Work at Height Safety procedures provide guidelines on measures to be taken to prevent persons from falling from height.
The Work at Height procedure applies to all personnel employed in projects and other facilities, and should be applied where work is being undertaken at heights where a person can fall in excess of two meters
Responsibilities:
- HSE In Charge will be responsible for the following.
- Ensuring that the supervision with this procedure.
- Supervision of works carried out by Supervisor
Procedure:
The primary means of achieving safe working conditions when working at heights is to provide adequate and sufficient access and egress arrangements and suitable working platforms at the place of work.
A Tool Box Talk is given to each person carrying out work at height. Following an assessment of the risks, supervisors instruct personnel on the procedures and precautions to be followed when working at height.
Full body safety harnesses are used as a last resort where conditions make it impracticable to provide a safe working platform.
Fall Protection Equipment:
All personnel working above ground level are provided with and use appropriate fall protection equipment and PPE. Appropriate regulatory standards are observed when using fall arresters equipment.
• Fall protection equipment are regularly inspected by a competent person, at least every six months. It is also maintained so that it remains satisfactory for use during the construction period. Effective actions are taken to rectify any defects observed as a result of these inspections.
• Fall protection equipment, which has been deployed in a fall are examined by a competent person and repaired or destroyed, as necessary.
• Fall protection devices and systems are not used for any other purpose than those for which they are designed.
Safety Harness/Lanyard Systems:
Fall protection in the form of safety harnesses and lanyards are used in situations where it is impracticable to provide primary systems.
• Whenever full body safety harnesses are used they are secured to a secure anchorage point, running line or arrester device.
• Full safety harnesses with thigh and shoulder straps are worn. The lanyard and anchorage point should limit the maximum drop to 2 meters.
• Shock absorbers are provided with the harness system in order to reduce the shock loading in the event of a fall.
Other Arrester Devices:
• There are other arrester devices which are not self reeling available for use where anchorage points are limited. Such systems may allow free vertical movement as well as movement around corners and past obstacles without the need to unhook safety harnesses.
Safety Nets:
In certain circumstances the use of safety nets may be an effective alternative to the use of safety harnesses.
• The erection of safety nets are carefully planned and supervised and only undertaken by properly trained operatives.
• Nets are fitted as close to the working surface as possible, but in any case should not be lower than 6 meters below the work.
• The initial sag of the net should be between 1/4 to 1/5 of the total span of the net and as the net will be displaced vertically in the event of a fall, there must be a further clearance of 2 meters from the lowest point of the net.
• Nets must be inspected after any fall and at regular intervals.
Note: Whenever possible steel erection of structures shall include the provision of permanent staircases
Ladders:
Ladders are used primarily as a means of access, NOT as a working platform.
• If work is required to be carried out from ladders, personnel shall use and wear approved safety harnesses as a means of fall protection.
• Ladders are suited for the purpose for which it is to be used and free from defects.
• Ladders are set on a firm level base. Makeshift props are not used to gain extra height or to level up stiles.
• Ladders should not cause a hazard by placing them where they may be struck or dislodged. Barriers are placed around the foot of the ladder where necessary.
• Ladders should, wherever possible, be secured at the top and bottom by lashing. In cases where the ladder is unable to be secured, someone should be instructed to steady the ladder by standing at the bottom and hold the ladder in place with one foot on the bottom rung. (Permitted only if the ladder is shorter than 5 meters).
• Ladders should not rest against any fragile surface or fitting.
• Ladders must extend at least 1.0 meters above the landing place unless some other suitable handhold is available.
• Both hands must be free when ascending or descending ladders. Tools and materials should be carried in either a suitable shoulder bag or belt, or be hoisted up afterwards.
• Ladders should be pitched with one in four incline 75 degrees to the horizontal.
• Personnel using ladders must be trained and instructed in the hazards associated with their use and the measures to be adopted to prevent ladder accidents.
Personnel Carriers:
• The skip or cradle used for man-lifting conforms with the following:
- The SWL is clearly marked on the skip/cradle together with the maximum number of persons it can carry.
- The guard-rail height must be 1.00m to 1.15m.
- The toe board height must be a minimum of 150mm and a mid-rail must also be fitted.
• The crane carrying out man lifting must be fitted with a dead-mans handle and powered-lowering facilities. Men must never be lowered in free fall conditions.
• Personnel working out of man riders must wear an approved safety harness and attach their lanyard to a collar chain/sling which is attached to the crane hook.
Skeletal Steel/ Open Structures:
This section deals with fall protection when personnel are required to gain access to move across and work on skeletal steel/open structure such as pipe racks. Included is movement across or work being carried out on any elevated surface which is not designed as a walkway or working platform e.g. pipe, cable tray etc.
• Personnel working or moving across elevated skeletal steel/open structures more than 2 meters above ground level shall wear an approved safety harness and secure their lanyards to suitable fall arrest equipment or the `structure itself.
NOTE: This includes both vertical and horizontal access.
• Vertical access on these structures shall be gained by means of properly positioned and secured access ladders.
• Personnel must avoid securing lanyards to cable trays, conduit and small bore screw pipes.
Permanent Structures, Stairs/caged & Ladders:
Personnel working or moving across permanent decks, floors and walkways which do not present fall hazards are not required to wear safety harnesses provided that they can access these structures by fully completed stairs or personnel hoists.
• Personnel working or moving across incomplete structures where there is a risk of falling more than 2 meters must wear and use approved safety harnesses attached to fall arrest equipment on the structure.
• Temporary guardrails and floor covers shall be installed, whenever possible in order to eliminate the risk of falling.
• Only authorized and competent personnel shall work from incomplete structures on the installation of fall arrest measures.
• Permanent stairs shall be used to access or egress elevated work platforms. The installation and completion of permanent stairs shall be a priority.
• Personnel climbing ladders must keep both hands free. The carrying of items by hand whilst climbing ladders is prohibited.