Blog Archives
Posts with the 'Working At Height' tag
Construction: Falls From Height Still a Common Occurence
We have noticed that there are still a lot of 'falls from height' being reported within the construction industry. Much of this occurs because of bad planning and lack of proper and detailed risk assessments.
Is this lack of risk asessments because we are all being too lazy, or that due to a lack of resources at the HSE, we think we can 'get away with it'? We would hope not!
Even so, the fact that someone can, and does, get injured should make us realise how the 'good practice' of doing a risk assessment actually means less accidents and potentially saves lives. Cut backs should not mean lack of assessment nor should it mean lessening of standards. Lets look after our employees!
The HSE's web site gives out guidance on risk assessments.
Working at Height: Cherry Picker Struck by Overhead Crane
A very serious accident recently occured when a crane hit a cherry picker and the basket was knocked to the ground leaving Alexander Struthers, a steel erector, with multiple broken bones.
Following the case being heard at Lanark Sheriff Court, Health and Safety Executive Inspector Eve Macready said: "This completely avoidable incident has had an enormous impact on Mr Struthers' life.
"Duty holders have an obligation to ensure all work at height is properly planned and a proper risk assessment has taken place."
For more on this see Steel erector knocked from cherry picker by crane
Source: Construction Enquirer
HSE - Falls From Height Prosecutions
The HSE has prosecuted two companies after three workers fell through skylights on three separate occasions at an industrial unit in Warrington. The SHP reported that, on three separate occasions, three similar incidents were allowed to happen.
An astonished HSE officer stated that "A man was sent on to a roof without safety equipment, despite two caretakers falling through skylights less than a month earlier"
As we all know, more workplace deaths are caused by falls from height than anything else but companies continue to allow workers to balance dangerously on roofs. It is vital that lessons are learnt from this tragic case.
-- Click to read the full article on the SHP website
HSE Advice - Working at Height and Fragile Roof Safety
Falls through fragile roofs and fragile rooflights are a major cause of death and injury at work.
A company director was recently sentenced to 16 months imprisonment for not acting to prevent a fatal fall through a fragile rooflight.This link to a safety alert advises building companies on how to prevent injury and comply with legal requirements.
Follow this link for more on fragile roof safety..
Source: HSE Construction Infonet, July 2007
HSE Advice - Working at Height on minor roof work/roof edges
This Advice helps you identify the risks involved with minor roof work choose the right access equipment to do the job and considers Working conditions, Height, Surface, Ground, Weather and the type of task you are undertaking.
Follow this link for minor roof work/roof edges.
Source: HSE Construction Infonet, July 2007
HSE Advice - Working at Height & using tower scaffolds safely
This information sheet is aimed at users of mobile access towers (also known as tower scaffolds or towers). It will also help those who select and specify such equipment.
Select this link to find out more using ladders safely.
Source: HSE Construction Infonet, July 2007
HSE Advice - Working at Height & using ladders safely
On average 13 people a year die at work falling from ladders and nearly 1200 suffer major injuries. More than a quarter of falls happen from ladders.
HSE's key message is that that ladders should only be used for low-risk, short-duration work.
What do I need to know?
The Work at Height Regulations (2005) came into force in April 2005. Employers have a duty to assess the risks, plan and supervise all workers who work at height. You will find guidance about the regulations in the working at height regulations 2005, they cover the following:
- What is 'work at height'?
- What the regulations cover
- Do the rules apply to you?
- What you must do as an employer
- When can ladders be used?
Ladders can be used if after assessing the risks the use of more suitable work equipment is not justified because of the low risk and short duration.
Short duration is taken to be between 15 and 30 minutes depending upon the task.
Ladders can also be used for low risk work where there are features on the site that mean a ladder must be used.
For more on this topic follow this link for using ladders safely.
Source: HSE Construction Infonet, July 2007
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