#035/2024 – Learning from Incidents

LSR Violation – Working at HeightHSSE Information

Detail Photos
What happened An Unsafe Act took place at approximately 0823 hours at a project site undergoing
the PKDR / Majestic program.

Meinhardt HSSE Officer was on his routine site audits. Upon his entry into this
particular site, he had noticed a worker (equipped with safety harness) walking on
top of steel structure members without being tied-off to any anchor points / fall
protection system. The worker was observed to be standing on steel members
located 4.2 meters above the ground level. The HSSE Officer quickly intervened
and instructed the worker to immediately descent to the ground safely.

A brief standdown session was conducted at site with the presence of the Permit
Holder and all other workers.

Further investigation revealed that the anchors and lifeline were yet to be installed
at the time of the incident. The incident also happened prior to any work A worker spotted walking on steel
commencing for the day where the Permit Holder had yet to arrive at the project members without 100% tie-off to
site and WCF documentation had yet to be filled / issued. The worker was also any fall protection system.
identified to be part of the subcontractor’s crew (L4).

Why it happened • Lack of no-entry barriers and Working at Height (WAH) awareness.
o While works on the steel members requiring WAH had yet to start, there was a modular scaffold access
which was already erected and accessible at site. The worker (having worn his harness) went up the scaffold
to access the top of the steel members. Upon identifying the absence of a fall protection system (eg: lifeline,
anchor points), the worker was still determined to access the top of the steel members even without 100%
tie-off. He had displayed the lack in appreciating the risks of falling from heights.

• Procedures not followed.

o The Method of Statement (MOS) dictates that the fall protection system is to be installed upon completion
of the steel member works. However, this was not executed accordingly at site.
o The worker did not adhere to the WCF procedures where no works shall commence without the presence
of the Permit Holder and without having conducted a Toolbox Talk session where the work activity for the
day are to be briefed with the corresponding JHAs to all workers.

• Poor Subcontractor Management (L4)

o The Principal Contractor (PCC) did not manage the subcontractor in adhering to the required procedures
and the WAH requirements for the program.
o The late arrival of the Permit Holder at site gave the opportunity to the subcontractors and frontline workers
to access the work area and to commence work without complying with the required control measures.

Key Lessons Below are the key learnings and improvement measures:
Learned
• PCC end-to-end management on subcontractors to ensure compliance to HSSE requirements:
o PCC to periodically conduct trainings and awareness to not only their own workers but extended towards
all subcontractors alike. All subcontractors are to undergo proper induction and high-risk training by the
PCC prior to being engaged on site. This is to ensure that all workers understood the HSSE requirements,
importance of pre-start checks and the criticality of the 9 LSRs.
o Ensuring daily actions before start works by implementing and execute PTW, WCF, Toolbox and Blue Board
gamification.

• Importance of following Method of Statement (MOS) / Sequence of works:

o For any MOS or work sequences that require amendment / changes, it is crucial to address this through a
documented Management of Change where the risks that posed from the change are reviewed with the
corresponding approvals obtained.

Further info Muganthan Raj, Project Manager - muganthan.raj@meinhardtgroup.com

Kunaselan K., HSEQ Deputy Manager - kunaselan.krishnan@meinhardtgroup.com

Disclaimer
The contents of this document is made available for information purposes only and on the condition that: (i) it may not be relied upon by anyone; and (ii) neither Meinhardt or its clients or contractors can be held liable for
its accuracy or completeness, or for any recommendations given within, or any omission from, this document; and (iii) nothing in this document constitutes advice and in no way does it relieve any contractor from their
responsibility for carrying out their work in a safe and professional manner. Readers should obtain their own professional advice in regard to the subject matter.

© Meinhardt 2016. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior written permission of Meinhardt.

Author: PM HSSEQ Team Page 1 of 1 Issue Date: 09/01/2024

LSR Violation – Working at Height