• Introduction

• Why do we need to understand the risks?

• Legislation (HSAWA and WAH Regs)

• Chalcroft Company Policy (extracts/location)

• Examples of working at height equipment

• Types of fall from height (excavation/roof/void/ladder/plant/fragile surfaces…)

• Hierarchy of control

• Preventing falls , choice of equipment

• Inspection (requirements – MEWP/ladder/harness…)

• Disciplinary (cards Y/R/G)

• Reporting issues (EHS Dept, Near Miss/Hazard)

• External information (HSE…)

• Avoid, Prevent, Reduce (summary)

• This presentation and training session has been established to provide information and raise awareness to one of the most high risk activities undertaken in the construction industry.

• In recognition of the risks and the requirement to plan, manage and control safe working at height Chalcroft has launched an ongoing campaign under the slogan:

• ‘Safe Work at Height – No Excuse’

• The information provided is to assist you in ensuring you have the best understanding to manage work at height and promote safe work at height to other employees and contractors.

• If you would like any further information, training, support or assistance please speak to a member of the EHS Department.

Why do we need to understand the risks?

• Any fall from a roof inevitably involves at least a serious injury. The risks are

substantial, however long or short the work.

• Many have been killed who only meant to be on the roof for a few minutes ‘to

have a quick look’ or to carry out a small repair.

Why?

• Sir Isaac Newton -- The Discoverer of Gravity! He discovered Gravity when he saw a falling apple while thinking about the forces of nature.

• Gravity kills

• More fatal accidents in construction caused by falls than anything else

• Two biggest classes of fatal falls are domestic roof level repairs.

The Law - Work at Height Regulations 2005

• The purpose of The Work at Height Regulations 2005 is to prevent death and injury caused by a fall from height.

• 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

• Use competent people

• PREVENT FALLS, REDUCE INJURY

Company Procedures Manual/Arrangements

SharepointEHS/Documents/Policy

• 3.17 Roof Work and Working at Height Page

• Take time to review the Company policy reference to WAH

• In all circumstances no person must be exposed to a fall from height, persons working at height must be confident and competent in the works they are to carry out and a detailed RAM’s must be completed and agreed with all relevant persons prior to works commencing

Examples of working at height equipment

• Using working platforms such as scaffolds, tower.

• Scaffolds, cherry pickers, scissor lifts and podium steps.

• Work on a roof, Harness lanyards

• Using ladders or stepladders.

Dangers from Working at Height

Fragile roofs

Falls due tounprotected

edges

Falls from ladders

Fragile Roofs

• Sheet materials including asbestos cement or skylights will not support

weight

• Walking on the bolts is not acceptable

• Work from underneath from a MEWP wherever possible (special roof fixings

available to allow this)

Hazards?

Risks?

Implication?

Effects?

Claims?

Family?

Hazards?

Risks?

Implication?

Effects?

Claims?

Family?

Hazards?

Risks?

Implication?

Effects?

Claims?

Family?

Hazards?

Risks?

Implication?

Effects?

Claims?

Family?

Hazards?

Risks?

Implication?

Effects?

Claims?

Family?

Hazards?

Risks?

Implication?

Effects?

Claims?

Family?

Hazards?

Risks?

Implication?

Effects?

Claims?

Family?

Hazards?

Risks?

Implication?

Effects?

Claims?

Family?

• Training

• RAMS

• Use the correct equipment

• Inspections

• EHS Department

• Policies

• Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• Permits

Stand back! think about it!

there is always a safer way

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

Appropriate use of ladders?

Winds and other horizontal loads

• Wind can exert horizontal loadings onto a tower which can result in the tower overturning.

• During normal working conditions the towers weight and use of stabilisers and outriggers counteract the overturning.

• If wind speeds exceed 17mph work on the tower should cease. If the wind speed is likely to reach 25mph the tower should be tied to a rigid structure.

• If the wind speed is to reach 40mph or above the tower should be dismantled.

• Care must also be taken by operatives working on the tower using equipment that causes a pushing action.

Scaffolding (Work at Height Regulations 2005)

• Handover certificates must be issued or requested from scaffolding contractorsafter completion.

• The scaffold and certificate should only be accepted when the site management issatisfied the scaffolding is completed to the ordered requirements. The certificateis to be retained within the site files.

