NAME: ISHMAEL BERTOL DATE: MARCH 15, 2021

YEAR LEVEL: BSENSE PROF1/2nd AY 2020-2021 PROFESSOR: Engr. JON-JON ESCALO

Page | 1 SUBJECT: EnSE204 Occupational Health and Safety

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 SAFETY MANAGEMENT

PLAN FOR EQUIPMENT

USED IN WORKING OF

HEIGHTS
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 Abstract

The study aimed to show an occupational safety management plan for equipment used in
working at heights to give guidance and to mandatory compliance for a safe work environment
when working at heights, depicts how the accidents occurred and provides valuable learning
points on how they may have been prevented and consequently reduce the percentage of accident
at heights.
The study was divided into several sections, (i) Identifying specific hazard type, (ii) Specific
causes and contributing factors and (iii) Types of Retention and Methodology. A quantitative and
qualitative analyzes was carried out, and developed a safety management plan for equipment
used in working at heights. The results concluded that neither one sample was in accordance with
all the considered items, and just only proof that any activity involving working at heights have
risks of accident especially at construction sites which consider to be as high-risk workplaces,
which more often than not have a higher incidence of workplace fatalities.
Lastly, in this study several example and data has been gathered to show how tragic accidents
occurred, so that we may glean important, lifesaving lessons from the experiences. In learning
from past mistakes, must prevent these mishaps from happening again and address this
perception and change the reality. While construction workers strive to complete a building or
facility, it is important that they do not risk life and limb. It is crucial that these workers go home
safely after work each day.

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Table of Contents

Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 6
Methodology ............................................................................................................................. 7
Analysis ................................................................................................................................. 7-9
Findings ............................................................................................................................... 9-16
Recommendation .............................................................................................................. 17-19
Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 20
References ............................................................................................................................... 21

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Introduction

Any project that requires working at heights has hazards. A thorough assessment and analysis of
risks must be completed, and include equipment and falling objects that may strike workers.

Many of the activities carried out in construction site could lead to a fall from height and falling
objects can lead to injuries and fatalities. There are two types of incidents related to falling
objects: direct impact and deflection. Direct impact incidents occur when a falling object strikes
a worker. The object and distance traveled during the fall determine the level of risk and
potential outcome of the event. In such an incident, a fatality is likely to occur. A deflection
incident occurs when a falling object impacts, deflects or bounces, and then strikes a worker. The
most common injuries from falling objects are fractures, bruises, cuts, and sprains.

Another issue and major contributors to workplace deaths in industry is falls from working at
heights, and it consider as a major concern and focus point for Construction Safety to reverse
this trend.

Contributing factors to fall from height accidents include: lack of instruction, training, and
supervision. An example of this being, a trainee‟s first day on the job, instructed to go at the top
of structure without fall protection equipment.

Control measures to prevent materials and persons working at heights from falling, must be
provided and maintained as part of a Safety Management Plan. The plan and system of work and
control measures selected, are usually determined by individual site-specific job factors
discussed in consultation with employees and identified thru case study or further assessment
prior to start the activity.

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Methodology:
Working at heights comes with its considerable risks where a fall from height is very possible.
Industries such as construction, mining, oil and gas and manufacturing all have the need for
workers to conduct work at height. Many tasks at height are unavoidable and workplace design is
paramount to providing a safe work environment. Relying on fall protection should be the last
line in preventing a fall from height. The methodology of this study is for us to understand and
see at fall from height from a risk management perspective: hazards, control measures and
residual risk. The content of this study is the research made from previous cases and statistics
from other countries to help understand the risks and provide strategies to mitigate or reduce the
risk of a fall from height.

ANALYSIS
Recently, 2019 and 2020, 111 workers died as a result of injuries sustained from an accident in
the workplace. Of the 111 fatalities, 29 were killed as a result of a fall from height, that‟s just
over 2 per month, the biggest cause of workplace deaths. (Source from latest HSE statistic, in
UK).

Other countries such as Singapore, Work at Height is a key area of concern for workplace safety
as falls from height has been the top contributor to workplace deaths over the years.

In the last decade, fall from height accounted for about one-third of all fatalities.

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 50 60.0

40

40.0
30

20
20.0

10

0 0.0
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Total Fatalities 99 72 79 55 65 56 67 71 62 63 67
Fall from Height Fatalities 44 38 32 18 25 19 20 17 24 23 19
% of Fall from Height Fatalities 44.4 52.8 40.5 32.7 38.5 33.9 29.9 23.9 38.7 36.5 28.4

Classification of Falls

The Figure below for the breakdown of the type of falls amongst the 126 investigated cases in
Singapore for the year 2006-2008.

