FEATURE
TETHERED TOOLS OF THE TRADE
In 2017/18, 11% of the 38 deaths and 12% of 58,000 injuries in construction were caused by being struck by a moving (including flying/falling) object. Stopping tools and materials falling from height can reduce the risk of accidents significantly, says OnSite Support ’s Damian Lynes.
It is fairly certain that a significant number of deaths and injuries in the construction industry, are caused by objects falling from height and hitting someone directly or, as is often the case, ricocheting off something on their way down and becoming a ‘flying’ or ‘moving’
object.
Even a dropped tape measure can kill – a 500g object dropped from 15 metres has the same impact energy as a 75kg washing machine. And a 3.6kg spanner falling from 67 metres and hitting a bar six metres off the ground can, in theory, be deflected up to 128 metres horizontally.
Despite this, there is no specific UK guidance on how to prevent materials, tools and other objects falling from height on construction sites. The 2005 Working at Height Regulations state employers must take ‘suitable and sufficient steps’ to prevent the fall of materials and objects and stop anyone being hit, but organisations are responsible for deciding how to tackle the issue.
Companies need to assess the risk to those carrying out the work, their colleagues working or moving in, around and below the area and in a lot of cases, the general public. They must also incorporate education and training, to ensure procedures are followed by everyone on site, including subcontractors.
Toe boards and netting on scaffolding, along with exclusion zones beneath the working area, are common strategies. But these only go so far, particularly as ricocheting of objects means exclusion
zones can be rendered ineffective, or impractical to enforce. So, alongside these measures, storing materials securely (and minimising storage at height in the first place), plus using tool tethering systems, are vital.
The PPE industry has developed a wide range of belts, harnesses and tethers for almost all handheld tools, from spanners to power drills, designed for any number of tasks. There are retractable systems to prevent lanyards becoming entangled, systems allowing tools to be changed quickly and easily and wrist straps and loops that enable tools to be swapped between hands safely.
Using tethered systems does not necessarily mean having to replace tools either; they can often be retrofitted with loops and rings, enabling them to be attached securely to belts and lanyards.
Training is also crucial, to ensure everyone understands the risks and how they can be mitigated. It is also worth speaking to PPE suppliers, who will visit site to audit work plans and provide independent and expert advice on the most appropriate systems for activities and working conditions. Some will also give toolbox talks and ‘hands-on’ training that mirror the safety messages organisations want to promote.
Construction has worked hard to reduce deaths and injuries caused by falls from height; now the same rigorous approach should be applied to the safety of those on the ground, by minimising the risk of tools and materials from becoming falling, flying and moving objects – we certainly have the means to do so.
www.onsite-support.co.uk
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www.tomorrowshs.com
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