WORKING AT HEIGHT GET A GRIP
Lee Mills, Director of Health & Safety at Citation, explores life on the edge by highlighting the role handrails can play to ensure worker safety at height.
According to RIDDOR, over half of the fatal injuries to workers are the result of three things; falling from height, being struck by a vehicle and being struck by a moving object.
As one of the most common causes of injury, and even fatality, in the workplace, the Construction Design Management (CDM) and Work at Height Regulations require that employers and self-employed contractors assess all risks associated with working at height, as well as organise, supervise and plan projects so that work is carried out safely by competent people.
When they were invoked, the Work at Height Regulations implemented a hierarchy of control:
• Avoid work at height.
• Prevent falls using existing workplace.
• Prevent falls using collective equipment.
• Prevent falls using PPE.
• Mitigate (minimise the distance fallen using collective equipment).
• Mitigate the distance using PPE.
• Minimise consequences using collective equipment.
• Minimise the consequences through training and instruction.
One of the best methods of preventing falls collectively is via the use of handrails; these systems can be very effective at preventing falls from structures as they are erected. The systems range from handrail and mesh panels to stairways, flat roof and counter weighted systems.
To comply with CDM, they should be fixed to the structure at ground level and lifted as one so that no-one has to work at an open edge at height, for example, when lifting steel beams or lifting pre-fabricated staircases.
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These systems can be fixed using clamps to the component to be lifted or fixed into sockets designed into the manufacturing process. They come in different heights too, ranging from 1200mm to 1800mm, allowing clients the opportunity to choose which is best for maximum security for those working at height.
With this in mind, it is important to think about edge protection early on, long before the components arrive on site.
Temporary edge protection systems should comply with BS EN 13374, which are tested to withstand certain loading. There are three classes of edge protection (A to C) depending on the gradient of the surface for which they are to provide protection. Generally speaking the classes are: Class A is for flat to generally up to 10 degrees, Class B for flat to 30 degrees and Class C for sloping surfaces up to 45 degrees.
The Edge Protection Federation is a good source of guidance since they were formulated to encourage safer methods of providing collective edge protection.
There are many common failings with handrail installations however, such as missing components, connection clashes leaving excessive gaps, raised kickboards that are not replaced, and handrails that have been removed to gain access but not put back in place. Due diligence and extra care and attention from employers and their employees can prevent all of the above.
Another issue whereby the use of handrails can eradicate or control the risk is on vehicles, where accidents do occur, such as slipping or falling from a load or access steps or ladders.
Inappropriate footwear, lack
of awareness or training, slippery vehicle decks from existing or split material and poor weather tend to be typically responsible.
“THE CONSTRUCTION
DESIGN MANAGEMENT (CDM) AND WORK AT HEIGHT REGULATIONS
REQUIRE THAT EMPLOYERS AND SELF-EMPLOYED
CONTRACTORS ASSESS ALL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH WORKING AT HEIGHT.”
A good example is an incident I recently attended where a delivery driver suffered an injury requiring the Air Ambulance because he slipped off his vehicle due to a spillage. The driver faced that common failing of time versus risk – do I take the time to clean up the spillage or do I carry on and do my next delivery sooner? The driver did not clean up the spillage and he slipped, fell off the vehicle and landed on his back, injuring his spine. Just a few minutes would have changed the outcome, completely eliminating the pain and suffering experienced.
When working at height awareness at all times is important. By regularly encouraging employees to be vigilant and remain fully up-to-date with the latest legislation working at height will be much safer.
www.citation.co.uk www.tomorrowshs.com
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