Working at Heights Health and Safety Issues

Every year in the air travel and transportation industries, Human and Safety
Executive (HSE) receives complaints of workers who have been injured after falling
from height. Insufficient facilities or lack of training for working at a height may have
significant consequences for employees and employers. Maintenance of aircraft can
require large manufacturing or small maintenance in between flights. It is critical in any
event that organizational managers or engineers confirms that their maintenance teams
are adequately prepared for the tasks to be performed, including work at heights. A
significant number of the more serious incidents happens during turnaround of the
aircraft, due to time constraints where additional activity is required. Other events of
major injuries occur while performing aircraft maintenance tasks in higher areas; while
getting in or out of the aircraft and lastly can be during tasks to support appliances such
as belt loaders, high loader catering, etc. (Pierobon, 2020).

A recent accident that took place in SIA Engineering on 22 nd December when a

63-year-old Singaporean man fell while working at heights and died (Yufeng, 2020).
One employee of Inflite Engineering Services and an agency worker had their bones
broken when doing operation tests on the tail of the aircraft while working on a movable
platform. Due to this incident the corporation was charged 160,000 pounds
(US$200,080) and ordered to pay the sum of 5,492.90 pounds (Smith, 2017). If the
aviation history is checked a lot of incidents and few accidents can be found related to
working at heights. Between 2012 and 2017, there was an average of 40 serious
accidents annually due to falls in height, which consists 28% of serious injuries
(McOnie, 2018). For several years now, operating efficiently at heights has been at the
forefront of the problems that authorities and inspectors are looking at in terms of
protection at the workplace. Recognizing that even comparatively minor falls can lead to
devastating accidents, loss of productivity, and higher penalties. Businesses are more
likely than ever to pursue alternatives to fall safety to keep employees safe (McOnie,
2018). Someone fells on an icy pavement should check if there is a risk of injury even at
zero height. When employees get higher off the ground, the energy involved in dropping
rises, as does the risk for a serious injury. Therefore, serious precautions need to be
implemented and maintained. Assessing any elevated jobs, the necessary height for fall
safety must be considered, but in work conditions above or well below that height,
several options for safer work can be found. With toolboxes, appliances or other
hazards close where a worker can fall from a short distance, there is an increased risk
of injury even in a short period of time (Lawrence, 2015). Mconie further says that the
threats and dangers inherent with aircraft maintenance work are slightly related to
construction tasks, but the aircraft shape and the complicated maintenance tasks
engaged by the maintenance personnel to prevent airframe damage which becomes
more hazardous to their safety. Working at heights is a major factor in aviation industry
and must be given much importance. Once the risk is identified and understood, an
organized safety method can be used.

Most often tasks are done just because it has to be done. If some time is spent to
think of performing the task in a way that does not include being in height can be
effective (Lawrence, 2015). According to KLM UK Engineering Module 9A (2016, pp.
33) people who have acrophobia should not be assigned to tasks such as crown
inspection (top of fuselage or on top of wing engine). They will be uncomfortable during
the task and will be concerned about the height, and holding on to the access
equipment than about the job in hand. The first step that needs to be taken as
prevention is to minimize complacency and maintain a maximized safety. General
safety instructions mentioned by the Aviation Hunt are, to minimize fall distance by
having access to the right type of equipment; use of appropriate PPE; not overloading
oneself; selection of correct gear; providing suitable edge protection and keeping shut of
any aircraft fuselage openings; proper training and monitoring of the personnel;
maintain good housekeeping. According to Lawrence, remote systems have come up
with several methods for maintenance personnel to do tasks remotely. Recently, small
remote-controlled drones with cameras were used so that staffs can perform visual
inspection tasks from ground where it is hard to see. Complying objectives only aim to
see whether fall protection is needed for a particular task, while a safety-based strategy
seeks to see if this can be achieved in a better manner that might be both safer, easier
and quicker. If work is to be performed with a worker at height, the next easy option is to
have a protected work environment with a defined buffer between the worker and any
possible danger. It may be a fixed or mobile work platform with guardrails to keep the
worker from unintentionally slipping off the work platform. Use of a secure work platform
with safety barriers provides the worker with the simplest way to work when in height,
essentially simulating on-the-ground conditions. Many cases, though, use a mobile
platform, but then need a worker to lean out or crawl up the rails to enter the work place.

If work is not feasible in an environment where a flat, stable platform is not

available, the next step is to attempt to create a system to bring the worker to the area
simultaneously preventing them from dropping by adding an active restraining system.
Custom access ladders or even other horizontal lifeline structures can be set up so that
staff who use them can enter their work area but cannot collapse (Team, 2021). The
use of lifeline kits can be helpful for addressing particular problems. However, same
solution may not fit to different problems (Lawrence, 2015). A restraint lifeline can fit well
on the wings of a large aircraft, where workers cannot fall, but on a smaller aircraft, the
same device and lanyard will cause the person to fall. As we switch from a barrier to a
restraint system, the worker has a stronger obligation to ensure that proper PPE is worn
and that the system is actively protected. The machine must be developed in such a
manner that, when operating, the range of motion does not cause the worker to be in a
position where a fall is likely. In situations where workers have to be at a height and
require space to travel about and have the opportunity to fall, a fall arrest method is
used. Fall arrest systems are much more complicated than the worker's free-fall
distance, clearance, electricity, and more. These systems need the most feedback from
end users, as they must not only be correctly built, tested and maintained, but eventual
rescue is a necessary prerequisite for the use of a fall arrest system. Where a worker
can fall, there should be a way to get them to the ground safely (Pierobon, 2020).

