John Burke - Safe Work at Height

8/12/2019 John Burke - Safe Work at Height

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Fire and Rescue Serv ice ManualVolume 2 Fire Service Operat ion s

SAFE WORK atHEIGHT


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Background

Existing FRS guidance

Fire Service Manual : Rope Working

Guidance and Compliance Framework : RopeWorking

EC Directive 2001/45/ECTemporary Work at

Height

Code of Practice for the Use of Rope Access

Methods for Industrial Purposes(Draft BS)

Various equipment standards (EN)


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Whats Changed?

The Work at Height Regulations 2005

CFOA Interim guidance

Review of existing Manuals

ACWAHT Syllabus

BS8454 2006: Code of practice for thedelivery of training and education for work

at height and rescue


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FRS Manual Scope

All work activities where there is a possibility that a falllikely to result in personal injury could occur

Access to and exit from a place of work.

Includes all work (& training) where there is a risk offalling eg; using a ladder or aerial appliance;

working on the roof of a vehicle;

rope rescue work (eg cliffs, tower cranes etc);

Some confined spaces;

fire fighting and rescues on embankments, docks and quays

offshore fire fighting and rescue;

climbing fixed structures;

working close to an excavation area where someone could fall;

working near a fragile surface;

vehicle and property maintenance


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NOT Work at Height

Slips and trips on the level;

Falls on permanent stairs if there is no

structural work or maintenance beingundertaken;

Work on the upper floors of a building

where there is no risk from falling.


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Regulation 4: Organisation and planning

WAH should be planned, supervised and carried

out in a manner which is, so far as is reasonablypracticable, safe. Planning for emergencies is

included.

WAH should only be carried out when the

weather conditions do not jeopardise the healthor safety of those involved in the work.

(Emergency services act ing in an emergency

are exempt from this restriction)


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Regulation 5: Competence

All people involved in WAH should be competent, or ifbeing trained, be properly supervised by a competentperson.

Guidance: a competent person understands theirresponsibilities under these Regulations and candemonstrate sufficient training, knowledge, actualexperience, and (delegated) authority to enable them to:- carry out their assigned duties at the level of responsibility

allocated to them;

understand any potential hazards related to the work (orequipment) under consideration;

detect any technical defects or omissions in that work (orequipment), recognise any implications for health and safetycaused by those defects or omissions, and be able to specifyremedial actions to mitigate those implications.


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Regulation 6: Avoidance of risks

AVOIDWAH if you can.

PREVENTthe risk of a fall, including Selection of an existing work place that does not

require additional measures to prevent a fall andwhere this is not possible

Selection of the most suitable work equipment toprevent a fall occurring

MINIMISEthe distance and consequences ofany fall.


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Regulation 8: Requirements for work equipment

Guard rails, toe boards, barrier or similar collective means(Schedule 2)

Working platforms, including aerial appliances (Schedule 3.

part 1) Collective Safeguards (Schedule 4)

Personal fall protection systems (Schedule 5, part 1)

Work restraint (Schedule 5, part 5)

Work positioning (Schedule 5, parts 2 and 3)

Fall arrest systems (Schedule 5, part 4) Ladders (Schedule 6)


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Regulation 9: Fragile surfaces

Requirement to prevent people falling through

fragile surfaces. No person at work should pass across, or work on

or from, a fragile surface where it is reasonablypracticable to carry out this work safely by some

other means. Fragile surfaces must be indicated by warning

notices (Emergency services act ing in anemergencyare exempt from this restriction)


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Regulation 10: Falling objects

Take suitable and sufficient steps to prevent the fall ofany material or object.

Where it is not reasonably practicable to comply with the

requirements of paragraph (1), take steps to prevent anyperson being struck by any falling object which is liableto cause injury

Ensure that no material or object is thrown or tipped fromheight.

Ensure that materials and objects are stored in such away as to prevent risk to any person arising from thecollapse, overturning or unintended movement of suchmaterials or objects.


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Regulation 11: Danger areas

Where a workplace contains an area inwhich, owing to the nature of the work,

there is a risk of any person at work: falling a distance; or

being struck by a falling object,

which is liable to cause personal injury

Unauthorised persons are prevented fromentering Danger Areas

Danger Areas are clearly indicated.


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Corporate Considerations

IRMP will inform activities and priorities

Decisions relating to work at height will need to: Take account of all relevant statutory provisions.

Establish policies, set priorities and define safe systems of work. Ensure the provision of appropriate equipment, information,

training and supervision.

Review policies and procedures and revise as appropriate.

Ensure suitable and sufficient resources are available to provide

safe systems of work

Nominate one individual to take overall managementresponsibility for work at height


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HazardsRisks From the

Hazards

Measures to Control

the Risk

Working at height

Access and egress to

the work areaDuration of the work

activityCasualty/victim

handlingPhysiological effectsPsychological effectsWorking with other

agenciesMembers of the public

Falls or impact from

falling objectsFatigueEntrapment and

crushingVertigo, motion sicknessStrains, sprains and

other manual handling

injuriesMedical contamination by

blood or other fluids

Fatigue, cold,

hypothermia, heat

stress, dehydrationUnpredictable reaction to

exposurePotential for

confusion/conflict

Selection of personnel

with physical fitness

and mental aptitudefor the task.Training

Provision of suitable

and sufficient

informationEffective supervisionSelection and use of

suitable PPE,

including clothing.Use of work restraint,

fall arrest or work

positioning equipmentSecondary safety

system

Work area

management, including

provision of hazard

zonesUse of ladders and

aerial appliancesMinimum numbers of

personnel committedAppropriate first aid

training

Adequate welfare

arrangementsPre-planning andliaison

Key Hazards& Risks:

