Issue 40, 04 November 2022

Life saving rule 2:

Produced by Generation OHS

 Fall Protection Plan
Working at height is a significant
part of work in Eskom and is
regarded as a high-risk activity. As a
result, all precautions must be
taken to prevent incidents while
working at height. One of the
precautions to be taken is to
develop a fall protection plan.
What is Fall Protection Plan?
Fall protection plan is a specific with regard to fall risks
documented plan, which includes
and provides for-
(a) all risks relating to working
from a fall risk position, considering
the nature of work undertaken;
(b) the procedures and methods
to be applied in order to eliminate
the risk of falling; and
(c) a rescue plan and procedures
Details of Fall Protection Plan:
• A task-/job-specific fall
protection plan shall be
developed and approved by a
competent person for any
activity where there is a risk of a
fall.
• A competent fall protection plan
developer must be appointed.
The fall protection plan shall
include a task-/job-specific risk
assessment and requirements
relating to the following:
The training programme for
employees working from a fall risk
position;
• Appointments and
authorisations;
• The procedure addressing the
inspection, testing and
maintenance of all fall protection
equipment;
• A risk assessment that is site
for work to be performed;
• The processes for the evaluation
of the employees’ medical fitness
necessary to work in a fall risk
position and the records of this
(medical surveillance
programme);
• Equipment use and specification;
• Fall prevention, fall arrest and
fall rescue
• Method statements or safe work
procedures/task analysis/work
instructions.
The fall protection plan must be
suitably amended in accordance
with the risk assessment,
equipment technology, standards
and legislations
The fall protection plan must be
monitored and reviewed as
required by the work performed
and changes in hazards.
The fall protection plan must
include the rescue plan.
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Rescue Plan is a strategy or
procedure, planned in advance, to
retrieve safely a person who has
fallen from an elevated work
surface.
The following are some of the
findings or notices from
Sustainability Inspectorate that the
business can learn from:
• Contractors Fall Protection
Plans did not meet the
requirements as stipulated in the
Construction regulations
10(2)(e) and the Work at Height
Standard 32-418
• Employees not trained on FAS
Rescue training with Unit
Standard 229995 as a
requirement to the Work at
Height Standard 32-418.
• Fall Protection Plan presented
was generic it did not reflect the
method for working height and
how a rescue will be performed
as a requirement of the Work at
Height Standard read together
with CR10(2)(e)
Conclusion
Fall protection plan is covered in
the Eskom Work at Height
Standard (32-418) and the
Construction regulations 10. All
Eskom employees and contractors
working at height must comply with
the standard requirements.
For more insight on this topic
contact Mikateko Chauke OGE
OHS.
 Get ‘Up Close’ with the Matla OHS Manager Tlhoko Mokoena
Tlhoko Mokoena- Matla OHS Manager
Who is Tlhoko Mokoena?
Tlhoko Mokoena is a seasoned OHS
Professional dedicated to health and
safety of all persons in and outside
work environment. I was born and
raised at Petrus Steyn, Free State
where I received my primary
education. After completion of my
tertiary education, I worked for three
different organisations before joining
Eskom at Matla Power Station in 2012.
My work experience is in the field of
safety, health, environment and quality.
What are your hobbies?
I spent most of my time connecting
with nature as I enjoy hiking, camping
and fishing.
What are your views on Safety
within Eskom in the past and
present?
Safety within Eskom is evolving daily
as most of the leaders in Eskom are
committed to improving
the working environment and
conditions of employees, partners and
other interested parties.
I have heard it being said that “Safety
regulations are written in blood” I
think this means that every safety
procedure and policy in the book
exists because someone died and
there was a lesson learned. There are
various challenges concerning safety
within Eskom that requires leaders
and OHS professionals to work
together and bring about appropriate
solutions in the interest of health and
safety of employees and partners.
These challenges and improvement
plans are the driving force in evolving
Safety within Eskom. Currently there
are various initiatives that the
organization is executing in the
interest of health and safety of
employees and partners, these
initiatives include the GEMBA Walk,
Boots on the ground, Safety day and
Housekeeping challenge.
What are the current
challenges that safety
professionals are faced with
daily?
The main challenge of a safety
professional is not just to avoid
incidents, fines, and hazards. The main
challenge is to make the work
environment a place where people
want to work, safe and free from
dangers. There’s no greater
achievement for a safety professional
than helping people care as much
about their safety and for the safety of
others.
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The second main challenge is to
ensure worker participation on safety
issues. Workers need to take
ownership of their safety, influence
safety procedures, rules and policies.
Maintaining a safety culture where
employees and partners report near
miss incidents, follow safe work
procedures even when there is no one
watching over them and hold each
other accountable to perform work
safely. To achieve this a solid safety
culture should be maintained and that
culture serves as the driving force
behind every employee who
prioritizes safe practices. By getting
people to think of safety as something
they want and not just something, they
need.
What do you like about your
role and what are your future
plans in this role?
Safety is fundamental to modern
business and play a key part in
preventing workplace injuries, ill health
and fatalities by managing the day-to-
day risks that workers face. Safety
professionals ensure that the
organization achieve its goals while it is
legally compliant and drive business
processes and culture to create a
sustainable, healthy and productive
workforce.
My future plans in this roles include
enhancing the safety culture within the
organization, develop and mentor new
safety professionals and ensure that
Zero Harm is achieved during our
generation.
Hearing loss is preventable
Arnot Safety day celebrations

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Hearing loss is preventable
Grootvlei Safety day celebrations

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Hearing loss is preventable
Lethabo Safety day celebrations

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