Work at height means working in a place where a person could be injured if they fell from one level to another. This can be above or below ground level. Work at height does not include slipping, tripping or falling at the same level. In these guidelines, the terms “shall” and “should” are used. “Shall” is used where there is a requirement to meet legal obligations. “Should” is used as a way of indicating the practical steps the Ministry expects to be taken on a particular matter.
Work plan
Too many falls from height are caused by a failure to plan and organize work properly. Start by planning a safe approach.
Planning safe working at height means:
Ø identifying the hazards
Ø assessing the hazards
Ø controlling the hazards
Ø monitoring your approach
Ø Documenting your approach.
Ø Identify the hazards
Identify any hazards of working at height where someone could fall. Four ways of identifying hazards are:
1. Physical inspections—walk around the workplace using a checklist to identify and manage hazards.
2. Task analysis—identify the hazards involved in each task of the job.
3. Process analysis—identify hazards at each stage of the production or service delivery process.
4. Analysis of accident investigation—identify hazards and causal factors from investigations involving similar types of work.
Assess the hazards
Decide if the identified hazards are significant. How badly harmed someone would be if they fell and how likely a fall could be? If serious harm could result, then it’s a significant hazard.
Control the hazard
Now keep people safe from the identified significant hazards.
Select the best work method to eliminate, isolate or minimise (in that order) the potential for harm resulting from the significant hazard. A combination of controls may need to be used to control the hazard. However, eliminating the hazard is the best option. But remember, doing nothing is not an
option.
Monitoring the approach to working at height safely
The approach should be constantly assessed to ensure it is effective and fit for purpose. This could mean carrying out regular inspections of the control measures, discussing the control measures at toolbox talks and site meetings with
contractors, and actively supervising the work.
Document the approach to working at height safely
A good record of the planning process and communications with clients, contractors, workers, and other site visitors should be maintained.
Elimination controls for height hazards
The best method of hazard control is eliminating the potential for a fall. Consideration of elimination controls should occur early in the project development stage in order to allow necessary design, planning, and coordination. Eliminating the potential of a fall can be achieved through:
Ø safer design
Ø using alternative construction methods
Ø using specific tools and equipment.
Safer design:
Examples of safer design include:
Ø use of low-maintenance building materials
Ø locating air conditioning and similar plant at ground level
Ø installing walkways with handrails
Ø Having permanent guardrails or other forms of edge protection, for example parapet walls.
Using alternative construction methods:
Examples of alternative construction methods include:
Ø prefabricating wall frames horizontally before standing them up
Ø using precast tilt-up concrete construction instead of concrete walls constructed in situ
Ø prefabricating structures on the ground or before installation and lifting them into position
Ø pre-painting fixtures/roofs before installation
Ø Installing and maintaining antennae and satellite dishes or air conditioning in areas other than at height.
Use of tools and equipment:
Examples of tools and equipment include using long-handled tools, such as paint rollers or window brushes with extendable handles, thereby eliminating the need to work from a ladder.
Isolation and minimization controls for height hazards
This section outlines a range of controls to isolate or minimise the potential for harm resulting from a fall. The preferred approach is to apply group controls that isolate multiple workers from the risk of falling.
Examples of group controls are:
Ø scaffolding
Ø edge protection
Ø mechanical access plant
Ø safety mesh.
Controls such as harness systems and temporary work platforms provide a lesser form of protection, and should only be considered when group controls are not practicable.
Edge protection
Edge protection is used to prevent persons, objects or materials from falling. Areas where the likelihood of a fall exists and edge protection should be used include:
Ø perimeters of working places
Ø openings
Ø where there is brittle material that cannot safely support the weight of a person.
Edge protection may be temporary, for example during the course of construction. It may also be used in completed buildings, for example a permanent balustrade preventing a fall from a mezzanine floor.
Mechanical access plant
Mechanical access plant includes all mechanically operated plant that can be used to gain access for the purpose of working at height. Commonly used mechanical access plant includes:
Ø mobile elevating work platforms
Ø forklift platforms
Ø crane lift platforms
Ø vehicle extension arms
Ø knuckle boom.
These are specialized pieces of equipment often designed for particular types of operation. It is essential that the correct type of machine is selected for the intended work. The operator should be competent to operate the type of mechanical access plant.
Harness systems
A harness system enables a person to be positioned and safely supported at a work location for the duration of the task being undertaken at height. Harness systems are used for gaining access to, and working at, a workforce where there is a risk of a fall. The most common harness systems include:
Ø total restraint systems
Ø fall arrest systems
Ø work positioning systems
Ø Industrial rope access systems safety lines, lifelines, prescribed or proprietary (engineered) systems.
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