Up on the roof make it safer
Cable systems
Rail systems
Fall arrest and roof anchors
Fall protection needs arent always obvious
Equipment selection
Fall prevention methods summary
Inspection and Maintenance

Fall Protection is VITAL where the risk of a fall cannot be eliminated from the working situation. Injuries involving those who work at heights are generally much more severe than other workplace accidents. These types of injuries can often be life-threatening – some are fatal.

It is therefore essential that foremen of crews working on rooftops and other raised surfaces be aware of these dangers.

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What is collective protection
What is personal protection
Why give priority to collective measures
Last resort
Competence
Working Environment
Access and Egress
Duration and frequency of use
Fragile roofs
Consequences of a potential fall
Maintenance
Inspections
Emergency rescue
Installation and removal

Introduction

Falls are the biggest cause of deaths in the workplace and it is easy to see why reducing the number of falls from height is a priority and principally due to the lack of proper edge protection in a variety of tasks. In construction falls from height accounts for more than half of all deaths in the industry every year, and a significant amount of all major and lost time injuries.

OSA Fall Protection magazine

The most frequent problem is inadequate scaffolding, with no proper access or no guard rails to prevent falls. Scaffolding is often erected by unqualified operatives, and is sometimes improvised, using unsuitable materials. Apart from scaffolding problems, other causes of falls include unprotected openings in buildings, lack of edge protection in roof work, lack of crawling boards on fragile roofs, demolition work and inappropriate use of ladders and hoists.

The poor selection, use and maintenance of equipment causes falls, for example, using a ladder because it’s easier than erecting a tower scaffold. Ladders should only be used for low risk, short duration work, for example, work which takes minutes not hours to complete and where 3 points of contact can be maintained at all times.

Research in the UK shows

• 35 fatal incidents in 2008/09 and a total of 421 since 2001
• Cause of 4589 major injuries 2008/09
• 87% of all major injuries are caused by ‘low falls’ (i.e. below 2 meters)

The 87% of major injuries caused by falls from height of below 2 meters are commonly from a ladder. Traditionally, significant risk concerning working at height has begun with work where the potential fall has been 2 meters or more but the figure above regarding major injuries proves this was a mistake.

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Working Environment
Weather
Access and Egress
Duration and frequency of use
Fragile roofs
Consequences of a potential fall
Maintenance
Inspections
Emergency rescue
Installation and removal
What is collective protection
What is personal protection
Why give priority to collective measures
Last resort
Competence

Introduction

HSI Fall Protection Article download

The number one construction killer in any country is falling from heights, and this is principally due to the lack of proper edge protection in a variety of construction tasks. This work accounts for more than half of all deaths in the industry every year, and a significant amount of all major and over 3 day lost time injuries.

The most frequent problem is inadequate scaffolding, with no proper access or no guard rails to prevent falls. Scaffolding is often erected by unqualified operatives, and is sometimes improvised, using unsuitable materials. Apart from scaffolding problems, other causes of falls include unprotected openings in buildings, lack of edge protection in roof work, lack of crawling boards on fragile roofs, demolition work and inappropriate use of ladders and hoists.

The poor selection, use and maintenance of equipment causes falls, for example, using a ladder because it’s easier than erecting a tower scaffold. Ladders should only be used for low risk, short duration work, e.g. work which takes minutes not hours to complete.

Research in the UK shows that 60% of all major injuries are caused by falls from height of below 2 metres, commonly from a ladder. Traditionally, significant risk concerning working at height has begun with work over 2 metres. The figure above regarding major injuries proves this to be a mistake.

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Designing for Management of Working at Height
Fall Arrest Equipment Selection
Fall Protection: An overview
Fall Arrest Systems
Anchorage
Body Harness
Connectors
Descent and Rescue
Anchorage
Full Body Harness
BACK D-RING
WEBBING
ADJUSTING POINTS
PELVIC SUPPORT
Lanyards
Positioning Lanyards
Twin-Leg Lanyards
WEBBING
CONNECTOR/HOOK
LENGTH
Self Retracting Lifelines
HOUSING
LINE
IMPACT INDICATOR
RESERVE LIFELINE
3-WAY RETRIEVAL OPTION
QUICK ACTIVATING BRAKING SYSTEM
The Requirements for Worker Training

Steve Jervis

Global Product Director

Capital Safety Group Limited

Of all the sectors of the safety market Fall Protection is one of the most complex, with every different scenario requiring a different solution.  It is also one of the least understood and most often poorly addressed areas of personnel safety – while still remaining one of the few sectors where the result of a wrong decision will almost certainly result in the death of a worker should they fall.

Following the hierarchy of fall protection, as described in working at height regulations, Fall Arrest PPE is the final resort because working in an environment where Fall Arrest PPE is needed means that the worker is inherently at risk of injury (at least) even with fall protection equipment supplied and used correctly.  Regulations require that no worker be placed in such a situation where it can be avoided, and that all measures to eliminate any risk be considered first.

The other dangerous area in the Fall Arrest Equipment sector is the belief that all equipment is the same.  The idea that every product is equal just because it meets the same European norm is seriously flawed.

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