WORK AT HEIGHT UNIT 4

Transcription

1 WORK AT HEIGHT UNIT 4

2 WHAT IS WORKING AT HEIGHT? The Working At Height Regulations 2005 define working at height as:- Any work above or below ground level where a fall would result in personal injury. These regulations apply to anybody who works at height, manages or plans work at height and those who control equipment for work at height.

3 WORK AT HEIGHT REGULATIONS 2005 The Regulations consolidate good practice of work at height The Regulations require: proper planning and organization of work at height appropriate supervision of work at height appropriate work equipment selection and use proper inspection and maintenance of equipment emergency procedures and rescue provision competency of all involved in work at height (trained, experienced, qualified) The most Reasonably & practicable safest method of working at height should be selected A balance between the risk, delivery and time line of work should be maintained 3

4 WAH REGS 2005:- REGULATION 5 EVERY EMPLOYER SHALL ENSURE THAT NO PERSON ENGAGES IN ANY ACTIVITY INCLUDING ORGANISATION, PLANNING AND SUPERVISION, IN RELATION TO WORKING AT HEIGHT OR WORK EQUIPMENT FOR USE IN SUCH WORK, UNLESS HE IS COMPETENT TO DO SO, OR IF BEING TRAINED IS BEING SUPERVISED BY A COMPETENT PERSON.

5 COMPETENCY Competent to do what? Planning / Management Inspection of Equipment Use, Installation or Erection of Equipment Rescue Suitability of personnel physical ability and fitness

6

7 TRAINING Essential for the competence of your work force. Ensure the correct mandatory training is delivered for the correct trade Ensure records are kept, mandatory refresher training undertaken at required intervals

8 Fall statistics HSE reports Falls are the biggest killer in the workplace 2006 = 247 deaths, 52 of which were due to falls from height = 21% 2007 = 229 deaths, 58 of which were due to falls from height = 25% 2008 = 180 deaths, 65 of which were due to falls from height = 36% 2009 = 151 deaths, 53 of which were due to falls from height = 35% 2010 = 171 deaths, 45 of which were due to falls from height = 26% 2011 = 220 deaths, 53 of which were due to falls from height = 24% 8

9 Fatal falls in industry figures for 2011 Falls through Fragile surfaces/roofs accounted for 17 deaths Falls from Scaffold accounted for 12 deaths Falls from Man- riding accounted for 9 deaths Falls from Ladders/Stairs accounted for 8 deaths Falls into Open pits/holes accounted for 6 deaths Falls from Rope access accounted for 1 death Construction - 29 = 54.7% Services - 14 = 26.4% Agriculture - 7 = 13.2% Manufacturing - 2 = 3.8% Offshore Oil & Gas - 1 = 1.9% Across the UK there were almost absences over 3 days resulting from a fall from height. 25% of these were regarded as major injuries. 9

10 Is this acceptable behaviour today?

11 Oh really!!!!!

12 Fatal fall from a height On the 7 th of March 2008 a colleague observed the erection of a tower crane. Noticing the lack of common sense on site, he approached the supervisor. The response was as follows NO PROBLEM - they are experts and have been doing the same for many years in the UAE. Coincidentally he took some pictures and at the end of the day there was a fatality. Sometimes all of us need a wake up call to remind us, that over confidence due to the repetitive nature of the job and experience overseeing safety procedures and precautions can lead to FATAL results. Please pass on to work colleagues and contractors alike. 12

13 13

14 14

15 15

16 16

17 17

18 18

19 19

20 20

21 21

22 THE HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK ACT 1974 Everyone involved in work of any kind must adhere to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 Any breach of the requirements is an offence The Act secures the health, safety and welfare of people at work The Act protects third parties against risks to their health and safety caused by work activity The Act states employers duties The Act states employees duties ANY BREACH OF THIS ACT CAN RESULT IN A FINE OR PRISON 22

23 HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK ACT 1974 So What Are Employers Duties? Ensure that all work is carried out in a manner that is reasonably and practically safe. Ensure that any person involved in each aspect of WAH is competent. Ensure that equipment used is fit for purpose, controlled and traceable. Ensure a plan for emergencies is in place.

24 MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK REGULATIONS 1999 Regulations apply to all workplaces and to all employees including self-employed and employees of a third party Adequate steps must be taken by employer to protect employees Employees must be informed about any health and safety risk Risk assessment must be done by a group of competent people and risk assessment must be recorded Employee s duty is to follow health and safety instructions and arrangements 24

25 The Working At Height Regulations and the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations require any planning of WAH should be done based on a risk assessment. 5 steps of Risk Assessment Look for the hazard Decide who might be harmed and how Evaluate the risks and decide whether the existing precautions are adequate or whether more should be done Record your findings where necessary Review your assessment Selection of methods of work at height should be carried out with respect to the potential risk due to falls.

