use of Ladders:-

Work should only be carried out from a ladder when the job is of

short duration and can be carried

out safely.

For added safety the base of the ladder should be staked or buried

to prevent slipping.

Ensure your footware is free from excessive mud or grease

before you climb up the ladder.

ALWAYS Face the ladder.

Lethal Ladders: Hazards of Ladders:-

Dont stand ladder on drum, box or other unstable base

Never attempt to repair broken ladders

Never carry loads up ladders hoist it up

Ladder rungs must not be used as improvised ramps

When using metel or metal-reinforced ladders, make sure

there are no electrical hazards in

the near vicinity

Ladder Safety No matter how quickly a job can be

done, there is always time to fall

Unsafe Safe

The Roof: A Risky Place To Be

Before Working on Roofs:-

Fragile materials should be identified and precautions decided

Roof edge barriers (or scaffolds) must be erected tp prevent people

and materials falling

Access ladders must be a safe distance above the stepping-off point

and must be secured

Where access ladders rise above 9meters a safe intermediate platform

must be provided

The Roof: A Risky Place To Be

Hazards of Working on Roofs:-

If you can fall more than 2 meters, guardrails and toe boards must be erected

Hazards resulting from adverse weather conditions must be anticipated, and suitable precautions taken

Wet windy or Icy weather can seriously

affect safety

Scaffolding Using ladders or scaffolding without proper fixing is

crazy

Putting up scaffolding, removing ties and taking it down again is a job for trained and experienced scaffolders.

Leave it to them

Never use incomplete scaffolding

always inspect before use

Make sure there is safe access, hand rails and toe boards at all

edges

Things fall on sites, wear your helmet

Mobile Scaffold Towers Before Erection: Check all components are in good condition Check wheels for effective rotation Check brakes and locking devices work

correctly

Prior to erecting towers on suspended floors, ensure bearing capacity of floor is sufficient

for the planned load

Before Use: Ensure the tower is vertical and square Towers must not be used unless the wheels are

locked

Check that outriggers are set correctly and secured

Ensure the platform is fully boarded out and guardrails and toe boards are fitted if working

platform is over 2 meters

Mobile Elevated Work Platforms Do not operate without pre-use inspection and unless you are

trained

Check condition of tyres, toe boards and guardrails, look for leaking hydraulic fluids

Look out for overhead obstructions such as power cables, unstable ground, other equipment or personnel near-by

Only use on firm level ground, make sure outriggers are properly extended and chocked before raising the platform

Always wear a safety harness secured to the platform by lanyard. Safety means staying in the basket and not climbing on the guardrails

Place barricades and warning signs around the planned working radius

Traveling with a boom, is always in the direction of travel and at creep speed and only if equipment is designed to allow this

Know what to do if machine fails with platform in raised position

Good body reaction time = 0.2 seconds

Travel distance in 0.2 seconds = 2m

In 1 second your body

will fall 10m

FALL SPEED Vs REACTION TIME

By the time you react your body will be

2m below where you were standing

Fall Protection

Fall arrest:

Limits free fall to within 2 vertical metres of the initiation point which reduces force by decreasing fall distance

Consists of a(n)

Lanyard Anchorage Point Full Body Harness Attachment Strap

Fall Protection Lanyard

A device made of rope, wire or nylon strap used to connect the individual to an anchorage point and stop the

individual in the event of a fall

Lanyards should:

Be inspected prior to use

Be protected against being cut or abraded

Have a minimum breaking strength of 2270kg

Be the appropriate length

Be attached to an anchorage not to itself

Safety Equipment for Fall-Arrest

Shock Absorbing Lanyards:

Material in the pack tears

absorbing shock and reducing

risk of injury.

Available with web or rope

lanyards.

Expandable Lanyard:

Especially useful for

scaffolds, steel erectors

and construction

workers where tripping

might be a risk.

Twin Tailed Lanyard:

The expandable twin

tailed lanyard is an

ideal choice for

situations where

100% tie-off is

required.

Fall Protection Anchorage Point

A secure point of attachment for

lifelines, lanyards or deceleration devices

Anchorage points used for attachment of

personal fall arrest equipment must be:

Located at or above the employees waist

Capable of supporting more than 2270kg per employee

Designed and built to hold the maximum force of the fall arrest

Fall Protection

Full body harness: The attachment point of a body harness is

located in the center of the wearers back near shoulder level

Body belts are not allowed on sites

Snaphooks shall be a double locking-type

WHAT YOU NEED?

Full body harness complete with rear dorsal ring (EN 361)

1.75m fixed length lanyard (EN 362)

Shock absorbing device (EN 355)

55mm opening scaffold hook for one handed operation (EN

362)

Fall Protection Care for fall arrest systems:

After a fall arrest, the equipment will no longer be used (equipment will be disposed of or destroyed)

Clean equipment after use Air dry equipment, do not hang in

direct sunlight Store equipment in a cool, dark, dry

well ventilated place

Working at Heights

No job is so important that it cannot be done safely

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES ARE PERSONS WORKING ON THIS SITE TO

PUT THEMSELVES IN DANGER

BEST - BE Safe Today