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WORKING
at
HEIGHT
Overview
General Legislation HSE view Working at height examples Hierarchy of control Eliminate work at height Access from height Protection measures Edge Protection Lift shafts - Safety Alert
Safety harnesses
Inspection and Maintenance Summary Further reading
General
Construction (Health, safety and welfare) Regs 1996 Provision and use of work equipment Regs 1998
HSE view
Ladders or step ladders are only being used for short duration work, that they are the correct type for that work and are secured to prevent slipping If using safety harnesses, they have suitable anchorages and adequate fall distances and are inspected, and
All work at height equipment, including ladders and step-ladders, have been inspected, examined and maintained as necessary.
In addition, inspectors will look to ensure that only competent contractors are used for work at height and that all jobs have been properly planned and thought through.
SECOND NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION BLITZ FOUND NO IMPROVEMENT ON FALLS FROM HEIGHT HSE press release: E193:03 - 3 October 2003
Working at Height
At some stage during most construction and maintenance projects there are some tasks that involve working at height - here are some examples.
Structural Steel
Roofwor k
Scaffold
Falsework
Deep Excavations
Select materials that will reduce the risks during maintenance e.g specifying non -fragile roofing materials.
Architects and designers are constantly pushing construction boundaries driven by the clients brief for unique and unusual buildings / structures. Its because of this, and the very nature of buildings that working at height will never be completely designed out and so the need to plan and execute the work in a controlled manner remains.
Urbis - Manchester
What Type of work - demolition / construction, Quantities of materials, Tools required? Where - At what height will people be working, Is the job built in-situ or by prefabrication? Is access from the ground available, Environmental hazards that could limit access options. When Can a particular task be scheduled to make use of permanent access arrangements or by adopting existing temporary access, Will a particular order of doing the work make the access needed for carrying out the task easier or more difficult. How How long is access required, Will continuous access be required for months, Will access be required later in the programme for following trades, testing and inspection etc.
Work Platforms
Having established the need for a working platform your next decision is what type, here is a list of current options including their common uses and limitations
Preston Prison
Access to height
Birdcage Scaffold Platforms
- Static Work
For - Provides access and a working platform below ceilings and soffits, for M & E installation and finishing trades. Limitations - Restricts access in the space below, normally have one working deck fully boarded and are suitable for light work only.
Access to height
scaffold
Cantilever Scaffold
Access to height
Tower Scaffolds
For M & E installation and other finishing trades such as painters - typically short duration work in many locations. Limitations height Needs a firm level surface and is restricted in by base dimensions. Types include;Prefabricated Aluminum Alloy System Scaffold Traditional Tube and Fittings Glass Reinforced Plastic Height to Base Ratio Outside Use : 3 : 1
(GRP)
3.5 :
Access to height
- Mobile Work
by a
Access to height
MCWPs - consist of three main components; Mast or towers which support the work platform
Access to height
Ladders
- Other
Ref : -
Access to height
Step Ladders
- Other
Access to height
Trestles
- Other
A common piece of equipment found on most construction sites and used mainly by finishing trades such as plasters and painters. Easy to set up and often miss used.
Protection Measures
Fall Arrest - Safety Nets
A passive fall arrest system comprising of a series of safety nets tied and supported on the new structure / scaffold.
For Versatile fall protection for the safe installation of precast concrete floor sections, Steel / Holorib floors, roof trusses and roof sheets.
Limitations Safety nets can be difficult to rig - must be installed by trained personnel , they require suitable anchor points, regular inspections and allowances for sag / falls must be considered.
Protection Measures
Edge Protection
The primary means of achieving safety when working at height is to provide adequate access arrangements and working platforms with good edge protection Schedules 1 & 2 of the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regs. 1996 set out the requirements for edge protection and working platforms.
The erection of scaffold to an internal shaft as the shaft is constructed. Each lift of scaffold to be fully boarded including hopbrackets and boards where required.
Minimum double guard rail and toe board must be installed at all shaft openings as a shaft is constructed. This arrangement will allow any viewing of a shaft interior by personnel to take place at early stages prior to internal fitting. See Schedule 1 ( Edge Protection ) for details. No other protection arrangement is to be accepted and flush `boarding up` is not an acceptable practice. For lifts, as soon as practicable a lift shaft installer shall fit proprietary temporary lift doors at every floor opening. (see Figs 1&2 for examples).
Figure 1
Figure 2
Protection Fall Arrest - Harnesses and Inertia Reels Measures Safety harnesses and belts should only be used as a last
resort where it is impractical to provide a satisfactory working platform - they are NOT an alternative! Safety harnesses do not prevent falls, they require the worker to Clip On, to suitable anchor points and/or use running lines to be effective. SG4.00 gives guidance on wearing harnesses and when to clip on during scaffold operations.
Safety harness attached to suitable anchorage point or running line. Harnesses need to be suitable for the individual, who should be trained to fit and use them.
No person or materials can fall from access ways and working platforms
the access equipment remains stable with no danger of collapse fall arrest equipment is undamaged or affected such that it could affect is performance.
Working platforms, suspension equipment and safety nets must be inspected; before being taken into use for the first time, after any substantial alteration, after an event likely to have affected its strength or stability and at regular intervals not exceeding 7 days
Summar y There is no such thing as a safe height anyone working off the ground is at risk of
Further Reading
Available from HSE Books