30
26
25
22 22

20 19
18

15

10 9
8

5
2

Classification by Industry

Others
Construction
Ship building
and Ship repair Manufacturing

Ship building and Ship

repair
Others
Manufacturing
Construction

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Another contributor factor to workplace accident -Fatal and non-fatal, while working at height is
a falling object. Annual statistics by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reports the total
number of fatal and non-fatal injuries suffered by workers in a year. The general trend over the
past few years show that the one of the top causes of fatal injuries is due to falls from a height.

Provisional statistics for 2016-2017 released by the HSE reports that 137 workers suffered a fatal
injury whilst working and out of those around 20 of them died due to being struck by a
flying/falling object. This has already risen 33.3% when compared to the finalized results from
2015-2016 and it‟s also currently sitting as the 3rd highest cause of fatality at a workplace this
year.

The non-fatal injury statistics from 2015/16 also shows us that there were over 7000 incidents of
workers suffering from a non-fatal injury from falling objects, of which around 5,682 employees
were off work for over 7 days. Falling objects doesn‟t just affect workers, the general public for
instance can also be seriously harmed or suffer a fatal injury.

FINDINGS
IDENTIFYING THE HAZARD

1-Hazards Associated with Dropped or Falling Objects.

A falling object is any object that falls from its previous static position. This includes all items,
materials, equipment or objects of any size, mass, or density. People can also be falling objects.
Each person who could fall more than 1.8 m (6 ft) shall be protected from falling by a fall
protection system. And equipment and materials should be treating the same as this may also fall
or may contribute to potential hazard associated to safe working environment.
All facility specific hazards related to fall from height or may contribute risk while working at
height must be identified thru the Risk Assessment process.

NATURE OF DROPPED OR FALLING OBJECTS

This includes:

 Hazards and potential injuries

 Dropped object injuries
 Impact forces of dropped objects
 Deflection of falling objects
 The drop zone cone
 The dropped objects prevention scheme
 Statistics

Hazards and Potential Injuries

Fall hazards are present at almost every workplace. Any walking/working surface can present a
slip, trip and/or fall hazard. Slips, trips and falls (on the same level) are the second leading cause

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of workplace injury in the US. Falling from one level to another can often present the highest
risk of life-changing injury, depending on the fall distance between levels. When you fall from
height, you become the dropped object!

Some widely held misconceptions regarding dropped object prevention schemes are:

 They make work more difficult

 They slow down work activity
 They are difficult to implement
 They are not required
 They are too expensive
 “I know what I‟m doing!”

Dropped Object Injuries

The nature and severity of dropped object injuries depend upon the:
distance the object falls

 weight of the object

 shape of the object
 material the object is made from

Work at height is the biggest single cause of fatal and serious injury in the construction industry,
particularly on smaller projects.
Impact Forces of Dropped Objects

The greater the distance an object falls, the more time it has to accelerate toward its terminal
velocity. The DROPS calculator, as shown in figure below is used to classify the potential
consequences of a dropped object.

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The calculator provides a common benchmark in the classification of the potential consequences
of a dropped object. The calculator is endorsed by the DROPS Workgroup and recognized by
HSE organizations.

 The wearing of standard PPE (hard hat, safety boots and eye protection) is assumed.
 With light objects (less than 3.5 ounces, or 100 grams), a key influencing factor is the
effect of an object impacting the skin and damaging tissue/organic functions.
 The calculator assumes a blunt object, so is not compatible with broken glass, metal
shards etc.

Deflection of Falling Objects

Gravity causes falling objects to fall vertically. Unfortunately, in the real world, other objects or
structures may lie in the path of the falling object and deflect it from its vertical trajectory. The
falling object then becomes a fast-moving projectile. Consider the example shown in the next
figure. An object that has fallen just 100ft (31m), hitting an obstruction at 20ft (6m), will be
deflected over 216ft (66m) away, at speeds up to 60mph (96kph).

Deflection of Falling Objects

The Drop Zone Cone

The drop zone (when working at height) is described by a cone, as shown in figure 6. The radius
of the cone (b), extends outwards as the height (a) increases.

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The Statistics

Dropped Object Prevention Scheme (DROPS):

“Dropped objects are among the top 10 causes of fatality and serious injury in the Construction
Industry.”

US Bureau of Labor Statistics:

“There are more than 50,000 "struck by falling object" every year in the United States; that's one
injury caused by a dropped object every 10 minutes.”

