WORKING at HEIGHTS

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WORKING at HEIGHTS
If only I was wearing a safety harness !!
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Working at HeightsPresentation Contents

• Introduction
• Ladder Safety
• Safe Roofwork
• Scaffolding
• Mobile Scaffolds
• Mobile Elevated Working Platforms
• Fall Speed vs Reaction Time
• Fall Protection

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THE PAST

• Falls are the number one cause of fatalities in
  the construction industry accounting for
  approximately 56 of all fatalities
• All employees shall be protected from falls of 2m
  or more by the use of an approved fall protection
  system
• Railings are required at permanent elevated
  locations greater than or equal to 1.3m

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Lethal Ladders
Make sure the ladder is-

• Right for the job. Would scaffolding or a cherry
  picker be better?
• In good shape.
• Secured near the top.
• On a firm base and footing 4 up 1 out
• Rising at least 1 meter beyond the landing place
  OR that there is a proper hand hold.
• Always have a firm grip on the ladder and keep a
  good balance.
• Keep you hands free and tools in a shoulder bag
  or belt attachment

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Lethal Ladders
Use of Ladders-

• Work should only be carried out from a ladder
  when the job is of short duration and can be
  carried out safely.
• For added safety the base of the ladder should be
  staked or buried to prevent slipping.
• Ensure your footware is free from excessive mud
  or grease before you climb up the ladder.
• ALWAYS Face the ladder.

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Lethal Ladders
Hazards of Ladders-

• Dont stand ladder on drum, box or other unstable
  base
• Never attempt to repair broken ladders
• Never carry loads up ladders hoist it up
• Ladder rungs must not be used as improvised ramps
• When using metel or metal-reinforced ladders,
  make sure there are no electrical hazards in the
  near vicinity

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Ladder Safety

• No matter how quickly a job can be done, there
  is always time to fall

Unsafe
Safe
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The Roof A Risky Place To Be
Before Working on Roofs-

• Fragile materials should be identified and
  precautions decided
• Roof edge barriers (or scaffolds) must be erected
  tp prevent people and materials falling
• Access ladders must be a safe distance above the
  stepping-off point and must be secured
• Where access ladders rise above 9meters a safe
  intermediate platform must be provided

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The Roof A Risky Place To Be
Hazards of Working on Roofs-

• If you can fall more than 2 meters, guardrails
  and toe boards must be erected
• Hazards resulting from adverse weather conditions
  must be anticipated, and suitable precautions
  taken

• Wet windy or Icy weather can seriously affect
  safety

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Scaffolding

• Using ladders or scaffolding without proper
  fixing is crazy
• Putting up scaffolding, removing ties and taking
  it down again is a job for trained and
  experienced scaffolders. Leave it to them

• Never use incomplete scaffolding always inspect
  before use
• Make sure there is safe access, hand rails and
  toe boards at all edges
• Things fall on sites, wear your helmet

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Mobile Scaffold Towers

• Before Erection
• Check all components are in good condition
• Check wheels for effective rotation
• Check brakes and locking devices work correctly
• Prior to erecting towers on suspended floors,
  ensure bearing capacity of floor is sufficient
  for the planned load
• Before Use
• Ensure the tower is vertical and square
• Towers must not be used unless the wheels are
  locked
• Check that outriggers are set correctly and
  secured
• Ensure the platform is fully boarded out and
  guardrails and toe boards are fitted if working
  platform is over 2 meters

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Mobile Elevated Work Platforms

• Do not operate without pre-use inspection and
  unless you are trained
• Check condition of tyres, toe boards and
  guardrails, look for leaking hydraulic fluids
• Look out for overhead obstructions such as power
  cables, unstable ground, other equipment or
  personnel near-by
• Only use on firm level ground, make sure
  outriggers are properly extended and chocked
  before raising the platform
• Always wear a safety harness secured to the
  platform by lanyard. Safety means staying in the
  basket and not climbing on the guardrails
• Place barricades and warning signs around the
  planned working radius
• Traveling with a boom, is always in the direction
  of travel and at creep speed and only if
  equipment is designed to allow this
• Know what to do if machine fails with platform in
  raised position

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FALL SPEED Vs REACTION TIME
In 1 second your body will fall 10m

• Good body reaction time
• 0.2 seconds

• Travel distance in 0.2 seconds 2m

By the time you react your body will be 2m below
where you were standing
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Fall Protection

• Fall arrest
• Limits free fall to within 2 vertical metres of
  the initiation point which reduces force by
  decreasing fall distance
• Consists of a(n)
• Lanyard
• Anchorage Point
• Full Body Harness
• Attachment Strap

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Fall ProtectionLanyard A device made of rope,
wire or nylon strap used to connect the
individual to an anchorage point and stop the
individual in the event of a fall

• Lanyards should
• Be inspected prior to use
• Be protected against being cut or abraded
• Have a minimum breaking strength of 2270kg
• Be the appropriate length
• Be attached to an anchorage not to itself

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Safety Equipment for Fall-Arrest
Shock Absorbing Lanyards Material in the pack
tears absorbing shock and reducing risk of
injury. Available with web or rope lanyards.
Twin Tailed Lanyard The expandable twin tailed
lanyard is an ideal choice for situations where
100 tie-off is required.
Expandable Lanyard Especially useful for
scaffolds, steel erectors and construction
workers where tripping might be a risk.
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Fall ProtectionAnchorage Point A secure
point of attachment for lifelines, lanyards or
deceleration devices

• Anchorage points used for attachment of personal
  fall arrest equipment must be
• Located at or above the employees waist
• Capable of supporting more than 2270kg per
  employee
• Designed and built to hold the maximum force of
  the fall arrest

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Fall Protection

• Full body harness
• The attachment point of a body harness is located
  in the center of the wearers back near shoulder
  level
• Body belts are not allowed on sites
• Snaphooks shall be a double locking-type

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WHAT YOU NEED?

• Full body harness complete with rear dorsal ring
  (EN 361)
• 1.75m fixed length lanyard (EN 362)
• Shock absorbing device (EN 355)
• 55mm opening scaffold hook for one handed
  operation (EN 362)

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Fall Protection

• Care for fall arrest systems
• After a fall arrest, the equipment will no longer
  be used (equipment will be disposed of or
  destroyed)
• Clean equipment after use
• Air dry equipment, do not hang in direct sunlight
• Store equipment in a cool, dark, dry well
  ventilated place

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Working at Heights

• No job is so important that it cannot be done
  safely
• UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES ARE PERSONS WORKING ON
  THIS SITE TO PUT THEMSELVES IN DANGER
• BEST - BE Safe Today