SAFETY
ON THEEDGE
Tim Bissett reveals what you need to know about working in leading edge applications
surrounding fall protection equipment exist and are regularly updated – to help ensure manufacturers meet certain standards. T ese regulations, and the associated standards that manufacturers of fall protection equipment must meet, are important when working in leading edge applications. Here, we look at the relevant standards relating to leading edge work; what to look out for in the equipment you use and what processes you need to have in place, including the vital importance of a rescue plan.
D
WHAT IS LEADING EDGE WORK? “Leading edge” work or “edge working” is defi ned as working at any unprotected edge of a platform, fl oor or other construction point where there’s a risk that the lifeline a worker is using may come in contact with an exposed edge, or edge of the working surface. In many scenarios, leading edge
espite steady progress, falls from height remain a common cause of injury and death across Europe. T is is why regulations
applications occur when a worker is connected to an anchor point below their back D-ring, although it’s also possible when anchor points are above this position. Work in leading edge applications
presents its own unique challenges and safety hazards; one of which is the greater risk of lifelines being frayed, cut, or severed on impact with the edge in the event of a fall. T is is complicated further should the worker swing after falling, creating a pendulum-like motion. T e friction this causes can increase the likelihood of the lifeline being cut or severed. T ese potential risks place a sharp focus on testing criteria within relevant standards, following best practice and choosing the right equipment for the job. Let’s start by looking at the standards you need to be aware of. First things fi rst, before any leading edge
work takes place, check that the equipment you’re using adheres to the relevant standards. T ese these standards can seem highly complex, so we’ve broken them down below.
PPE REGULATION (EU) 2016/425 T ese regulations, which were fi rst introduced in 2018, imposed additional requirements on manufacturers of PPE, including an assessment of the risks against which the PPE is intended to protect and changes in requirements for product marking. It’s vital that purchasers of PPE take steps to ensure that their suppliers meet these new regulatory requirements. T is can be done by looking out for the CE marking affi xed to PPE. T is provides evidence of compliance with the applicable EU legislation.
EN 360 AND CNB/P/11.060 STANDARDS T is standard (EN 360:2002), relating to retractable fall arrest devices, is currently under revision and is expected to be out for review shortly prior to publication. It is likely, given their increasing popularity, that an updated standard will encompass twin- legged, as well as single-unit retractable devices. Be mindful that overhead or traditional SRLs meeting the requirements of EN 360:2002 are not necessarily designed or rated to arrest a fall over an edge. Necessary steps should always be taken to select the absolute right equipment for the job at hand.
MSA’s V-Edge SRL is designed to be used for horizontal, overhead and leading edge applications 38
www.engineerlive.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