The Nature of

the Work


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Collective Protection

Barriers

Air bags, bean bags, mats etc

Nets


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Individual Protection

Work restraint

Fall arrest

Work positioning


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Access Techniques

Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWPs)

Working platforms

Ladders

Ropes, harnesses and

associated equipment


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Systems of work

Falling objects and Hazard zones

Anchors and anchor systems

Securing equipment and other items

Lifting, lowering and hauling (LOLER)

Securing Casualties and PerformingRescues from Height


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Continuity of Means of Protection

Removing guardrails, fencing and other

means of protection for short periods is

permissible, with the following provisos: removal is only for the time and extent

necessary for the job, then the barrier is

replaced; and the work is not done unless there is some

other safeguard e.g. a safety net or work

restraint system


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Ladders

Is the activity urgent? Is there an imperative to save human life or control a

deteriorating situation?

Would waiting for an alternative means of access compromise

the outcome? Are there alternative means of access and egress that

avoid the need to use ladders?

Do the working and environmental conditions increasethe risk of using a ladder?

Do the weather conditions increase the risk of using aladder?

What is the expected duration of use? Is the laddergoing to be used as a work platform or solely as ameans of access and egress?


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Ladders

Does the nature and duration of work mean thatstaff will need relieving?

Is the ladder selected appropriate for the task? Can equipment needed at height be safelycarried leaving both hands free for climbing theladder or does it need to be hauled aloft?

Is the construction of a sloping roof on which aroof ladder is placed or the construction againstwhich the head of an extension ladder restsstrong enough to support the intended load?


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Lifting, Lowering and Hauling

Secure Anchors

Secure method of attaching the load

Controlledhauling / lowering system

Back-up system should be considered

(and always used for a human load)

Manual handling considerations


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Rescue From Height

Safe route

or existing means of egress

Specifically provide

rescue provision

Assist or

carry down

Limited

Time

No Time

Constraints

Urgent Rescue

Required Potential

Increased

Risk

Minimum

RiskRescue not Urgent


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Suspension Trauma (Orthostatic Shock)

Associated with prolonged suspension of an immobileperson in a harness or from a rope system.

Similar in nature to crush injuries

A prolonged period of suspension can result in serioustrauma in less than 30 minutes whether or not a harness isworn.

Unconscious, immobile and injured casualties - suspensiontrauma has been known to be fatal in as little as 2 to 3

minutes. Factors that may affect casualties in suspension and lead toorthostatic shock include: Exhaustion

Dehydration

Hypothermia

Shock


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Suspension Trauma (Orthostatic Shock)

The degree of inclination of the body

Head trauma

Time delay in casualty access Rapid evacuation from the suspended

position to immediate medical treatment is

the preferred option. The possibility of suspension trauma must

always be considered with any suspendedcasualty.


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Existing Places of Work

An existing place of work at height is a place of work,with permanent fall prevention measures such as guard

rails or a parapet and no need for any additionalequipment to remove the risk of a fall.

Parts of buildings or permanent structures (including themeans of access and egress) that fall into this categoryshould be used for work at height in preference to anyplace provided by temporary work equipment.

An existing (safe) place of work can change, due tochanging conditions, for example: The structure may become unstable due to fire spread etc,

Unprotected openings are created by damage


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Training

Specific training programmes must be provided forpersonnel expected to work at height.

Each FRS will need to determine the boundary between

general or core skills applicable to all personnel and themore technical skill required of staff who undertakespecialist duties.

Specific good practice guidance on training for work atHeight is provided by: The Health and Safety Executive, through their Work at Height

Syllabus prepared by the Advisory Committee on Work at HeightTraining (www.acwaht.org.uk)

BS 8454:2006: Code of practice for the delivery of training andeducation for work at height and rescue
http://www.acwaht.org.uk/http://www.acwaht.org.uk/


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Model training aims and objectives

Knowledge skills and understanding required by

all firefighters.

Training for specialist rope operator supportduties.

Training for specialist rope operator duties.

Rope work supervisor training.

Rope work instructor training.

Continuation and refresher training.

Ongoing assessment


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Training Instructors

Brigades that undertake specialist rope work activitiesshould appoint a senior rope work instructor who will beresponsible for: Validating the technical aspects of rope working and the suitability of

equipment. Assessing the knowledge, skills and understanding of other

instructors.

Supervising the conduct and assessment of specialist rope operatorcourses.

Brigades must ensure that rope work instructors arecompetent and have appropriate experience.

When this is not available within the brigade considerationshould be given to: The use of competent instructors from other brigades.

Provision of training by external training providers.


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Live Casualties

Training at height must be avoided unless essential to theoutcomes required. (e.g. the technique of packaging acasualty on to a stretcher could be realistically practiced afew feet of the ground, with collective fall protection bagsimmediately below.)

Any exposure to risk is essential to achieve clear andestablished learning outcomes.

The risk is not disproportionate to the benefits.

The risk to the casualty should not be greater than that tothe rescuer.

Live casualties are used when casualty care is the primeobjective of the training session.

Live casualties are provided with appropriate PPE, including

a separate safety system as appropriate.


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SUMMARY

AVOID(Work at Height)

PREVENT(A fall from height)

MITIGATE(Minimisethe distance andconsequences of any fall)


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John Burke - Safe Work at Height

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