26 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AT WORK REGULATIONS 1992 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT REGULATIONS 2002 PPE shall be marked with a CE stamp Suitable PPE should be provided by employer PPE shall fit the wearer correctly PPE shall be effective to prevent or control the risks PPE should be provided with proper information, instruction and training PPE should be kept in efficient state, maintained and stored properly PPE should be regarded as the last resort of protection against the risks to health and safety 26

27 How do we plan working at height? 27

28 HIERARCHY OF SAFETY MEASURES AVOID If you do not have to access don t PREVENT If you can not avoid work at height use measures in place to prevent potential fall so far as it is reasonably practicable. This might include doing the work safely from an existing work place or choosing the right work equipment to prevent falls MITIGATE If it is not reasonably practicable to avoid work at height or prevent the fall then mitigate the effects of a fall - minimize the distance of fall and impact on the technician body 28

29 AVOID Is it completely necessary to carry out the work while at height? Where possible you should design out the need to work at height for example: - Loads can be pre-slung using long sling to avoid climbing on the load to sling it. - Redesign process and sampling equipment to ground level, or build access platforms at construction. - Fill voids so there is no fall hazard.

30 AVOID

31 PREVENT Can the work be conducted from an existing place of work which has sufficient protection, i.e. Is there edge protection? If yes, Is this protection adequate? For example will he need to reach over a barrier, or stand on a guard rail to reach his task?

32 PREVENT USING COLLECTIVE MEASURES Collective measures are those that offer protection to multiple workers. They often require minimal input from the user they are there to protect. Consideration must be made to ensure that those required to erect and dismantle collective measures are not placed at risk.

33 PREVENT USING COLLECTIVE MEASURES Mobile Elevated Work Platforms e.g. Scissor lifts, Mast Climbers, Cradles BS8460 Safe Use of MEWPS. Code of Practice International Powered Access Federation

34 FORCE GENERATED IN A FALL USING A 2m WORK RESTRAINT LANYARD 4 m long fall with Fall Factor 2 Static rope or restraint lanyard No energy absorption generates:- 22kn or 2200kg force based on a large adult of 100kg

35 IS THIS SAFE USE OF A MEWP? What is this operative doing wrong? What could be changed in his method of work to prevent things like this reoccurring? Who is responsible?

36 PREVENT USING COLLECTIVE MEASURES Edge protection, e.g. temporary hand rails EN13374:2004 Temporary Edge Protection Systems..

37 PREVENT USING COLLECTIVE MEASURES Temporary Working Platforms e.g. scaffolds and portable access towers EN12811:2003 Temporary works Equipment. Scaffolds National Access and Scaffold Confederation (NASC) Portable Access Scaffold Manufacturers Association (PASMA)

38 IS THIS SAFE METHOD OF WORKING? What are the operatives doing wrong? What could be changed in their method of work to prevent things like this reoccurring? Who is responsible?

39 MITIGATE USING COLLECTIVE MEASURES Soft landing systems such as safety nets and air bags.

40 METHODS OF W.A.H. USING PPE? WORK RESTRAINT WORK POSITION FALL ARREST

41 METHODS OF W.A.H. USING PPE? WORK RESTRAINT PPE restrict user movements and prevent them to approach the fall hazard Effective technique provides the highest level of safety There is no risk of fall, no suspension, no rescue but evacuation system necessary

42 METHODS OF W.A.H. USING PPE? What is the operative doing wrong? What could be changed in their method of work to prevent things like this reoccurring? Who is responsible?

43 METHODS OF W.A.H. USING PPE? WORK POSITION PPE suspends the user in the work position Requires careful equipment selection and proper training Requires back-up system Requires rescue plan and rescue provisions 43

44 METHODS OF W.A.H. USING PPE? Rope access There are 3 levels in the IRATA system. 1. No pre requisites but must be fit and have aptitude for heights Hours carrying out rope access, + 1 year working as level 1 3. Further 1000 hours carrying out rope access + 1 year working as level 2. The training is assessed by Independent IRATA assessor

45 METHODS OF W.A.H. USING PPE? What are the operatives doing wrong? What could be changed in their method of work to prevent things like this reoccurring? Who is responsible?

46 METHODS OF W.A.H. USING PPE? FALL ARREST PPE does not prevent against a fall PPE arrests the fall in a controlled manner and minimizes the impact force to less than 6kn or 600kg based on a large adult of 100kg There must be adequate clearance distance below the user PPE must be suitable for use Requires rescue plan and rescue provisions

47 METHODS OF W.A.H. USING PPE? FALL ARREST FALL ARREST LANYARDS INERTIA REELS MOBILE FALL ARREST 47

48

49 LADDERS Ladders are not banned but HSE encourage the appropriate use of ladders Industrial ladders or stepladders for use at work Ladder can be used when there is no other reasonably practicable method of work, they are often the easy way rather then the right way to do a job Short duration of work (maximum of minutes work at a single position) 3 points of contact (one hand free to grip the ladder, avoid holding items) Light weight nature of work (up to 10 kg is acceptable, up to 25 kg must be justified, above 25 kg not acceptable)

50

51 Safe use of ladders?

52 RESCUE AND EVACUATION When planning any work at height, provision for rescue / evacuation must be made. This must be properly planned and practiced. A rescue from suspension should be carried out within 10 minutes and before the emergency service response. It is not acceptable to rely on the emergency services unless prior consultation with them has taken place.

53 SUSPENSION INTOLERANCE What s the risk? (Potential death) Who is at risk? (The operative) When? (After a fall into free space) What is the risk? (blood pooling similar to being buried) How can it be handled? (casualty should be placed in the recovery position to help oxygenate the brain)