US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA):

“Dropped objects are among the most common causes of serious work-related injuries/deaths
and account for more than 20% of the total cost of occupational injuries.”

Every year, 5% of fatal occupational injuries in the US caused by dropped objects.

TYPES AND CAUSES OF DROPPED OBJECTS

There are two types of dropped objects:

 Static
 Dynamic

Static Dropped Objects

These are objects at rest, that fall from their previous static position under their own weight. For
example, a loose nut falling from the derrick, as shown in figure 10, or a tool falling from a
worker‟s hand.

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Dynamic Dropped Objects

These are objects that fall from their previous position due to applied force from equipment,
machinery, moving objects or wind etc. For example, a stand of drill pipe falling across the
derrick, striking and breaking a light, resulting in the light falling to the rig floor.

Both types of falling object are responsible for injuries and fatalities in the construction
industries.

To help prevent dynamic dropped objects, a risk assessment must be carried out to assess the job
environment and identify possible dynamic falling objects. These assessments can only be
carried out by a certified risk assessor.

Most Common Static and Dynamic Dropped Objects

These could be:

 Hand tools
 Machine parts

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  Components of existing structures
 Temporary equipment
 Materials dropped during hoisting operations
 People

Common Causes of Static and Dynamic Dropped Objects

The following are common causes of dropped objects:

 Inadequately stored or secured tools and equipment

 Inadequate risk assessment
 Human factors
 Inadequate procedures
 Failed fixtures and fittings
 Collisions/snagging and unexpected movement
 Inadequate inspection, repair and/or maintenance
 Environmental factors

2- Hazards Associated with Falling from height

As previously discussed, working at heights is one of the most common industry hazards.
Serious fall-related injuries, and even deaths, continue to take place throughout the construction
and or maintenance work. To minimize exposure to falls from heights where possible, ensure
that work is performed on the ground.

Common Contributing factors of Fall from Height

 Lack of Safe Work Procedures

 Lack of or improper use of individual fall arrest systems
 Poor Working Environment
 Inadequate Fall Prevention/Protection System
 Violation of Rules/Improper Working Behaviour
 Lack of supervision
 Lack of training/ knowledge for task

The table below shows the main contributing factors for Fall from Height incidents and the
respective areas of concern to be addressed based on 126 cases of Ministry of Manpower
investigation reports from Singapore on fatal or serious fall from heights cases from 2003 to
2007 to understand better the contributing factor (s) of these cases.

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 Frequency of
Occurrence
Contributing Factors Proposed action to address concerns
(with respect to
cases studied)
Lack of safe work 43 % To proactively plan, communicate and
procedures implement safe work procedures for
work carried out at height or where
workers may fall into depth

Lack of or improper use of 39% • To provide effective education to

fall arrest systems workers on the importance and proper
use of Individual Fall Arrest Systems
(IFAS)
• To issue IFAS and provide suitable
anchor points to workers
• To ensure more vigilant supervision of
workers working at height

Poor working environment 32% • To conduct proper site assessment prior

to commencement of work
• To ensure proper housekeeping

Inadequate fall 26% • To conduct proper risk assessment to

prevention/protection identify areas where fall prevention/
systems protection systems are needed
• To implement and enforce the use of
proper fall prevention/ protection
system, including IFAS

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Violation of rules /
improper working behavior
20% • To actively engage and educate workers
to ensure that they understand and
adhere to safety rules/regulations
• To ensure sufficient supervision to deter
“risk-taking” behaviour among workers

Lack of supervision 20% To provide adequate supervision to

ensure worker use IFAS properly and
not violate safety rules and regulations

Lack of training/ 14% To provide adequate training for

knowledge for task workers involved in working at height
assigned

Lack of Lack of or Poor Inadequate Violation Lack Lack of

safe work improper working fall of rules/ of training/
procedures use of environment prevention improper super- knowledge
individual or working vision for task
fall arrest protection behavior assigned
systems systems

Number 54 49 40 33 25 25 18
of cases
% of 43% 39% 32% 26% 20% 20% 14%
cases

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RECOMMENDATION
Countries such as Singapore, UK and US have seen a recent spate of fall from height injuries. In
Singapore, for example, fall from height injuries made up 20% of workplace injuries in the past
five years. In the US, 42% of deaths between 1982 and 2015 in construction involved falls; 54%
of workers killed had no access to a personal fall arrest system, and 20% of fatalities occurred in
the victims‟ first two months on the job. The explanation for this increase is often 12-count rule:

1- Inadequately Stored or Secured Tools and Equipment

Hand tools, power tools, mobile phones, even Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) are all
examples of possible dropped objects.

