Working at Height

In most countries falls from height is the biggest cause of death and injury in work places.

The Problem
·    People are killed and injured when they:
     1.    Fall off scaffolds, ladders, vehicles
     2.    Fall through fragile roofs and skylights
     3.    Fall into excavation, unprotected openings in floors and open manholes
     4.    Objects  also fall from height killing or injuring people below

Common Factors in these falls
·    The most common type of fall is from ladders and these falls are due to overreaching, overbalancing and unexpected movement of the ladders.
·    The failure or fragile material is a common factor.
·    The failure of mobile elevated working platforms is relatively rare.

Working at Height
Working at height can be defined as ‘ Work in any position or place, including a position or place below ground, from which a person or object is liable to fall’. In many countries  there is no minimum distance specified.
This means that a person stood on the edge of an excavation or working in it is ‘ working at height’. The person on the edge could fall in to the excavation. A person was working in the excavation is also working at height as a falling object could hit him.
Hierarchy of Control
The first questions to be asked are ‘Do we have to do this job at height? Could the work be done at ground level and lifted in to position when finished?’
If there is no option other than to do the work at height then the next priority is to protect people from falls using control measures.
The preferred hierarchy of risk control measures is ‘collective’ fall prevention measures and, as a last resort, providing individual fall protection.

Collective fall protection:
The provision of a fully boarded out platform with solid edge protection in the form of guardrails and toe boards. This protects every person who uses the platform from falling off it.
I f it was not possible to provide this protection for whatever reason then the next ‘collective’ option is: Fit safety nets, airbags or crash decking
Individual Fall Protection: Individual fall protection in the form of safety harness and line is the least preferred option.

Risk Assessment
Before work starts a thorough risk assessment should be completed which should highlight which control measures are likely to be the most effective in controlling the risks and protecting those carrying out  the work. Supervision and management should monitor that safe system are being used properly.