Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
THEME
1. WORKING AT HEIGHT
Most of the fall accidents happen while working at height and most of them prove fatal. Therefore
seriousness of fall accidents should be considered seriouslly.
People are subjected to two types of falls, ethical fall and physical fall. Both are serious and need
prompt prevention for the safe elevation of life. Accidents due to ethical falls spoil the self as well as the
society and are much more in number than the physical falls which generally affect the person concerned
only. This is just a comparison and we are, here, concerned with a narrow range of physical industrial
falls only:
Incidences:
Table 5.7 in Chapter-5 states that there were 2.26% fatal accidents due to persons falling from
height in India in 1995. Table 5.8 reports 82 fatal and 3950 non fatal industrial accidents due to persons
falling in India in 1991. It also reports 33 fatal and 4706 non fatal industrial accidents due to falling
bodies in India in the same year.
Table 5.20 gives fatal accidents in Gujarat. It points out that fatal accidents due to falling from
height and struck by falling bodies were 25 and 11 respectively, out of 192 fatal accidents in 1995. This
represents 13% and 5.7% respectively and the total of causes No. 10, II & 12 indicates 64 out of 192 i.e.
33.33% fatal accidents in 1995.
Table 5.22 gives total accidents of Gujarat in 1994. In its last row, total of causation No. 125 to
128 gives
2298 out of 15683 i.e. 14.65% accidents due to (1) Struck by falling bodies (2) Falling from
height (3) Falling on the flat and (4) Falling into pits etc. These are the main types of fall accidents.
Industrial fatal fall accidents were 573 out of 6210 (9.22%) 'in 1995 in USA. Deaths due to struck
by objects were 546 nearly the same.
Non fatal occupational injuries due to falls in 1995 in USA are reported in percentage as under :
All deaths (occupational plus non-occupational) due to falls in USA are reported asunder :
1978 1979
No % No. %
Falls of persons 30 16.2 28 15.6
Falls and movement of other objects. 18 9.7 17 9.5
Figures of National Safety Council, 1987, USA, as given by Willie Hammer, are 16.4% due to
falls and 25% due to struck by or against objects.
All these data of India, UK and USA conclude that fall accideilts contribute @ 10 to 20% fatal
and @ 12 to 30% nonfatal accidents.
Types of Falls:
Most serious accidents due to falls and struck by falling bodies take place in mining and
quarrying, building and construction, structural repair, alteration, cleaning, painting, demolition,
maintenance and unsafe use of lifting and other equipment.
Major causes of such accidents are makeshift arrangement, unsafe floor, unsafe work practices,
not using helmet, safety belt, safety shoes, unsafe use of vehicles, poor supervision, poor lighting etc.
Most of the falls from height prove fatal or result in serious fracture. Therefore their prevention or
control is utmost necessary.
1. Safe, sound and dry (non-slippery) surfaces for walking and working. Fencing, guarding
and toe boards.
2. Safe helmet, safety belt, foot-wear, etc.
3. Safe practice in walking and working. No excessive load lifting.
4. Safe means of access while working at height or depth.
5. Use of crawling board, cat ladder, fall arrester net etc. while working on fragile roof.
6. Use of Safety work permit for working at height or depth.
7. Safe and sound stairs, ladders, scaffold etc. and safe use thereof.
8. Good lighting and supervision, cutting off power supply in overhead electric lines.
9. Safety cordon to disallow persons in the area where any object may fall from height.
10. Removal of 20 causes mentioned above. Other details are given below.
See Rule 41 for overhead protection and Rule 42 for slipping, tripping, cutting, drowning and
falling hazards, of Building and other Construction Workers Central Rules, 1998. See their summary in
Part 7 of Chapter-28.
Fall Energy:
Energy requires for skull fracture is 30 to 75 fool pound. White and Brown indicated that 18 mph
(27 ft sec) is a velocity (of fall or impact) which may kill 50" of all persons against a hard surface. This is
equivalent to a free fall of 11 ft. Willie Hammer has given following figures:
Ability of a human body to sustain effect of fall depends on (1) velocity of an initial impact (2)
magnitude of the deceleration and (3) orientation of the body on impact.
