Fall prevention | Working Platforms, Scaffold platform

 FALL PREVENTION 

Fall Prevention at working at height

Fall Prevention

                                        WORKING AT HEIGHT FALL PREVENTION

FALL PREVENTION

WORKING PLATFORMS, SCAFFOLD, SUSPENDED SCAFFOLD, CRADLE MOBILE PLATFORM, TRESTLE, GANGWAY, GANTRY, LADDER, AND STAIRWAY.

Working platforms are used in a place of work or as a means of access to or egress from a place of work. It includes any temporary or permanent platforms, scaffold, suspended scaffold, cradle mobile platform, trestle, gangway, gantry, and stairway.

Providing a temporary work platform, scaffolding is to be erected as required work at height. Scaffolding is erected and maintained as per the requirement provided in the British scaffolding Standard.

The working platform shall conform to the following:

1.       Make sure sufficient strength and rigidity for the intended use of the working platform.

2.       Make sure erected under the supervision of scaffolding supervisor/inspector and tagged after completion of the platform.

3.       Ensure used in a manner that prevents accidental displacement platform.

4.       Make sure remains stable at all times, including during and after modification of the platform.

5.       Make sure to have sufficient dimensions to permit free passage of persons and safe use of equipment and materials of the scaffold.

6.       At least 600mm wide of the platform.

7.       Make sure constructed so that the surface has no gap likely to cause injury or through which an object could fall on to any no one person the below.

8.       Ensure maintained to prevent slips or trips and be provided with guardrails, toe boards, handholds, and footholds.

MOBILE ELEVATED WORK PLATFORMS (MEWP)

MEWP mobile elevated work platform is a mechanical device that includes a scissor lift, aerial platform, or an extensible or articulating boom aerial device either self-propelled or vehicle-mounted used to provide temporary access for people or equipment to inaccessible areas, usually working at height. Mostly they are generally used for temporary, flexible access purposes such as maintenance and construction work or by firefighters for emergency access, which distinguishes them from permanent access equipment such as elevators.

The MEWP following shall be confirmed:

1.       Operators of MEWPs shall be trained by an authorized party and competent and experienced in to use of the equipment, the training given shall be specific to the type of equipment.

2.       MEWP shall be inspected at every six-monthly intervals or major repair whichever is earlier, by an authorized person, and copies of certification shall be kept for record purposes by the equipment operator.

3.       The Safe Working Load (SWL) shall be prominently displayed on the MEWP.

4.       Personnel working from MEWP shall wear a safety harness securely connected to a suitable anchor point on the platform of MEWP.

5.       Make sure MEWPs shall only be used when the ground conditions are favorable for this type of device.

6.       Ensure step ladders or hop-ups shall never be used from the working platform of a MEWP.

7.       Ensure personnel working shall not be allowed to leave the working platform whilst in an elevated position, e.g. climbing off the platform to gain access to an elevated place of work at height on MEWP.

8.       Adverse weather and wind speeds shall be monitored and the wind-off speed shall be following the manufacturer’s recommendation.

9.       Ensure MEWPs shall have the safe working load of the platform marked on the equipment.

10.   Ensure MEWPs shall be fitted with an emergency lowering device in the event of power failure or other malfunction of MEWP.

SUSPENDED WORK PLATFORMS (SWP)

The SWP shall conform to the following:

1.       Make sure Man basket operations are not allowed for high wind speeds for suspension of work at height

2.       Ensure man basket shall be inspected/tested and certified by 3rd party every 6 months.

3.       Ensure visual inspection is carried out before every use of the man basket.

4.       Ensure the use of a separate full-body safety harness attached to an independent lifeline for each worker and operator.

5.       Ensure maintain lanyard attachment at the highest point possible.

6.       Ensure before workers use a platform suspended from a crane, a trial lift shall be performed.

7.       Ensure tools, and loose materials are secured in the man basket.

8.       Ensure SWL is displayed on the man basket and the man basket shall not be overloaded.

9.       Ensure do not overreach from the man basket

10.   A proper communication system with the crane operator shall be made available at all times.

11.   Ensure crane Operator shall not get out of the crane while workers are suspended in a man basket.

12.   Make sure cranes shall not travel while supporting a platform occupied by workers.

13.   Make sure a secondary hoisting line and rigging shall be removed, or set in such a way that it will not tangle or endanger workers on the platform, and prevent the safe operation of the crane.

