2. Work at Height
Working at height is easy to define – it’s work
that is carried out at any height which could
cause personal injury. This may come as a
surprise to you, as many people imagine
towering cranes, Scaffolding and harnesses when
they think of working at height.
The truth is that even work carried out at ground
level can be considered working at height. Using
ladders and even step-ladders could be classed
as working at height, depending on the situation.
3. Work at Height
“Work in any place where, if precautions were
not taken, a person could fall a distance liable to
cause personal injury. You are working at height
if you :
•work above ground/floor level;
•could fall from an edge, through an opening or
fragile surface or;
•could fall from ground level into an opening in a
floor or a hole in the ground.”
4. The Two Most Common Safety Risks of Working at
Height
Falling from height
The risks of falling at height range from near-misses,
all the way to fatality. When somebody suffers a fall
from height, the consequences are usually serious, and
construction work regularly involves working at height.
Whether it’s climbing ladders, lowering and raising yourself
using a harness and pulley system, or even climbing
scaffolding, the risks suddenly become very serious indeed.
Work carried out at height is responsible for nearly one
third of fatal accidents on construction sites. Standing on
unstable surfaces, using ladders incorrectly, and
overstretching are particularly common causes of slips and
falls.
5. Fall of material from height
On the other hand, workers can drop material
from height. You may think that the impact of
dropped items is less severe, but this too can
be fatal. Any number of injuries all the way
from fractures to paralysis and death can be
caused by dropping items from relatively low
heights.
7. Fall Protection System
A fall protection system is a comprehensive set of
measures and equipment designed to prevent or
mitigate the risk of falls from elevated surfaces in
occupational settings. The primary goal of a fall
protection system is to safeguard workers who
are exposed to potential fall hazards during tasks
such as working at heights, construction
activities, maintenance work, and other elevated
work environments.
8. Full-body harnesses
A full body harness is a safety harness that connects
the worker to the fall protection system anchored into
the structure they’re working on. Using a series of
straps that fit around the thighs, hips, chest,
shoulders, and back, these harnesses arrest falls while
minimizing injury to the worker. Full body harnesses
are also designed to keep wearers upright after a fall
to prevent suspension trauma and facilitate faster
rescue.
As you’ll see below, however, the harnesses
recommended today haven’t always been the most
common option. It took several decades to develop a
full body option that doesn’t prolong the danger
caused by a workplace fall.
11. Fall Arrest - Used in situations with great heights,
these harnesses are used when workers are exposed
to hazards that include 6-12 feet of free fall. All fall
arrest harnesses include a back dorsal D-ring.
Ascending/Descending - This gear is used for
situations that require controlled ascent or descent.
They use a variety of frontal D-rings and may include a
seat sling.
Rescue/Confined Space - These safety harnesses are
not intended to arrest free falls. Instead, D-rings are
attached to the shoulders to keep the wearer upright
and in the best position for retrieval.
Types of Full Body Safety Harnesses
12. Types of Full Body Safety Harnesses
Climbing - Worn when going up or down ladders or
other climbing structures, this gear is only used when
the hazard involves 2 feet or less of free fall. Since
climbing involves ascending, descending, positioning,
raising, and lowering, these harnesses use features
such as climbing D-rings to meet these many needs
while still protecting the user.
Positioning Work - Several types of work require
people to work on tall vertical surfaces. Positioning
harnesses use side D-rings, seat support, and dorsal
D-rings to give workers a full range of motion as they
work from these sometimes awkward and dangerous
positions.
13. LIFE LINE SYSTEM
Life line system typically refers to fall protection
equipment designed to prevent or arrest falls from
elevated work areas. This is crucial for the safety of
workers who perform tasks at heights, such as
construction workers, window washers, or
maintenance personnel. The system usually includes a
combination of components designed to minimize the
risk of falls and protect workers if a fall does occur.
Here are some key elements of a work-at-height life
line system:
14. LIFE LINE SYSTEM
Horizontal Lifeline (HLL): A horizontal lifeline is a cable or
track system installed at the same level as the worker's
attachment point. It allows for movement along the length of
the line while keeping the worker connected to the system.
15. LIFE LINE SYSTEM
Anchorage Points: Secure anchor points are essential components that support the
life line system. They need to be robust and capable of withstanding the forces
generated during a fall.
Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS): This includes components like a full-body harness,
a shock-absorbing lanyard, and a connector (such as a self-retracting lifeline). The
harness is worn by the worker, and the lanyard connects the harness to the horizontal
lifeline.
Fall Arrestor or Retractable Lanyard: This is a device that automatically locks in the
event of a fall, reducing the distance the worker falls and minimizing the impact force
on their body.
16. LIFE LINE SYSTEM
Rescue Plan: A proper life line system should also include a rescue plan. This involves
procedures and equipment to safely retrieve a worker who has fallen and is
suspended in the harness.
Training: Proper training on the correct use of the life line system is essential for
workers. They need to understand how to properly wear and adjust their harness,
connect to the system, and follow safety protocols.
17. Guardrails are a stationary (or "fixed") system used to
protect workers from falls when working at heights.
Guardrails are a preferred means of protecting workers
because the system does not rely on the worker to be
trained to use, inspect, and wear a fall protection
system.
Well built guardrails are a reliable and convenient
means of fall protection because they act as a visible
and physical barrier to help prevent falls from heights
or between levels including falls from roofs, balconies,
stairwells or falls into open holes. Guardrails are used
where covers, floors or walls cannot be installed or are
not practical.
Guardrails
19. What is Fall Restraint?
Fall Restraint systems prevent you from
falling.
They use a body holding device
connected to a reliable anchor,
preventing you from reaching zones
where the risk of fall exists.
Fall restraint is sometimes referred to as
‘Restraint’ or a ‘Work Restraint’ system
FALL RESTRAINT SYSTEM
20. Retractable fall arresters, also known as self-retracting devices
(SRDs), are fall arrest blocks that automatically retract into a
housing unit whenever slack is given to the lifeline. These
innovative retractable fall arresters follow the movements of the
wearer, giving and taking length as necessary to maintain a
constant tension in the line. In the event of a fall, a braking
system within the housing unit of the retractable fall arrester
arrests the fall - not unlike a car seatbelt.
Retractable fall arrest blocks are popular because of the wide
range of motion they allow the wearer. These retractable fall
arresters give you more freedom to move around than a
traditional fall protection lanyard.
Retractable Fall Arresters