The kinetic energy of a body falling on a hard surface can be given by a formula :
E= Wv2
2g
where w is the weight in pounds, v is ft/sec, g is gravity constant i.e. 32.2 ft/sec/sec, and E in ft-
pound. If E and w are known, falling (fatal) speed (velocity) can be known by the same formula.
Deceleration 'd' is given by d = v2/2h where h is the falling, height or stopping distance.
Section 32 and 33 of the Factories Act, 1948 provide precautions regarding floors, stairs, means of
access, pits, sumps, openings in floor etc. Accordingly all floors, steps, stairs, passages and gangways
should be of sound construction, properly maintained and kept free from obstructions and substances
likely to cause persons to slip. Steps, stairs, passages, gangways with substantial handrails, fencing and
safe means of access to every work place, shall be provided to prevent a fall and ensure safety.
Every fixed vessel, sump, tank, pit or opening in the ground or in the floor whose depth, situation,
construction or contents are dangerous should be securely covered or fenced.
Section 36 prescribes details of entering any confined space. Before such entry, the space is to be
made free of dangerous fume, gas, vapour or dust. Work permit system should be followed and a suitable
breathing apparatus and safety belt to be used by the person.
Section 36A requires a portable electric light up to 24 V and a flameproof lamp for flammable
atmosphere.
Dimension of manholes, under rule 64 of the Gujarat Factories Rules are given as circular 41 cm
dia or rectangular 41 cm x 31 cm. Rule 68 of Maharashtra Factories Rules gives these, dimensions as :
circular shoulder width of the person concerned plus 8 cm in diameter, or rectangular - shoulder width
plus 8 cm length and 30 cm width.
Rule 68 describes the ladder quality that it should have hooks or an effective non-skid device.
Rule 68E, GFR, provides for suitable and sufficient ladders, duck ladders or crawling boards and
a permit to work system while working on fragile roofs at a height exceeding 3 mt.
Clause 2(0) of Sch-19 on Chemical Works u/r 102, GFR, defines 'confined spacer See Part-2.1 for
definition.
Rule 61A of the Tamil Nadu Factories Rules 1950 prescribed safety belt details. It should be of
leather straps of more than 5 cm width and a D ring at the back for fastening a rope. The other end of this
rope shall be securely tied or hooked to some suitable rigid fixture. A competent person shall examine
this belt every six months and certify its suitability. Its register shall be produced before the Inspector on
demand.
Schedule 19 and other Schedules u/r 102 of the Gujarat Factories Rules prescribe rules, for
working at height and depth.
Chapters VIH, XIV, XV, XVI, XVII and XIX of the Building and Construction Workers Central
Rules, 1998 should also be referred for safety provisions to work at height and depth.
Some IS are :
Hazards at workplaces - falling material, fall prevention etc. 13416 (Part I to 5).
Platform - for industrial trucks' 12157, folding and base containers 7341, freight container 6927,
6928, 13288, stability test 7631.
Gangways, aluminium shore- 10558, Gantry cranes, design 3177, for lifting air cargo 12462.
Safety nets (fall arrester) 11057. High Chair, safety requirements 6185, push chair safety
requirements 6618, wooden tests 5416, chairs and tables, classroom 4837.
Belt - aircraft safety, lap 10682, belt (safety) and harness 3521. Body protection equipment,
selection 8519. Footwear for steel plant 10348, Breathing apparatus 10245, Respirators 8522, 8523, 6194,
8347, life jacket 6685.
Structural - loading standards 875, movement, field monitoring 12023, chain 5616, steel work
erection, safely code 7205.
Falls happen due to falling from stairways, runs, ramps, gangways, floors and ladders. Therefore
safety aspects of their design, construction and use are explained below:
1.5.1 Stairways:
The slope of a stairway should be 30° to 35° with the horizontal. The tread width should not be
less than 24 cm plus a non-slip nosing of 2.5 cm. The riser height should not be more than 20 cm and not
less than 12.75 cm and should be constant for each flight. All stairways should be fitted with railings on
the open sides and hand rails on sides which are otherwise enclosed. The height of the railings at the
stairs should be not less than 75 cm or more than 90 cm measured from the top surface of the stair tread.
The stair landings should be protected by railings and toe-boards. Non-skid strips on stair treads can
prevent slipping.
The width of the staircase should be more than 75 cm. Instead of continuous steps, groups of 5 to
6 steps should be preferred. Turning staircases should be avoided. Steps in outdoor staircases should have
a slight (1 to 2%) slope towards the nose to run away the water.
Stairways should be of fireproof material to give support for a longer time. Stairwell acts as a
chimney. Therefore it should be kept free from smoke and gases. This can be achieved by providing top
and bottom ventilation and self-closing fire doors on each landing. Double doors are provided to form an
air lock. In high rise building, positive ventilation pressure is applied in case of fire, to drive away
smokes.
Proper signs and symbols should be marked in traffic aisles. Arrows for escape routes are
necessary.
The slope of ramps, runways, gangways etc. should be as small as possible and the recommended
maximum is 15° to the horizontal. Cleats not more than 40 cm apart, should be provided on ramps With
steep slopes. Toe-boards should be provided where a ramp extends over a work place or a passage. Wire
screens are necessary on the sides, if there is a risk of materials falling through the sides.
Chapter- VIII (R.82 to 85) of the Building Workers Central Rules, 1998 are pertaining to runways
and ramps.
The design should consider all types of load in the form of materials, persons and other forces
acting on the floor. Acid proof bricks laid in acid resistant plaster should be the choice of flooring for a
workroom in which acids are handled. Unprotected floor edges situated at heights and openings, sumps,
pits etc., in platforms or floors should be protected by railings, toe-boards or guards. The height of the
railings from the base should be not less than 90 cm or more than 120 cm. It should have intermediate
members to shorten the gap less than 47 cm. The toe-board should not be less than 15 cm in height.
Floors should be of sufficient strength and shall never be overloaded. They should be non-
slippery, free from holes, openings, pinch points, uneven surfaces, irregularities, accumulation of oil,
water, waste, dust etc. Near wet processes and water showers, proper drainage should be provided.
Non-conductive floor in explosive atmosphere pose special hazard. Discharge of static electricity
generates spark which can ignite the explosive mixture near the floor. Therefore steel tipped or nailed
boots or dropping of steel tools on such floor is hazardous. Such floors must be earthed properly.
In industry, criteria for floor selection are many. In addition to strength, comfort and cost,
resistance to (a) wear and abrasion (b) chemicals (c) fire (d) environmental factors and (e) material in
process are also to be considered.
Floors are also of many types. Acids and alkali should be avoided on concrete, granolithic,
linoleum, magnesite, quarry tile, ceramic, wood and terazzo type floor. Solvents and oils should be
avoided on rubber, thermoplastic, vinyl and vinyl asbestos floor. The cleaning process should not damage
the floor affecting its strength or anti-slip properties. Cleaners like soaps, natural detergents, alkaline
solution, abrasive powder and damp floor cloths should be used.
Slope is an important factor in floor design. 1 to 2% gradient towards drain helps ensure to flow
away water and keep the surface dry.
1.5.4 Ladders:
Ladders may be classified under two broad categories, the portable and the fixed. Since the
portable ladder is a rather hazardous piece of equipment, every effort should be made, wherever possible,
to replace it by fixed stairs, fixed ladder, scaffolding or any other suitable arrangement. Not using ladders
where required is a common cause of serious accidents. Men climb on machines, equipment, boxes,
barrels, etc., to get access to places above the floor and thus get involved in accidents.
Step (Swing back) ladders and folding trestle ladders : In situations where there is no suitable
facility to lean the ladders, such ladder should be the right choice. Step (Swing back) ladders are
generally provided with a convenient platform and a hand rail at the top.
Fixed ladders : Wherever the length of a fixed ladder exceeds 9 m, it is necessary to provide a
crinoline for ensuring the safety of the user. Alternatively, a. suitable fall arrester should be used. In the
fall arrester a slide runs smoothly up and down a steel cable fitted along with the centre of the ladder. The
slide is attached to the user's belt by a chain. The slide moves up and down the cable as long as the user
climbs or descends at the normal speed. If the user falls, the abrupt pull on the slide causes it to catch on
the cable and thus the fall is arrested (controlled).
Transport of ladders : Ladders should be carried always with the leading end at least 2 m above
the ground. Long and heavy ladders should be carried by two or more persons. The ladder is safest and
easiest to climb when it is at an angle of about 75° to the horizontal, i.e. to a slope of about four vertical
to one horizontal.
Chapter-XV (R. 172 to 174) of the Building Workers Central Rules, 1998 gives some provisions
for ladders.
1.5.5 Scaffolding:
A scaffold is a temporary structure that provides support for workers, plant and materials used in
building, construction, maintenance, repair and demolition work.
The scaffold serves two purposes. One is to provide a convenient platform for persons to work at
height and the other is to provide a safe means of access to all places where any person may be required
to work at any time. Accidents at scaffolds are generally caused either due to direct collapse of the
scaffold or as a result of persons or material falling off the scaffold.
Steel components of tubular (normally 5 cm dia) scaffolds should conform to IS:2750 and 4014
for Steel Scaffoldings. Wood and bamboo should meet the specifications laid down by the Forest
Research Institute and College, Dehra Dun.
Overhead protection, not more than 3 m above the work platform of the scaffold becomes
necessary if overhead work is going on. Similarly for the persons working or passing under a scaffold, at
least 30 cm projected canopy or screen should be provided at the scaffold working level.
In high wind or storm work on scaffold should be avoided. No hot work should be carried out on
wooden platform. Fire fighting facility should be kept nearby.
Means of Access : Failure to provide such access has caused serious accidents. The safe means of
access may be ladders, portable or fixed, ramps, runways, gangways or stairways. It is recommended that
portable ladders should not be used as a means of access where the height of the scaffold platforms
exceeds 3.75 m. Slope of the ladder should be 4 vertical to I horizontal. It should rise I m above landing
platform and securely fixed at upper end. The use of cross braces or framework of the scaffold as a means
of access should not be permitted.
Width of working platforms : The following minimum widths are recommended as a general
rule.
Railings and toe-boards : A common cause of accidents at scaffolds is the failure to provide
railings at the exposed sides of the scaffold platforms. Often, the failure is when the scaffolding is erected
for jobs of short duration. Where materials are stacked on a platform, the height of the toe-board may
have to be raised; or it may even be necessary to cover the entire space between the top rail and the toe-
board with wire netting or planks. Normal height of railing is I m and toe board 15 cm. '
Boards and planks in working platforms, gangways and ramps : For platforms of wooden
planks, in general, the spacing should not exceed the following:
Boards or planks which form part of a working platform, gangway or ramp should not project
beyond their end supports to a distance exceeding four times the thickness of the board or plank. 50 mm
projection is desirable. Overlapping of boards is unsafe.
Scaffold foundation should be verified before erection. Loose or friable packing like bricks should
not be used as support. For height more than 15 mt, steel scaffold should be preferred and not a wooden
one.
Inspection' after 7 days and after every damage is necessary. Points to be checked include :
stability, ties and fixing, alignment of members, bending, tightness of lashing (3r couplers, planks,
platforms, guard rails, toe boards and condition of ladders.
Dismantling should be carried out in the reversed order to erection. Materials should not be
thrown from heights and should not be left lying here and there. They should be properly collected.
After completion of work, all scaffold materials should be stored in a dry protected place using
racks, boxes or trays. The damaged parts should be replaced or repaired, cleaned, treated with
preservative or paint. Couplers and other fittings should be lubricated.
Chapter-XIX (R.188 to 205) of the Building and Construction Workers Central Rules, 1998 gives
provisions regarding scaffold.
To prevent overturning, height should not be more than three times the minimum width of the
base. Minimum base length should be 4 ft. While pushing or pulling the tower, persons should not ride on
it. Tools and materials should be removed before moving.
The top working platform must have handrails and toe boards. It should support 30 lb/ft
distributed load. Rigidity of the tower is secured by diagonal bracing on all four sides and on plan.
Moving the tower by pulling at the top or leaning sideways should be avoided.
It is a balcony type cantilever scaffold resting on wall. If other types of scaffold are possible, this
type should not be used.