GUARD RAIL SYSTEMS

Guard rail system a vertical barrier, consisting of, but not limited to, top rails, mid-rails, and posts, is erected to prevent employees from falling off a scaffold platform or walkway to lower levels.

The guardrail system shall conform to the following

1.       Guardrails are used on the edge of working platforms, walkways, stairways, ramps, or landings and at:

·       Guard rail uses the perimeters of buildings or other structures.

·       Guard rails the perimeters of skylights or other fragile roof materials.

·       Guard rail is used in openings in floor or roof structures.

·       Guard rails edges of shafts or excavations.

2.       Guardrails shall be provided to all edges where there is a fall potential of 1.8 meters or more in the edges.

3.       Ensure risk assessment for implementation of guardrail system shall be performed in case fall.

4.       Ensure Toe boards shall be provided at least 150mm high and run continuously along the edge where guardrail protection is provided.

5.       Ensure Mid-rail shall be fitted to all edges where a risk of falling 1.8 meters or more and the gap shall not exceed 470mm between any guardrail and mid-rail or toe board and mid-rail.

6.       Make sure the screen and mesh shall be extended from the guardrail to the walking/working level along with the entire opening.

7.       Ensure It shall be capable of withstanding a force of at least 1.25 kN

LADDERS

The safety precautions before the use of Ladders:

Ladders shall be set up on a level area on firm footing and the base shall be located a distance from the wall approximately a quarter of the vertical height of the ladder:

1.       Ensure the ladder is more than 3 meters in length, it shall be securely fixed.

2.       Ensure Impracticable to do so, a person shall be stationed at the base of the ladder to prevent the ladder from slipping or falling.

3.       Make sure proper selection of ladder including material concerning the activity.

4.       Ensure wooden ladders shall not be used in any hydrocarbon handling/storing area, except where it is needed to safely perform electrical work.

5.       Ensure also aluminum ladders shall not be used in areas classified as hazardous zones due to the possibility of thermite reaction which may cause a fire hazard.

6.       Ensure fiberglass ladders should be used when an electrical conductivity hazard has been identified.

7.       Ensure the ladder is secured lash the ladder securely, preferably at the top to prevent slippage.

8.       Ensure Two (2) person/worker teams transport ladders that are greater than 2m in height and carry the ladder close to the body at elbow height.

9.       Ensure chains or ropes are used where required on stepladders. This helps to prevent overspreading and the stepladder shall be only used when fully spread.

10.   Make sure the ladder is standing at the correct angle, one meter out for four meters up.

11.   Ensure an extension or straight ladder used to access an elevated surface shall extend at least 3 feet above the point of support.

12.   Ensure facing the ladder when climbing or descending.

13.   Ensure to use both hands when climbing or descending a ladder.

14.   Ensure weather conditions are assessed as acceptable before use.

15.   Ensure tools and materials required for work shall be carried in a tool bag either a shoulder bag, or a scaffolder belt, or be hoisted up or lowered down afterward.

DO NOT:

1. Use a damaged ladder

2. Climb ladders with grease or mud on rungs

3. Carry out work from the top step of a stepladder

4. Place ladders next to overhead power lines

5. Place ladders in front of doors

6. Paint ladders along their length: this can hide cracks and damage

7. Work on the ladder continuously for extended periods

8. Use more than one person using a ladder at any one time

9. Stand on the top three rungs of a ladder

10. Overreach. The most satisfactory method for working safely on a ladder is for both thighs and hips to be kept between the stiles

11. Move a ladder without authorization

 12. Drop a ladder on its sides, instead of lower gently to the ground

13. Splice or tie short ladders together to give a greater length

14. Use tools requiring the use of two hands shall not be used.

FALL RESTRAINT SYSTEM AND POSITIONING DEVICES

Fall restraint systems prevent the user from falling any distance. To determine the force needed to restrain a worker, consideration is given to the force that would be generated by the worker walking, leaning, or sliding down the working surface. At a minimum, fall restraint systems shall have the capacity to withstand at least 3,000 pounds of force or twice the maximum expected force that is needed to restrain the worker from exposure to the fall hazard.