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

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

THE PAST

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 metalreinforced 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 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

Before Use:

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

FALL SPEED Vs REACTION TIME

In 1 second your body will fall 10m

Good body reaction time = 0.2 seconds Travel distance in 0.2 seconds = 2m
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 personal fall arrest equipment must be: of

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