The outriggers should be passed right trough the wall and be secured on the inner side. Supporting
hook between brick joints is dangerous.
Platform should not project beyond 2 mt from the wall. Guard rail and toe board should be
provided.
Each person working on swinging scaffold should wear safety belt with lifeline attached to an
anchorage other than the scaffold itself.
5 Suspended Scaffolds:
Two or more platforms are suspended by ropes from overhead outriggers anchored to the
building.
6 Boatswain's Chair:
Boatswain's chair is used for supporting and hoisting single person in sitting position. General
chair (seat) size is 60 cm x 30 cm, with 25 mm thick timber. Cleats extending in front to at least 23 cm
should be securely fixed under the chair at both ends. The chair is supported by a suitable sling passing
through the four corner holes in the chair for proper stability. The suspension rope is fixed to an overhead
support or passed through a pulley block fastened to such support. The free end is secured to a
conveniently accessible anchorage and the person in chair must wear a safety belt, the life line of which is
secured to the tackle supporting the chair. Fibre rope slings should not be used if the person in the chair
has to do welding or cutting work.
In addition to all engineering controls and work permits, personal protective equipment should not
be forgotten while working at height or depth.
Safety belts of various types are available. Pole safety belt, general purpose safety belt with or
without remote anchorage and harness (man hoisting by another man) type safety belt are in common use.
They should fulfil IS specifications stated in foregoing Part 1.3. They are available in leather and
webbing of natural and man made fibres, of which, webbing is superior to leather. Webbing can withstand
loads 3 to 4 times that of leather of the same size. Web material maybe cotton, nylon or dacron. While
selecting a belt, its normal and emergency use should be considered. Life Lines of manila rope of 19 mm
diameter or nylon rope of 13 mm diameter are suitable provided a shock absorbing device is available.
Care of belts is always necessary.
Harness consists of a safety belt and rope or lifeline. It can stop a person falling or he can be
pulled out if working below in a confined space.
All workers working at height of more than 2 m (window cleaners, construction workers etc.)
must wear safety harnesses i.e. safety belts connected with ropes. The belt should be tied with the body
while the free end of the rope should be anchored with a fixed unbreakable sound structure or should be
held by another person standing outside a confined space when the wearer is working inside. The belt and
rope should be of sound material, examined by a competent person every six month and maintained in
very good condition.
Length of the rope is normally 2 ill since more fall height and sudden arrest may cause internal
injuries to the workers.
But in case of working in depth the rope length should be more than 2 m and extending up to the
bottom level of working since the worker is to be pulled out when he gives indication of any difficulty to
him or when it is observed by the person holding the rope, standing outside and watching the person
working inside.
All safety equipment are to be freely supplied by the employer and it should be seen that workers
use them. This is a statutory requirement.
Safety belts are required for workers working on towers, masts, windows and building projects
and also in confined spaces like tanks, boilers, gutters etc. Car and aeroplane occupants also need safety
belts to be protected from crashing and overturning.
Free end of the rope shall never be anchored on a structural member being placed or any loose or
weakened structure. Supervisor and the worker must ensure this. Wrapping of free end (rope) on waist is
a wrong practice. Increasing length of the rope without permission can also lead to hazard. Anchorage
point should be at such height so that there shall be minimum slackness in the line. It shall never be lower
than the belt attachment to the restraining line.
Safety block (like chain pulley block or hoisting drum block) is used to connect the wire rope with
the safety belt to allow more freedom of movement. A sudden pull operates lock or brake to stop the rope.
Because of a friction brake on the rope drum, jolt is avoided and the falling person is stopped smoothly.
In another design, a centrifugal brake is applied on the drum so that the person descends slowly to reach
the ground.
Tensile tests and drop tests are carried out on safety belts and apparatus used with them.
Safety belts should be kept in a cool, dry and well ventilated place. Regular cleaning, visual
inspection for defects and repair only by a competent person are necessary for good maintenance.
See Chapter-XVI (R.175 to 180) of Building and other Construction Workers (Central) Rules,
1998 for catch platforms, safety belts, nets etc.
For window cleaning, straps are long enough to fit windows and
terminate in snap hooks for anchor on each side of the window. Two
restraining lines are used for window cleaner's belt.
