Height Safety Technical Aspects and Training
RISK ASSESSMENT
PROCEDURES
Prior to any work being carried out where a risk of a fall could occur, a risk assessment should be conducted to identify the hazards that
exist and the risks that they pose.
Simple Risk Assessment Procedure
This table is a sample only as many other hazard factors can and will come into account. Other issues to be addressed at this stage include, but are not limited to: Nature of the work, surface materials, fragile roofing material, personal training levels, competency, weather conditions, surface conditions, etc.
Reference should be made to AS/NZS1891.4 for the Correct Use, Selection and Maintenance criteria for Height Safety Systems. It is recommended that wherever possible a “Restraint technique” system is used. This is a system where a person using fall arrest rated equipment, is prevented from reaching a position from where a fall is possible.
The image to the right is of a working group undertaking a pre work risk assessment and inspecting all equipment to be used on the job. The equipment inspection is recorded on a register, and with the work method statement discussed in a toolbox talk.
WORKING AT
HEIGHT
General Principles of Safely Working at Heights
Work sites today pose hazards that can cause serious harm. The responsibility to end each and every day safely rests not only with your employer
but more importantly with yourself. In today's workplace you need to be aware of the hazards that are present and look at the ways that these
hazards can be identified.
This principle has been used in many very high risk occupations for some time, and the benefits have been rewarding with a noticeable reduction
in accidents statistics. A risk assessment – hazard reduction programme is covered on the previous page and Active Lifting recommend that all
users of height safety equipment, should use a risk assessment programme to identify the hazards that could cause injury.
General Terminology used in Fall Prevention
Restraint Technique – To control a persons movement by means
of a combination of a harness, and an energy absorbing lanyard
that will physically prevent the person from reaching a position
at which there is a risk of a free fall.
Restrained Fall - A fall or the arrest of a fall where the person suffering the fall is partially restrained by a restraining device such as a pole strap or is sliding down a slope on which it is normally possible to walk without the assistance of a hand rail or hand line.
Limited Free Fall - A fall or the arrest of a fall where the fall
distance prior to the system taking the load, and the maximum
distance of any free fall component will not exceed 600mm.
Free Fall Arrest - A fall or the arrest of a fall where the fall distance before the fall-arrest system begins to take any loading, is in excess of 600mm either vertically or on a slope which is not possible to walk without assistance of a handrail or hand line. Maximum Free Fall distance permitted is 2m, with a shock absorbing lanyard. (Please note fall clearance requirements
at bottom of this page)
Fall Arrest Considerations
When using fall arrest type equipment, it is essential that there be adequate clearance under the area of work so that in the event of a fall, the user will not strike the ground or any other hazardous objects during the fall.
If it is assessed that the occurrence of a fall would endanger the user then other alternatives of fall protection systems must be considered. This may include the use of shorter shock absorbing lanyards, retracting lanyards or adjustable lanyards. In each case the fall clearance must be identified and the hazards associated with fall clearance eliminated.
With the reduction of free fall distances other benefits can occur, if the free fall distance is reduced then the load on the system and the person could be reduced, also the recovery method and time may be significantly reduced if the users fall distance is kept to a minimum.
Wherever possible the attachment point for a fall arrest system should be located above the users attachment point on the harness, when this is not possible the shock absorbing lanyard length must be reduced to ensure that the maximum fall distance of the user is limited to 2m. A user should never climb above the attachment point using a fall arrest shock absorbing lanyard as this only adds to the free fall distance and consequently adds to the overall shock load on the system, and the person.
Enquiry Form
This is a short form you can submit to request information from Active Lifting:
