CONSTRUCTION & SITE SAEFTY
TYING UP THE RISKS
Managing Director of Access North Structures, Berenice Northcott, explores the different fall
protection systems available and why when it comes to installing and maintaining them, rope access techniques are on the up.
Health and safety is paramount within any industry, but for the building and construction sector, where elevated working is unavoidable, the risks inevitably heighten, and protecting workers against significant hazards needs to be addressed accordingly.
Whether a structure is two or twenty storeys high, there are intrinsic risks involved for those responsible for construction and maintenance. Falls from height are consistently ranked amongst the most common causes of work-related fatalities and serious injuries in the UK, so having effective measures in place to prevent these is imperative, and should be a primary consideration throughout all phases of a project.
While there has been a marked upturn in media focus on occupational health and safety practices in general, the construction sector in particular has been put under a lot of scrutiny. Even the notion of ‘working at height’ is being challenged – with good reason – as falls that occur mere metres off the ground can be fatal. Hence, any working environment where the risk of falling and sustaining injuries is present, fall protection and arrest systems are crucial.
FALL PROTECTION
MECHANISMS It’s important for site managers to be aware that the requirements of every project are different where fall protection is concerned – unfortunately, there is no ‘one size fits all’ mechanism. Instead, structures and needs must be assessed to deduce which system is best; for maximum safety protection, installing the correct system for each
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roofing substrate and cost-effectivity. Of course, while value is unavoidably a key commercial consideration, it goes without saying that the priority of any contractor should always be to guarantee a safe environment for workers, with no risk overlooked.
“FALLS FROM HEIGHT ARE CONSISTENTLY RANKED AMONG
THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF WORK- RELATED FATALITIES.”
Specifying the appropriate protection or arrest system begins with a thorough site survey. This involves assessing the key requirements and obstacles of the structure, the level of access needed and the specific environmental risks. It is only after this detailed inspection has been thoroughly completed that the best fit for the particular job can be determined, and the system design can begin.
There are a number of different mechanisms available, each suited to varying site requirements. The most popular types include:
Edge protection – These simple yet highly-effective guard rails are best for rooftop edges, and include modular, counterbalanced, freestanding and top-fixed options. Fixed rails are long-lasting and demand very little maintenance, whilst freestanding versions are a high-performance alternative that removes the requirement to drill into the structure.
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