Working Height Falls
Working Height Falls
Working at height
Introduction
All construction activities are potentially hazardous. However, the largest number of accidents occurs with operatives who are working at a height. Falls can cause injuries to the back, neck, head arms and legs. This can result in temporary and permanent disabilities or death.
Over the past ten years or so, falls from a height have accounted for between 34 and 59% of all fatalities in the construction industry. It should be noted that many falls involve young employees, aged less than 25 years.
Falls can be classified as: * falls from a height - from one level to another * falls to a depth - into a hole * slips, trips and falls - on the same level
There are various activities that require working at a height. These include: * installing and maintaining roofs * placement of curtain walling, facade panels * placement of concrete floor beams and slabs * erection of building structures - steel, concrete, timber and traditional brick * repair, maintenance and demolition work
Various control measures are available to protect people working at a height. In some cases more than one method of protection may be appropriate.
Falls often occur in the following situations: * the working surface cannot support the applied load * the working surface is slippery or unstable * the operations are being carried out in high winds * an operative trips over or is struck by an object * an operative is moving from one level to another without proper access * there are unprotected holes in the working surface * there are unprotected edges on the working surface
Wherever possible the designer should enable work operations to be performed at ground level thus eliminating the need to work at height. The hazards associated with the work operations should be identified and the risks assessed. Operatives who work at height should always have received the adequate and
Working at height
Introduction
All construction activities are potentially hazardous. However, the largest number of accidents occurs with operatives who are working at a height. Falls can cause injuries to the back, neck, head arms and legs. This can result in temporary and permanent disabilities or death.
Over the past ten years or so, falls from a height have accounted for between 34 and 59% of all fatalities in the construction industry. It should be noted that many falls involve young employees, aged less than 25 years.
Falls can be classified as: * falls from a height - from one level to another * falls to a depth - into a hole * slips, trips and falls - on the same level
There are various activities that require working at a height. These include: * installing and maintaining roofs * placement of curtain walling, facade panels * placement of concrete floor beams and slabs * erection of building structures - steel, concrete, timber and traditional brick * repair, maintenance and demolition work
Various control measures are available to protect people working at a height. In some cases more than one method of protection may be appropriate.
Falls often occur in the following situations: * the working surface cannot support the applied load * the working surface is slippery or unstable * the operations are being carried out in high winds * an operative trips over or is struck by an object * an operative is moving from one level to another without proper access * there are unprotected holes in the working surface * there are unprotected edges on the working surface
Wherever possible the designer should enable work operations to be performed at ground level thus eliminating the need to work at height. The hazards associated with the work operations should be identified and the risks assessed. Operatives who work at height should always have received the adequate and