Key Safety Tips for Workers who work at Height

Working at height denotes to any work where a person could possibly fall and harm themselves. A roof’s edge, an opening on the floor, and even a loading dock can be considered working at height. In overall industry, fall protection is essential by OSHA for any height. Here are safety tips to help moderate the risk of working at height.

Use Railing: Railing is a form of Passive safety, the easiest and most recommended way to keep workers safe while accomplishing compliance. There are railing system for almost every style of roof such as non-penetrating roof railing, parapet mounted railing, metal roof railing, and more. Irrespective of which type use, once in place, find rails to be the easiest fall protection system to use.

Proper PPE: If going to use Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS), need to confirm choosing the proper equipment. Full-body harnesses that meet ANSI standards will accomplish the same, despite their cost. However, that price difference can get something extra. Certain, sometimes it’s just a name, but other times its functionality that gaining or sacrificing, such as extra D-rings, fireproof material, or arc-safe design. Do research and determine what really want. If have workers welding at heights, then a standard nylon harness perhaps won’t have the heat protection that need; Kevlar might be the best option. Comfort is significant, but the main concern has to be the capability to adjust the harness so it fits the user properly, confirming it works as designed.

Safety lanyards essential to be correctly selected as well. Depending on the height at which are working, a 6’ lanyard with a deceleration device may not protect worker. Instead, a retractable lanyard might be necessary. Each situation is different, so essential to evaluate working conditions and the task to be performed in order to give employees something that will actually protect them.

Inspect PPE: Got the equipment then employee needs to confirm a protected work environment. That won’t matter if the systems are damaged to the point that they fail. Harnesses and lanyards essential to be inspected yearly, if not more regularly, by a capable person. Though, PPE should be examined by the user prior to every use. It’s significant that anyone who might be using the devices understands what they’re looking for, what is acceptable or not, and the steps to take should there be a problem. This period could be the difference between life and death.

Understand Fall Distance: Wear all the fall protection equipment in the world, but if it fails to engage before hit something. It is not rare to go onto a construction site or witness a maintenance crew in a plant and see a worker at 10-12’ off the ground wearing a 6’ lanyard with a deceleration device. While at first look might think that it should work, there are many reasons why it won’t.

First, add 3.5’ of distance to account for the positioning of deceleration device. Already that means the lanyard is equal to a 9.5’ drop. Unless a 6" tall person, this is some pretty bad news. Actual fall distance needs to not only contain the length of lanyard when deployed but also body length below the D-ring AND any sag in harness and anchor system. Count on a good 18.5’ minimum before able to use a 6’ lanyard with a deceleration device. Properly calculate the minimum distance for fall clearance before need to use the system.

Acceptable Anchor Point: By this point, might be realizing that there are a lot of factors complicated when it comes to fall safety, especially PPE. An anchor point is only acceptable if:

• it’s intended and permitted by a professional engineer that has calculated the expected loads.
• it can obviously handle a load of 5,000 pounds.

Since many structures will not endure these forces, choose structural steel with a proper beam clamp. Or, if fixed properly, a manufactured roofing cart or anchor.

Use the Proper Equipment for Working at Height: In some situations, a scaffold is going to be best solution to work at heights. If so, equip the scaffolding with railing. This safety protection will make fall protection much easier to address. Other times, scaffolds will be infeasible and find a lift.

Proper Use of Aerial Lifts: Correctly tied-off, not only means that they need to be protected to the engineered anchor point designed for the lift, but it means that they can’t covering their lanyard around the rails and they essential to have a lanyard that is really going to protect them at the height at which they are working. With scissor lifts, things get different. While the site is working on or the owner of the project may require to tie-off on a scissor lift, there is no regulatory requirement to do so. Still, even the smallest mistake can risk life. It could simply be forgetting to close gate or secure chain. One basic step takes to decrease the risk of a fall is keeping both feet planted firmly on the work platform.

Training: If employees want to work safely at heights, they must be accurately trained. Period. Not only is training required, but there is just too much error and confusion when it comes to a person trying to defend themselves at height without proper knowledge. Falls are the top killer in construction. It’s not just in construction, people in other industries die from fall accidents as well. Support employees with Scaffolding and Work at Height Safety Training, this training will provide knowledge with all the safety aspects of scaffolding and work at height, it is very useful to improve safety and health of workers where work at height is compulsory.

Source:

https://ohsawareness.wordpress.com/2022/07/27/key-safety-tips-for-workers-who-work-at-height/

Ian Colin has published many articles regarding ISO Certification. Ian has rich experience as a online publisher and prepared various Certification documents as per ISO guideline since large amount of years in his professional career.