It is used for working in a confined space, silo, tank, vessel etc. The life line is
held by a person standing outside to rescue the wearer when he is unable to come out
by his own efforts. On the rescue line there is a wrist strap by which the wearer can be
hauled up through a manhole or other opening.
Work permit should be followed and the workplace should be made free from
any toxic/flammable vapour and oxygen deficiency. See Part 1.8 of Chapter-19 for
more details.
Here waist belt is connected to a sliding anti fall device which automatically
stops while moving in fall direction. Here fall arrest distance is small due to close
(short) life line.
Anti fall systems are of two types (1) With a sliding and blocking device on
a vertical safety support (pole, cable rail) (2) With an automatic catching device
for rolling, unrolling and blocking a tether (cable, rope, strap). Specific braking
system includes an absorber of kinetic energy used with a tether (for details see
Reference No. 5 at the end of this Chapter).
locked and stop the fall at the descending movement. Other type allows the
horizontal (to and fro) movement but will catch the falling body through rope and a
shock absorber.
Where safety belt is not possible or in addition to safety belt for further safety of a person,
particularly when fall height is very high or falling in sea or deep water is possible, or work surface is
fragile and sudden fall is possible, safety net is very much essential to catch a falling person. Net is useful
to stop a fall of a person as well as of falling objects. For stopping falling material, the mesh size should
be small.
The net and the structure to which it is attached should be capable of catching and supporting at
least two persons at a time.
The nets are made of synthetic fibres which are strong, light weight and weatherproof. Diameter
of the mesh cords and that of the border cord should be at least 3 mm and 8 mm respectively.
Standard net size is 6 x 4 m but it can be manufactured of required sizes also. The mesh size of 5
x 5 cm is preferable. For falling objects that size should be 3x3 cm.
While attaching net with the structure, some safety distance should be maintained. It should not be
lower than 3.5 m below the working level and less than 3.5 m above any object or structure below the net.
The net must project at least 2 mt outside the falling area.
Nets should be cleaned regularly and checked periodically for cuts and other objects. It should
have serial number so as to keep record of maintenance.
Nets should be kept on pallets in a dry, cool and well ventilated place. It should be kept away
from chemicals and hot materials.
Serious accidents happen due to fall of persons working on roofs. Fall through fragile roof
sheeting, loss of balance due to the slope of the roof or effect of wind and insufficient care while working
at the edge of the roof constitute the principal causes of such accidents which could be prevented by
appropriate safety measures like crawling or walk-boards, railing, safety belt and safety net.
Use of a safety belt alone' while working on a fragile roof or at a height more than 6 ft (2m) is not
permitted. It is dangerous and many fatal accidents have happened because of this condition. Sound
platform, adequate support or safety net should also be provided.
Factors affecting fall of roofers are working height, nature, shape and slope of the roof, roof
covering material, roof condition and the weather.
Low-strength roofing materials are asbestos, cement, glass, plastic, wood and roofing tiles. Heat,
rain, humidity, pollution and corrosion spoil the roof condition. Hidden cracks in a roof increase the
hazard.
The shape of the roof-flat or sloping with a straight, polygonal or curved profile - affects the fall
direction. Water, oil, snow, moisture, chemical, dust and other deposits on roof surface increase fall
proneness. High wind and bigger sized sheet in hands cause a roofer to lose his balance.
Roof work should be pre-planned and only fit and skilled workers should be employed.
Measures should also be taken to protect persons below. Safety cordon, warning notice and fall
arrester net can help in this regard. Fall arrester net should be firmly tied as near as possible under the
roof to minimise the fall distance.
The workers should be trained for work at heights. Their medical examination is also useful. All
walk boards and equipment should be sufficient in number.
Falls through fragile roofing materials : The common, practice of walking along the purling
cannot be relied upon. The best way to prevent falls through such fragile materials is to use cat or roof
ladders. They should be at least 38 cm wide and should have cross battens at least 3.2 cm thick, fixed not
more than 38 cm apart. Safety belts and fall arrester net should also be used as an additional precaution. A
permit-to-work system under the control of a responsible person can help to ensure .that the workers are
not allowed to work on roofs without taking appropriate safety measures. Rule 68E of the Gujarat
Factories Rules requires this provision.
