WORKING AT HEIGHT
The major cause of asset depreciation in property is through building materials biodegrading due to water ingress. It is therefore fundamental to the preservation and maintenance of all buildings that they remain as watertight as their designs will allow.
This requirement for regular maintenance, coupled with increasing amounts of rooftop plant being installed on buildings, has greatly increased levels of traffic on roofs, meaning that it is essential to have a properly planned and managed safe system of access to these areas. Many of the country’s top retailers and property companies are well aware of the importance of this, although are perhaps a little shy to admit it.
But at least they do recognise what is needed and this business is opening up at a considerable speed.
At 4see Ltd we have combined our management expertise with fall protection specialists Eurosafe Solutions, to take the headache out of administering and controlling access to these high risk areas. It is a partnership that dovetails perfectly.
We ensure that all necessary legislation is adhered to, the most suitable equipment is professionally installed, correctly maintained, contractor management issues are fully addressed and that all users are suitably and sufficiently trained. Companies are fully realising that this gives them peace of mind that all necessary precautions have been made and that ultimate liability for the safe access of buildings rests with us as their contractors.
So where should a company start? What is needed is a fully costed and clear approach to roof top safety and we make this apparent to clients. There are five distinct activities.
1
SURVEY AND CONSULTATION The first stage of any project is
to make an objective evaluation of risk. This will assess not only the reasons for working at height, but look at who needs to access the roof; how frequent this access is required; what is the competency level of the
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individuals carrying out the works and finally identify and evaluate whatever measures and equipment are in place.
2
MADE TO MEASURE PLAN Based on the findings of the
survey and consultation, clients should then be presented with a full design and specification of a “fit for purpose” access system tailored to suit specific requirements.
Businesses such as ours need a vast experience and product range to allow a solution to be found to suit every situation, from modern contemporary architecture to old and historic buildings. At all times, you must ensure that the equipment installed does not have a detrimental effect on the fabric of the building or negate any manufacturers’ warranties.
In designing the specific roof access system, the Roof Safety Management System takes complete liability away from the building owner and the consultant becomes responsible for not only ensuring that the system meets the required performance criteria, but also that the appropriate legal standards are met.
3
INSTALLATION Installing a roof access system
requires both familiarity with the products and the strict procedures that need to be followed during the installation process. By incorporating a leading installer company into the Roof Safety Management System this specialist knowledge is ensured and you get a quality nationwide service with a single point of contact throughout the installation process.
The service should include all aspects required to successfully complete the project. Developing a task specific method statement and risk assessment, and provide all temporary access equipment to ensure that the works are carried out in a safe and expedient manner with as little interruption to normal operations is a must.
4
HANDOVER AND TRAINING On completion of the works, an
operations and maintenance manual should be produced, including all test
Tomorrow’s Cleaning September 2015 | 61
certificates and as built drawings. The information contained in this will be incorporated into a detailed classroom and onsite training programme.
It has been identified by the HSE that the lack of suitable and sufficient training leads to an increase in the likelihood of accidents occurring through accidental misuse of equipment. It is therefore imperative that everyone using the installed systems is properly trained.
Full training must be made available for all employees and sub contractors required to access the roof. This covers the use of the equipment, identification of risks, rescue procedures and emergency first aid. On successful completion of the course the user is given a “passport to safety” card that is then used as ID for the measures put in place on site to control access to the roof.
5
ON-GOING SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE
It is a legislative requirement that fall protection systems are tested and re- certified annually by suitably qualified personnel. When managing multi- site facilities across several different locations it is often administratively challenging to manage this testing in an efficient and timely manner, leading to increased costs and equipment not being certified or in good usable condition.
A proper system offers a full support service package to take care of this requirement, ensuring all equipment is serviced and tested on time, keeping maintenance costs to a minimum, helping to control access to roofs and giving sound advice to the management team when required.
As we always maintain, working at height need not be hazardous. By using the right management system with a little common sense, businesses can sleep easy that they have met all their obligations.
www.4see.co.uk
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