Tools should be securely tethered (tied) with tool lanyards to prevent them from becoming
dropped objects. Wrist mounted lanyards are being replaced with lanyards attached to tool bags.

2- Inadequate Risk Assessment

Identifying potential hazards can dramatically reduce the risk of dropped objects when
appropriate measures are taken.

3- Human Factors

Inadequate training or awareness of hazards, operator error, complacency, neglect and poor
reporting can result in safety being compromised. Training can provide an understanding of
dropped object hazards and help create a more competent, safety-conscious workforce.

4- Inadequate Procedures

As with risk assessments, if a „management of change‟ process isn‟t in place to identify and
control developing risks from changes occurring in the workplace, unidentified and new risks
may develop into accidents.

5- Failed Fixtures and Fittings

Vibration, corrosion, poor design, selection or improper installation of fixtures and fittings can
lead to failure. Failed fixtures and fittings can and often will dislodge and fall. Regular
inspection helps monitor any deterioration so that appropriate measures can be taken.

6- Collisions/Snagging and Unexpected Movement

Moving equipment, lifting and tag lines can all cause snagging or collision. Impact from
collisions can cause breakage and/or create dynamic falling objects and hazardous debris.

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Unexpected movements, particularly when using hand and power tools can lead to dropped tools
or fittings.

7- Inadequate Inspection, Repair and/or Maintenance

Home-made tools, improvised tool tethers, equipment that is uncertified, or even damaged tools
that have been subjected to a previous fall can fail or break unexpectedly. Tools, equipment and
tethering gear should always be inspected before use.

8- Environmental Factors

Wind, rain, snow, sea motion, mud, heat and sand can all change work conditions. The effects of
these elements are more pronounced in exposed areas (like working at height on high rise
buildings or towers) and can compromise the stability of equipment, tools and structural features.

9- Use and selection of the right equipment

When selecting equipment for work at height, must:

 provide the most suitable equipment appropriate for the work
 take account of factors such as:
 the working conditions (e.g. weather);
 the nature, frequency and duration of the work;
 the risks to the safety of everyone where the work equipment will be used. If you are still
unsure which type of equipment to use, once you have considered the risks, the Work at
height Access equipment Information Toolkit (or WAIT) is a free online resource that
offers possible solutions. It provides details of common types of equipment used for work
at height. HSE has also produced a guide on the safe use of ladders and stepladders (see
„Further reading‟).
10- Condition of the Equipment use for working at height

Work equipment, for example scaffolding, needs to be assembled or installed according to the
manufacturer‟s instructions and in keeping with industry guidelines.
Where the safety of the work equipment depends on how it has been installed or assembled, an
employer should ensure it is not used until it has been inspected in that position by a competent
person.
A competent person is someone who has the necessary skills, experience and knowledge to
manage health and safety.
Any equipment exposed to conditions that may cause it to deteriorate, and result in a dangerous
situation, should be inspected at suitable intervals appropriate to the environment and use. Do an
inspection every time something happens that may affect the safety or stability of the equipment,
e.g. adverse weather, accidental damage.

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You are required to keep a record of any inspection for types of work equipment including:
guard rails, toe-boards, barriers or similar collective means of protection; working platforms (any
platform used as a place of work or as a means of getting to and from work, e.g. a gangway) that
are fixed (e.g. a scaffold around a building) or mobile (e.g. a mobile elevated working platform
(MEWP) or scaffold tower); or a ladder.
Any working platform used for construction work and from which a person could fall more than
2 meters must be inspected:
 after assembly in any position;
 after any event liable to have affected its stability;
 at intervals not exceeding seven days. Where it is a mobile platform, a new inspection
and report is not required every time it is moved to a new location on the same site.
You must also ensure that before you use any equipment, such as a MEWP, which has come
from another business or rental company, it is accompanied by an indication (clear to everyone
involved) when the last thorough examination has been carried out.
11- Training

Safety training should be a top priority for any company, regardless of the size or the industry.
Safety training will educate staff on how to use tools, how to spot a potential hazard, and how to
maintain a health and safety culture in the workplace that will spark awareness and interest in
safety procedures among workers. Follow training up with effective supervision and you have a
recipe that will help to address fall from height risks.
12- Fall prevention safe practices

Those exposed to fall hazards and their supervisors must follow these safety practices to prevent
fall incidents:

• Be aware of area-specific fall hazards.