• Formal statutory inspections must be carried out weekly (once every 7 days);following alterations or after inclement weather which may affect the scaffold. Theresults of all inspections must be entered into the site file.

• Scaftags or notices displayed on scaffolding showing an inspection has beencompleted are good practice but are not a compulsory requirement on Chalcroftsites.

• Weekly inspection of scaffolding should ideally be carried out by the scaffoldingcontractor however suitably trained and competent persons may carry outinspections also.

• All operatives constructing and dismantling towers will be competent to do so by undergoing training to a recognised standard (PASMA).

• Operatives that have not been trained must be experienced in the safe method of constructing and dismantling towers to manufacturers specifications.

• Towers must always be erected to the required method ensuring safe work at height at all times.

• Only the correct type and number of components are to be used and are to be checked prior to erection to ensure they are compatible and are in good condition.

• Defective parts are not to be used and the tower must not be built without the correct and suitable sections complete.

Mobile Scaffold Towers

• Employees when selecting work equipment for working at height must follow the hierarchy below. Where doubt exists on what is suitable and safe equipment site management must be consulted.

Note: No lone working is permitted where work at height is to be carried out.

a) Existing structures (safe platforms and places) b) Temporary Platforms

• Scaffolding • MEWP’s • Mobile or static access towers • Podium platforms

c) Ladders and Stepladders - last resort option and must justify not using other safer equipment via risk assessment

• Where work takes place on flat, sloping or pitched roofs, adequate edge protectionor fall prevention must be provided and in place.

• If this is not achievable and access is to be made via a scissor lift; safe access andegress must be made from the machine onto the roof top ensuring there is no riskto any persons falling from height.

• This can be achieved by extending the scissor lift platform out onto the roof.Consideration must be taken for the movement of the machine. Where there is nodefined safe access point on the roof top and no edge protection, scaffolding railsmust be constructed out from the scissor lift platform 2 metres away from theedge.

• The working area must then be defined via barriers, traffic cones, red and whitetape or similar maintaining the 2 metre distance from an exposed edge. Whereworks are to take place along an unprotected edge suitable fall protection or edgeprotection must be installed.

• Prevent tools and materials falling

• Throwing materials or debris (bombing) never acceptable

• Warn employees about danger areas

• You need to make sure that equipment such as scaffolds are checked

- After assembly or installation

- At suitable intervals or after exceptional circumstances

• Scaffold and tower scaffold inspection in each new position and then every 7

days

• Inspection of MEWPs on site within previous 7 days

Before working at height you must work through these simple steps:

First assess the risks.

• avoid work at height where it is reasonably practicable to do so

• where work at height cannot be easily avoided, prevent falls using either an

existing place of work that is already safe or the right type of equipment

• minimise the distance and consequences of a fall, by using the right type of

equipment where the risk cannot be eliminated

Before working at height you must work through these simple steps:

You should:

• do as much work as possible from the ground

• ensure workers can get safely to and from where they work at height

• ensure equipment is suitable, stable and strong enough for the job, maintained

and checked regularly

• not overload or overreach when working at height

• take precautions when working on or near fragile surfaces

• provide protection from falling objects

• consider emergency evacuation and rescue procedures

Collective Fall Prevention

Controlling Working at Height

Guardrail offering Collective Fall Protection

Fall Restraint System prevents person reaching the fall risk

Fall Arrest System minimises injury in the event of a fall

Disciplinary Cards Procedures

• Red Card which shall be issued as a result of a serious breach in

safe working practices or requirements which has, or could

result in, serious injury or harm. The Red Card will result in the

individual or contractor being immediately removed from site

and permanently banned from all future Chalcroft sites until

further notice.

• Yellow disciplinary card which may be issued where there has been a minor but

potentially serious breach in site, client, legislative, RAMS or Permit

requirements.

• A near miss is an unplanned event that did not result in injury, illness, or

damage – but had the potential to do so. Only a fortunate break in the chain

of events prevented an injury, fatality or damage.

Reporting a Near miss or a hazard

Golden rules

• Plan

• Choose the right equipment to

Prevent Falls

Reduce Injury

• Competent workers

Don’t chance it !!