Quite often the job of 'working at heights' at the workplaces is a very challenging,
time consuming operation, and it is tempting to simplify it with a single line in the sand.
This may lead to conditions where, in efforts to reach a false enforcement target, staff
can still not have the right equipment to work or work in a hazardous environment. It is
true that a safety-based strategy is more time-consuming, requiring the assessment of
each mission, but has the more enviable goal of ensuring that work is completed safely.
 Research Questionnaire

1. Do you think working at heights is dangerous for aircraft maintenance

personnel?
a. Yes
b. No
c. Sometimes

2. Have you or anyone you know ever experienced any health issues while
working at heights?
a. Yes
b. No
c. If Yes, please mention: ___________________

3. Which of these tasks related to working at heights you think is more prone to
accidents or incidents?
a. Lubrication of slats and flaps
b. Replenishing hydraulic oil
c. Radom servicing
d. APU oil filter replacement
e. Other: _________________

4. How likely it is for a maintenance personnel with adequate training are prone
to make errors while working at heights?
a. Very High
b. High
c. Medium
d. Less Likely
e. Never
5. Which of the following working platforms do you find the safest and easily
accessible while working at heights? (Mark more than one if required)
a. Scissor Lift
b. Safety steps
c. Cranes
d. Aircraft Docks
e. Other(s): __________________

6. What do you do when you don’t have a preferable working platform while
performing tasks at heights?
a. Use alternate platform which is less safe
b. Wait until obtaining the appropriate platform
c. Other: _________________

7. How frequent your organization arranges or provides training for performing

tasks at heights?
a. Once a month
b. Once a year
c. Every 6 months
d. Only once is enough

8. “Maintenance Personnel having acrophobia should not perform tasks related

to heights”.
a. Agree
b. Disagree
c. Have to perform with adequate training and support
9. How often are work platforms, which are used for tasks at heights, must be
serviced and maintained?
a. Weekly
b. Monthly
c. Yearly
d. Based on usage

10. Should environmental factors, such as flat surface or weather conditions are
some of the major criteria that needs to be taken in consideration while
working at heights?
a. Yes
b. No
c. Unsure
 Working on Heights: Procedure to Follow

Yes
Carry out task:
Suffering
Working at Heights Inform your
No Acrophobia? Supervisor

Proceed for the

task

Proceed with the

task taking all
safety measures
Are there any other means of
doing the task, e.g., any remote No
access, so that you can avoid
working in heights?
Use appropriate PPE and
Yes select the correct gear

Then perform the task using the

Not
remote access equipment with
Ensure that the working suitable?
adequate training and avoid
platform has suitable
working at heights
edge protection

Yes
Are there any openings on the
Close it
aircraft fuselage? E.g., doors.

No

Proceed with the

task
Not well
Maintenance personnel trained?
has to be well trained
The access equipment with the equipment
has to be stable

Keep the place clean

Monitor the personnel performing
after performing the
the task so that one can rush to
task and maintain a
help in case of emergency
safe working place
To conclude, it is better to stop operating at heights if it is not necessary. When job
entails operating at heights, first determine if falls and injuries are preventable. If this is
the case, adequate facilities such as Mobile Raised Work Platforms, scaffolds, ladders,
PPE should be used and monitored at all times. The equipments has to be checked and
maintained schedually to prevent break down during task and causing accidents or
incidents. Personnel maintaining and using the equipments has to be well trained in
their area because without adequate knowledge or training, the possibilities of accidents
or incidents happening to personnel as well as aircrafts are much higher.
 References

Yufeng, K., 2020. Man dies weeks after falling while doing maintenance work on
aircraft. [online] Available at: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/man-dies-weeks-
after-falling-while-doing-maintenance-work-on-aircraft [Accessed 25 February 2021].

Pierobon, M., 2020. Safety during aircraft maintenance - Aviation Business News.
[online] Available at: https://www.aviationbusinessnews.com/mro/safety-aircraft-
maintenance [Accessed 25 February 2021].

2016. KLM UK Engineering Module 9A. 1st ed. p.33.

McOnie, S., 2018. Steady On: Working at Height. [online] Available at:
https://www.aviationpros.com/gse/article/12429095/steady-on-working-at-height
[Accessed 26 February 2021].

Lawrence, B., 2015. Compliance vs. Safety: How to Work (Safely) at Heights. [online]
Available at: https://www.aviationpros.com/tools-equipment/shop-equipment/man-lifts-
platforms-work-stands/article/12114899/compliance-vs-safety-how-to-work-safely-at-
heights [Accessed 26 February 2021].

Smith, S., 2017. Engineering Company Fined After Falls From Elevated Platforms Injure
Two Workers. [online] Available at:
https://www.ehstoday.com/safety/article/21917954/engineering-company-fined-after-
falls-from-elevated-platforms-injure-two-workers [Accessed 27 February 2021].

Team, A., 2021. Working at heights | Preventing falls from heights - AviationHunt.
[online] Available at: https://www.aviationhunt.com/working-at-heights/#:~:text=Select
%20the%20correct%20gear%20when,access%20equipment%20used%20is%20stable.
[Accessed 27 February 2021].