Falling objects | Risk of Falling Objects

                     FALLING OBJECTS

RISK OF FALLING OBJECTS

Falling objects 

FALLING OBJECTS

RISK OF FALLING OBJECTS

The company or organization ensures necessary protection to personnel from potential falls of tools or materials or use of mechanical or scaffold platforms during the activity at the work site. Falling objects protection measures shall include:

·       Make sure wherever possible area shall be barricaded around the activity at the work site.

·       Make sure diversion of pedestrian walkways away from any overhead activities at the work site.

·       Make sure provision of the walkway with overhead protection from the risk of falling objects.

·       Ensure tools and materials required for work shall be carried in the tool bag, either a shoulder bag or a scaffolder belt for material shifting.

·       Use of debris netting to prevent materials from falling outside the perimeter.

·       Tying down or securing material to prevent them from being blown off.

·       Ensure to avoid working at height during the presence of personnel in the vicinity of the activity.

SELECTION OF PERSONNEL

Personnel or workers required for working at height shall be selected as per their ability to perform work at the site. It shall be referred for selection of personnel for working at height. Ensure a medical fitness certificate shall be obtained for the worker, Ensure wherever appropriate for personnel assigned to working at height. It shall be referred for training, experience, and competency for all works at height.

The persons shall be excluded from being required for the activity:

1.       Personnel or workers suffering from vertigo and acrophobia.

2.       Personnel or workers who are physically unfit to undertake climbing activities.

3.       Personnel or worker suffering from dizziness.

4.       Personnel or worker having physical shape or weight which may affect the safe operation of working at height equipment.

SELECTION OF EQUIPMENT

Before the selection of equipment:

·       Make sure to use of most appropriate equipment available taking into account technological advances that may introduce new means of controlling working at height risks.

·       Ensure to give collective protection measures priority over PPEs.

TAKE ACCOUNT OF EQUIPMENT:

1. The working conditions of equipment.

2. Risks of equipment to the safety of all those at the place where the work equipment is to be used.

3. The distance to be negotiated, in the case of work equipment for access and egress.

4. Ensure the distance and consequence of a potential fall.

6. Ensure the need for easy and timely evacuation and rescue during an emergency from the risk of falling objects.

7. Ensure any additional risk posed by the use, installation, or removal of work equipment or by evacuation and rescue from the risk of falling objects.

ACCESS AND EGRESS

Ensure provide a safe method to personnel for working at height i.e. easy movement and access around the work area.

1.       Make sure installation of fixed working platforms, walkways, and stairways.

2.       Make sure to use temporary working platforms.

3.       Ensure installation of fall arrest systems.

4.       Location and space requirement for any equipment or materials used or being temporarily stored.

5.       The clearance of obstructions for easy movement at the work site.

ROOF ACCESS

1.       When other roofs need to be crossed to reach an area for work shall be ensured. The access ways need to be in place before commencing work at the site. Ensure access shall be located where the work on the roof is to begin.

2.       For new roof installations or where extensive repair or replacement of existing roofs is planned, it is recommended that a ladder access tower shall be provided.

3.       Ensure if access and egress are required regularly, a permanent walkway may need to be installed, for example, stairs. Ensure stairs shall serve each floor of a building or structure that is being constructed or demolished.

Guarding of Holes and Openings for the falling objects:

·       Holes and openings present significant hazards. Firstly, a person may fall through a hole.

·       Secondly, cuts and bruises may result when feet or legs penetrate holes.

·       Ensure all holes and openings where a person may fall through or step into - unless a physical barrier is erected around the hole or opening - shall be guarded with embedded wire mesh and covered with the material of adequate strength to prevent entry by objects or persons. The cover shall be secured to prevent the cover from dislodging from the position.

·       Make sure when a hole is protected by a cover, a suitable warning sign shall be placed nearby or onto the cover itself.

CONSIDERATION FOR WORKING AT HEIGHT FOR THE FALLING OBJECTS

The first approach shall be to review activities requiring working at height and the possibility of fall elimination.

Selection of alternatives shall be taken care of at the early stage of project management and work planning at work at height. The approach can lead to designing a project or worksite which has the provision of suitable anchorages for securing fall-arrest systems at strategic locations thus improving safety as well as cost-effectiveness. Ensure suspension of working at height shall be considered when the wind speed reaches or gusts higher than 38 km/hr. or 20.5 knots and then ensure review of the work based on risk assessment considering the current and anticipated wind speed, weather conditions, altitude of work being undertaken, and any other conditions (hazards) that may affect the safety and health of personnel working at height.

 

If fall elimination is not possible for working at height:

1.       Fall Prevention: The next approach is to look for a continued protection measure for the prevention of falls. If fall hazards cannot be eliminated, a proactive approach shall be taken to prevent the fall through improvement at the worksite. Early installation of stairs, guardrails, barriers, and travel restriction systems can lead to a fall prevention work environment. All the floor openings shall be covered properly in a secured way and this shall be checked periodically for its integrity to prevent fall of person/material through the opening.

2.       Fall Protection: Personal fall protection systems are work restrains, and working positioning including rope access and positioning techniques/systems.

3.       Fall Arresting: As a last line of defense against falls from height, it is essential to use fall arresting equipment. However, such an approach is implied after determining that potential falls cannot be eliminated by changing work procedures and/or the workplace. Equipment such as harnesses, lanyards, shock absorbers, fall arresters, lifelines, anchorages, and safety nets can reduce the risk of injury if a fall occurs.