• Be properly trained and demonstrate competency in the nature of fall hazards in your
work area; and the use, inspection and maintenance of fall protection equipment.
• Make sure that fall-protection equipment is available and in good condition.
• Personnel exposed to a fall hazard of more than 1.8 m (6 ft) (e.g., unprotected elevated
areas, yellow-tagged scaffolds and aerial lifts) must continuously wear a full-body
harness with shock-absorbing lanyard or self-retracting lifeline.
• Monitor work activities to ensure that personnel are properly using fall protection
equipment and to ensure that a fall is immediately identified and responded to properly.
• Store fall protection equipment in a clean, dry environment away from direct sunlight.
• Ensure that fall protection equipment is inspected prior to each use and at least monthly
by a competent person. It should also be properly cleaned and maintained.
• Never use safety belts (i.e., body belts) as part of a personal fall arrest system. Safety
belts should only be used when climbing poles or tree trunks.
• Ensure that rescue capabilities are immediately available for personnel involved in a fall.

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CONCLUSION
There are many risks and safety concerns associated with working at heights. On a worksite,
falling objects can cause minor and major injuries, fatalities, and financial loss, but with effective
safety awareness, training, and use of safe practices, these incidents can be prevented.
Consideration must also be given to the safety of people who work or pass beneath the work at
height activity. In particular, measures should be in place to protect them from falling objects.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is required in areas where work is being performed
overhead. Workers and supervisors must ensure that all materials are secured to prevent sliding,
falling, or collapsing, and all scaffolding must have protective screens between the toe board and
guardrails, when there is a risk of being struck by falling objects. Use guardrails on scaffolds to
prevent objects from falling, and never stand or walk under moving loads or exceed the lifting
capacity of cranes and hoists. Maintain effective housekeeping on site to eliminate or control
risks from falling objects

And to protect workers who must work at heights, organizations and contractor companies
operating must develop a fall protection plan for the specific work. This plan must identify the
task; the hazards; the methods of access to the elevated area; the fall protection systems to be
used; the appropriate fall protection equipment, anchor points, and methods of securing lanyards
and lifelines; the methods of protection from falling objects; the storage, inspection and
maintenance of fall protection equipment; and the high elevation rescue procedures.
 take account of weather conditions that could compromise worker safety;
 check that the place (e.g. a roof) where work at height is to be undertaken is safe. Each
place where people will work at height needs to be checked every time, before use;
 stop materials or objects from falling or, if it is not reasonably practicable to prevent
objects falling, take suitable and sufficient measures to make sure no one can be injured,
e.g. use exclusion zones to keep people away or mesh on scaffold to stop materials such
as bricks falling off
 store materials and objects safely so they won‟t cause injury if they are disturbed or
collapse;
 plan for emergencies and rescue, e.g. agree a set procedure for evacuation. Think about
foreseeable situations and make sure employees know the emergency procedures. Don‟t
just rely entirely on the emergency services for rescue in your plan.
 And lastly, always follow fall prevention safety practices at workplace.

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REFERENCE
-HSE Statistic, published date 3rd July 2019. (www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/index)
-US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
-US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019
-HSI MAGAZINE, release date October 5, 2017
-Ministry of Manpower, the Workplace Safety and Health Council, press-releases- 2009

-Workplace Safety and Health Council, a national strategy for workplace safety and health in
Singapore 2018

-ILO Construction OS&H Manual

-DROPS Digest E-Newsletter, Issue 01 Dated March 2017

-DROPS Digest E-Newsletter, Issue 02 Dated December 2018

-BS 8484:2016, Provision of lone worker services. Code of Practice

-American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE):

 ANSI/ASSE A10.11, Safety Requirements for Safety Nets
 ANSI/ASSE A10.32, Fall Protection Systems for Construction and Demolitions
 ANSI/ASSE Z359, Fall Protection Code (Version 2 or later)

-U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR):

 29 CFR 1910.66, Powered Platforms for Building Maintenance
 29 CFR 1926.502, Fall Protection Systems Criteria and Practices

-Saudi Aramco Participant- Dropped object prevention booklet, issued date March 2017

-3M United States, Falling Objects: Protecting Your Workplace from Falling Tools,
https://workersafety.3m.com/falling-objects-protect-workplace-from-falling-tools/ July 2017.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my Professor Engr. Jon-Jon Escalo, as well as the
school Dean, Dr. Marifel Grace Capili-Kummer who gave me the great opportunity to do this wonderful
CASE STUDY on the topic Safety Management Plan for Equipment use in Working at Heights, which also
helped me in doing a lot of research and i came to know about so many new things I am really thankful to
them.

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