WORKING AT HEIGHT “PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURe ”
KEY OBJECTIVES General knowledge on working at height Identify types of fall hazards associated with workplace environments. To understand the safety precautions Identify methods to eliminate or protect against fall hazards Rescue from fall
WHAT IS WORKING AT HEIGHT Work at height means work in any place where, if precautions were not taken, a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury. In general working at height refers to work at 1.8 metres above a ground or lower level.
WHY SAFETY? Gravity kills More fatal accidents in construction caused by falls than anything else Unless working on a ladder, scaffold or scissor lift, OSHA requires fall protection when exposed to a 6-foot fall or greater.
BUT REMEMBER A FALL FROM ANY HEIGHT CAN KILL YOU
ACCIDENT TRIANGLE WITH HEIGHT As the height increases chance of accidents also increases Do the work from ground as far as possible
THE LAW WORK AT HEIGHT REGULATIONS 2005 Apply to all work activities in all industries Apply to all at work by employees, employers or self employed Plan work Use the right equipment the equipment used for work at height is properly inspected and maintained. Use competent people PREVENT FALLS, REDUCE INJURY
HAZARDS SLIP AND TRIP HAZARDS Risks from slippery surfaces due to cargo residues, water, oil etc… or hazardous due to scrap metals, welding rods, dunnage etc... should be minimized through use of good housekeeping
FALL FROM HEIGHTS It may result in Fatalities. Neck or spinal injury leading to permanent disability or paralysis. Multiple fractures
FALLING OF OBJECTS If the edges of working area are open chance of falling of objects or tools over the worker underneath may occur. Always keep your tools safely. Fall of materials Preventive measures should be taken against the fall of workers and tools or other objects or materials
FALLING INTO PITS OR HOLES There are many tanks or holes in the ship. So whenever walk through a place be careful not to fall into these because these will be in great heights and can cause great danger.
REQUIREMENTS FOR WORKING AT HEIGHT Such a person must : Be trained and found competent in the correct use of fall protection equipment. Be authorized in writing to use such equipment by having a certificate of training and authorization (Working at Heights License) A pre-work HIRA must always be carried out before working at height. This pre-work HIRA must take the following into account: Tools and Equipment that will be required State the measures to prevent tools & equipment from falling from heights Any other securing methods determined as needed for this purpose.
Always give a height permit before doing a work at height A work permit should be issued by a competent person by inspecting the workplace before doing the work. Never allow any workers to work without getting a height work permit. All the safety rules must be foolowed before giving the permit.
Precautions on working at height Before doing any works precautions must be taken to minimize accidents.. Before any work carry out risk assessment. Avoid work at height where it is reasonably practicable to do so. Minimise the distance and consequences of a fall, by using the right type of equipment where the risk cannot be eliminated. Safety belts should be provided to gas cutters working on heights on ships. Only trained gas cutters are allowed to go on board for cutting. Always use proper PPE’s
Give training to the workers by training classes and also by giving them ‘TOOL BOX TALKS’ Mark the area by signboards to avoid falls from heights where there is more chance of falls such as edges, near tanks etc…
RISK ASSESSMENT Examples of what to consider include: the work activity equipment to be used location of the work and any hazards working environment (weather, lighting) condition of existing work surfaces duration of the work physical capabilities of workers
FALL PROTECTION Fall protection can be done by many methods such as Proper use of PPE’s Proper use of harness Using fallback arrestor Using ladder properly By proper barricading Understanding acceptable anchor point Understanding appropriate fall distance
GENERAL PPE’S
USE OF HARNESS Always use safety harness while working at a height more than 1.8 metres. Safety belt alone wont save you from fall , there are other equipments that should be connected to this safety belt called as connectors such as snaphooks or Dee-rings, connection points, lanyards, deceleration devices, lifelines, etc …
Know the A, B, Cs of Personal Fall Arrest Systems Anchorages Body harness Components (connectors like snaphooks or Dee-rings, connection points, lanyards, deceleration devices, lifelines, etc.)
LANYARDS Lanyards are typically short sections of webbing or cable that are usually attached to the D-ring of a workers safety harness. Usually a double lanyard is used.
LIFELINES A lifeline is a fall protection safety device in the form of an open fence composed of wire and stanchions secured around the perimeter of an area to prevent accidental falls. Lanyards are connected to the lifelines while these lanyards are connected with safety harness. 2 types of lifelines Horizontal lifelines A horizontal lifeline is typically a cable that is installed parallel to a fall hazard Vertical lifelines Vertical Lifelines are ropes and cables that can be attached overhead of a ladder or the slope of a building.
HORIZONTAL LIFELINES VERTICAL LIFELINES
BARRICADING All openings through which workers are liable to fall should be kept effectively covered or fenced and indicated in the most appropriate manner.