Reinforced AC Sheets are now available in the market. -They are not as fragile as normal AC
sheets. The manufacturer 'Eternit Everest Ltd.', New Delhi, names their product as "Everest Lifeguard"
and tells it a solution for* 'Safety on Roof Tops". Their literature runs as under:
Everest Lifeguard a high strength fibre cement sheet, with Polypropylene reinforcement strips
inserted along precisely engineered locations which run the full length of the sheet in each corrugation,
thus providing maximum reinforcement strength with no loss of durability in service.
This product has been developed in conformance of the guidelines issued by UK's Health &
Safety Executive, with regard to Health & Safety on roof work (HSG33).
Falls from sides of roof : In case of flat roofs, either the standard railings and toe-boards or a
complete barrier to a minimum height of 90 cm should be provided. For sloping roofs, the barrier may be
in the form of scaffold boards extending to a minimum height of 40 cm above the roof surface and a
guard rail at a height more than 90 cm but not more than 120 cm.
See Chapter-XIV (R.169 to 171) of the Building and other Construction Workers (Central) Rules,
1998 for steep roof.
A well designed 'Permit to Work System' is always useful to check safety points before hand.
Formats used by some good companies are reproduced below:
Date and Time of Working Validity of Permit Location of Work Initiating Dept.
From To From To
________________ ___________________________
Date Signature of Contractor & Name
Contractor :
Copy distribution : 1st Copy – Issuing Dept., 2nd Copy – Safety Dept. 3rd Copy – User Dept.,
4th Copy – Contractor
Instructions A : Permit for Working on Fragile Roof like AC Sheet Roof/Working at Height:
1. No person shall be allowed to work on any fragile roof (like AC Sheet Roof) at any height without
this permit.
2. The permit is generally valid for the period mentioned 'on the permit and can be extended; but the
same permit can be re-authorised by Safety Department.
3. When .the work is on progress, the valid permit must be available with the supervisor who must
be available at work.
4. Any authorised person from concerned department or Safety Department will have the authority
to stop the work immediately in case he finds that the work is being 'carried out without observing
the safety precautions as mentioned below.
5. The permit is NOT VALID if not authorised by the Safety Department and the declaration is not
signed by contractor's supervisor who will be at site.
6. Safety department can revoke, cancel or renew this permit with valid reasons.
1. Suitable and sufficient access ladders, duck ladders, cat ladders, crawling boards etc. shall be used
and they should be securely fixed or supported. Such working aids are to be inspected by
executing department prior to usage.
2. For high risk (more height) fall arrester net shall be firmly tied as near as possible underneath the
roof or plane of working.
3. Nobody shall be allowed to go on the AC roof without a valid permit and according to conditions
mentioned therein, with the Site Supervisor.
4. Safety belts in good condition and approved by safety department should be given to the
concerned persons and they should be trained and supervised to wear them and fasten them
securely and correctly with a fixed immovable structure.
5. No worker shall be allowed to step directly on any part of AC sheet roof.
6. No tools/materials shall be left on the roof after each day's work is over.
7. Electrical power supply, if it concerns place of work, shall be isolated.
Following Safety precautions will be followed by the contractor and his workmen before, during
and after the work of digging. No person shall be allowed digging work unless the following conditions
are fulfilled.
1. Nobody shall be allowed to undertake any digging work without this Valid Permit, available with
the Site Supervisor, who will produce it on demand. -
2. Contractor shall instruct his workers to work strictly as per safety instructions given herein and
care shall be taken to ensure no damage to electrical cables and piping underground.
3. Isolation of electric supply, water/oil/gas supply's per the direction of concerned department shall
be carried out.
4. Permission of Electrical Maintenance and other concerned 'Department must be obtained before
undertaking any digging work.
5. Fencing and Indicators shall be placed around the trench and red lanterns shall also be placed at
night, if necessary.
