Safety Moment
Working at Heights
Common hazards associated with working at heights include falls from ladders, scaffolds, platforms,
as well as falling objects and unstable work surfaces. It is, therefore, important to take all necessary
precautions when working at heights, to avoid accidents.
The Life Saving Rule for working at
heights
● Obtain an authorization before working at heights
or overwater/overside.
● Inspect your fall protection equipment, work
platforms, scaffolds, ladders, and tie-off points
before use.
● Secure all tools and work materials to prevent
dropped objects.
● When required, tie off to approved anchor points
while outside a protected area.
Do's and Don'ts when working at heights
Do's
● Ensure workers are trained and certified.
● Ensure workers can safely access and exit the
work area at height.
● Make sure that the equipment used is suitable,
stable and strong enough for the job, and is
regularly maintained and checked.
● Use lanyards and tethering systems to secure
tools. Ensure materials are properly stacked and
secured.
● Provide protection against drops.
● Review the tag on the scaffold for information.
Green = safe for use, Red = unsafe for use.
● Consider emergency evacuation and rescue
procedures.
● Whenever possible, work off scaffolding rather
than ladders.
Don'ts
● Overload scaffolding.
● Overreach on ladders or stepladders.
● Rest a ladder against weak upper surfaces, e.g.,
glazing, or plastic gutters.
● Allow anyone without the skills, knowledge, or
experience to do the job to work at height..
C O R P O R AT E H S E Q
General rules
● Follow the "three points of contact" rule when
using ladders, to help prevent slips and falls.
● Wear proper footwear with good grip to reduce
the risk of slipping or tripping.
● Inspect the equipment to make sure handrails,
kick plates and other parts are not damaged or
wet.
● Check for any other potential slip hazards that
may exist.
Important
● If you, or a colleague, have a fear of heights or
have not been trained or are not comfortable
undertaking the task, then inform your supervisor
and do not perform any activity at height.
● If you are in doubt, take a pause and feel free to
stop and ask for assistance.
Reflective questions
● How can workers ensure the stability
of a platform when working at heights?
Workers should inspect the platform before use to
ensure that it is stable and not damaged, and use
the platform only for its intended purpose.
● How can workers ensure the safety of ladders
and scaffolds when working at heights?
Ladders and scaffolds must have a green tag and
be inspected before each use to ensure that they
are in good condition and properly secured.
● What is the role of communication
in working safely at heights?
Workers should communicate with each other
to ensure that they are aware of each other's
movements and actions. They should also
communicate with supervisors and safety
personnel to report hazards and unsafe conditions.
Safety Moment
● What is the importance of training when Learning from past incidents
working at heights? ----------------- Many lessons learned are available at https://
Workers should be trained on the proper toolbox.energyinst.org/, https://www.imca-int.com/
use of PPE, safe work practices, and the safety-events/ and https://www.iadc.org/health-
hazards associated with working at heights. safety-environment/safety-toolbox/#safety-alerts.
Additionally, they should receive regular Apply them when preparing Permits to Work,
refresher training to ensure that they are up Toolbox Talks, trainings etc. to prevent incidents.
to date with the latest safety best practices.
HLP provides a comprehensive range of
related HSE online courses within the Learning
Management System (LMS).

C O R P O R AT E H S E Q