USE OF LADDERS Not banned but should only work from a ladder (including step ladder) when other equipment such as a tower scaffold is not suitable for light work that takes a few minutes of the correct type and in good condition placed on firm level ground and properly secured and set at the correct length and angle for the job
Ladders If a ladder is properly used it: Enables only one person to climb or descend at any one time Enables only one person to work from it at any one time If not lashed at the top, requires two workers for use – one on the ladder and the other at the bottom Leaves both hands free Restricts movement Has to be safely situated and secured Has a limitation on heights at which it can be used
What is the difference? FALL ARREST SYSTEMS It is a system to prevent injuries by means of arresting an inadvertent fall . (by preventing a person from hitting the ground at a high speed.) Body Harness Lanyard Lifelines (Vertical & horizontal) Anchor Points Shock absorbers Deceleration devices Drop lines FALL RESTRAINT SYSTEMS It is a system preventing injuries by means of preventing a person who works within 2 meter from the edge of a height from inadvertently falling off the edge. Body Harness Lanyard Lifelines (Vertical & horizontal) Anchor Points
Fall Hazard Controls Hierarchy of Fall Hazard Control: First line of defense Eliminate the fall hazard Second line of defense Prevent the fall Third and last resort Control the fall
Eliminate fall hazards work from the ground Gauge at top of tank moved to ground level Use drone, equipped with camera, for inspections at heights
Prevent the fall Standard railing Top rail, mid rail, and posts Height from upper surface of top rail to floor level is 42” (+/− 3”) Mid-rail height is 21” Use an existing or ‘safe’ place of work where no additional measures are required Use working platforms with guardrails or powered access platforms Use a work restraint system (preventing someone getting into a position from which he can fall)
Prevent the fall – personal all restraint Prevent falls by keeping worker from reaching fall hazard Comprised of a body belt or body harness, an anchorage, connectors Often used when section of guardrail or hole cover is temporarily removed
TEMPORARY ANCHORAGE
PFAS – connecting components A retractable lanyard. Designed to greatly decrease the free fall distance by locking-up quickly, similar to the shoulder belt in a car. A 6 foot shock absorbing lanyard. The shock absorber decreases the forces of the fall arrest on the body to safe levels when properly used. A 6 foot non -shock absorbing lanyard. Often used for fall restraint.
Control the fall safety net systems and Air Bags Consists of specially designed mesh nets, panels, and connecting components Must be designed, installed and maintained properly
Employer Requirements Inspection Your employer must inspect the: workplace for existing and potential fall hazards fall hazard controls used; such as guardrails, covers, grates, and anchorage points You must inspect your PFAS, Positioning and Fall Restraint hardware before each use.
RESCUE FROM FALL FROM HEIGHTS SELF RESCUE It is an act or instance of an employee using his fall protection equipment to rescue him or herself if he suddenly suspends from the working position is so as to reduce the chance of accident. Worker himself tries to escape from the fall. In this he may use a footwrap system.
How to do a foot wrap Step 1 Grasp the lifeline hanging below you (that’s the trailing end). Wrap it once under your right foot starting from the inside, then loop it over the top Step 1 Step 2 Stretch the lifeline out horizontally and step into it with your left foot. Step 2
Step 3 Raise the trailing end of the lifeline and bring both parts together. You have now created a loop that will allow you to stand. Step 3 Step 4 Step 4 continue to hold on to the lifeline with both hands and stand up. This will relieve the pressure on your upper legs. When you get tired, you can shift back to a sitting position. While waiting for help, alternate between sitting in the harness and standing in the loop. You can also distribute weight between your feet and the harness. To climb up or down short distances, slide the rope grab up (to climb up) or down (to climb down); sit back down, grasp another bite of rope, then repeat the process.of the foot.
LADDER RESCUE It is the mostly used rescue if self rescue is not possible. The workers use another ladder near the fallen worker and helps him. Don’t use the same ladder which the victim is used.
If the fallen worker is suspended from a lifeline, move the worker (if possible) to an area that rescuers can access safely with a ladder. Set up the appropriate ladder(s) to reach the fallen worker. Rig separate lifelines for rescuers to use while carrying out the rescue from the ladder(s). If the fallen worker is not conscious or cannot reliably help with the rescue, at least two rescuers may be needed. If the fallen worker is suspended directly from a lanyard or a lifeline, securely attach a separate lowering line to the harness. Other rescuers on the ground (or closest work surface) should lower the fallen worker while the rescuer on the ladder guides the fallen worker to the ground (or work surface). Once the fallen worker has been brought to a safe location, administer first aid and treat the person for suspension trauma and any other injury. Arrange transportation to hospital if required. Points to be remembered..
PULLEY TECHNIQUE A technical aided-rescue system that will raise or lower a suspended worker Pulley systems are easy, inexpensive and safe Easily rescue someone within no time.
How it works ? Whenever doing job at height always be sure for emergency rescue so wear the safety harness If a worker falls then connect a wire rope with hook to the worker’s harness and the other end is connected to a proper anchor point through the pulley. So whenever a fall occurs we can easily drag him up or loose him down to a safe working floor. Also if worker is working in a confined space then a tripod should be used for rescue as shown in the above figure We can also save the unconscious workers by the method shown in this figure