6. Loose excavated material shall be remove< by pei son using rubber gloves.
7. No tools shall be left after each day's wor is over.
8. The Supervisor must be available at sit during the period of work.
1. Cut off power in nearby electric lines to avoid shock and fall.
2. Do not lift or carry excessive load so as to loose balance and fall.
3. Tools should be attached by lanyard to the belt or garment to prevent their fall on others.
4. Safety helmet, shoes, safety belt, respirator and other PPE should be worn as per need.
5. Keep the work floor always dry, clean and well protected. The floor should be checked for
fragility, crack and its soundness to carry load. Non fragile metal sheets or reinforced AC sheets
are preferable.
6. Know safe means of access, emergency staircase, fire extinguisher, first aid box and other device
like aerial platform, rope ladder etc. before starting the work.
Workers can also use mobile access equipment i.e. mobile elevating work platforms, cradles and
mast platforms. All users of such equipment should be trained and competent to operate it. They should
also be aware of emergency and evacuation procedures so that if, for example, the power to platform
fails, they know what they should do.
It is essential for employers to implement safe working procedures for working at heights.
Work in vessels and tanks below ground in pits, cellars and basements or inside confined spaces
such as silos, tanks, vats, vessels, boilers gutter etc., pose danger and always require permit to work
system.
Clause 2(0), Sch-19, rule 102, GFR, defines 'confined space' as any space by reason of its
construction as well as in relation to the nature of the work carried therein and where hazards to the
persons entering into working inside exist or are likely to develop during working.
1. Storage tank
2. Process vessels / Reaction Vessel
Other hazards are suffocation, burning, poisoning, explosion, drowning, freezing, crushing,
entrapment, scalding, stroke, heat stress, radiation, physical trauma, injury by moving machinery, slipping
or falling etc.
Many fatal and serious accidents have occurred while working in a confined space. Three reasons
flammable air mixture, toxic gases and oxygen deficiency - are found responsible for such accidents.
Tanks (vessels) with top cover open but all other sides closed, should be considered as a confined space,
because, in such situation persons working inside have to face direct fire, explosion, or toxic exposure
and have no other way to run away except the only way of their entry. Therefore doubtlessly and as per
above statutory definition, such situation/condition is a confined space. One worker died due to solvent
fire, one died due to chloroform vapour and two died due to nitrogen (oxygen deficiency) atmosphere in
such confined spaces.
Tanks, vats, pits, sumps, vessels, floor opening etc. should be protected by guard rails or cover.
Fixed ladder with handrail if possible, should be provided to step down safely. Portable (rope) ladder may
be used while working inside a tank or vessel for temporary work.
Statutory provisions for confined space entry are already stated in foregoing Part 1.3 of this
Chapter. Other precautions are:
1. Check the concentration of toxic or flammable gas, dust, vapour etc., by a gas detector. Oxygen
content should also be checked for safe proportion. It should be >18%.
Refer Part 16.2 of Chapter-18 for more details of safe entry into a vessel.
Before allowing vessel (confined space) entry permit, it is necessary to carry out hazard
assessment of the space. Therefore two types of formats are giver below for use. Necessary changes as
per specific requirement should be incorporated.
I have been instructed on the control measures to be observed and fully understand the precautions to be
observed and will observe them while in the confined space.
Name Date Time Signature
3 WORKING UNDERGROUND :
Working underground has hazards similar to working in a confined space. Therefore all
precautions including entry permit mentioned in part 2.2 above should be followed.
Under ground work includes digging also. Therefore format 2 and instructions B mentioned in
part 1.5.10 should also be considered.
The common causes for such falls are slipping or tripping due to floors badly maintained, floor
opening, unguarded machinery, obstacles on floor, oily material, poor lighting, poor vision or health,
defective footwear, running or jumping and influence of drugs, alcohol or fatigue. Remove these defects,
put guards/ barriers if necessary and warning notices as a last resort.
Instead of persons falling, many times falling bodies hit the persons and cause accidents.
Measures for safety are:
1. Wear helmet or hard hat, safety shoes and protective clothing necessary.
2. Never stand or walk under suspended load.
3. Never throw any things down from aloft or - height.
4. Place tools and materials in stable and safe position so as not to fall. Use a tool box or paint pot
secured to a ladder or platform by a hook.
5. Take care in staking materials and ensure that
EXERCISE