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HSE Safety Requirements for Working at Height (Scaffolds & Ladders)

Maximum fall incidents take place due to improper use of scaffolds and ladders especially in construction industry when people are working at height.

There are plenty of means used in construction sites for performing the work at height that include rigid stationary scaffolds, mobile tower scaffolds, mobile platforms, man-lifts and ladders etc.

In order to ensure that all works that require working on heights, takes place in safe manner, the following should be considered:

Tower and stationary Scaffolds

Scaffolds must be erected by trained and certified scaffolders.

Stand or erect towers on firm base or level ground.

Brakes on castors are always being used.

Secure the tower to the structure if necessary by ties or ropes Tower inspections to be done regularly by trained and certified scaffolders, the tags must be displayed for the status of all scaffolds.

Working at Ladders 

Most of accidents of falling occur due to use of ladders, therefore care must be taken to use the ladders and should be allowed only if it is must and no other method fits that area.

Ladders can be used by considering the following:

Rescue Plan for fall from working at heights

The purpose of this work instruction is to establish guidelines for responding to a fall at heights.

This work instruction should ensure that the victim’s health risks are minimized during a fall.

Following the rescue plan shall minimize the amount risk and improve behavior of the rescuer during the rescue attempt, also it will ensure that the rescue is conducted in a safe and professional manner.

The requirements of this work instruction are to be observed by all personnel involved in working at heights where a fall hazard exists.

Definitions:

Rescue Plan – A strategy or procedure, planned in advance, to retrieve safely a person who has fallen from an elevated work surface and is suspended in a full body harness, to include self-rescue or mechanically aided rescue

Self Rescue – An act or instance of an employee using his fall protection equipped to perform a self-rescue

Mechanically aided Rescue – A strategy or procedure, planned in advance, to retrieve safely a person who has fallen from an elevated work surface using mechanical means.

 Responsibility of Employee

Responsibility of Rescuer

Procedure for rescuing the fall victim

The rescue plan shall include consideration of the following rescue types and circumstances:

Self Rescue: If the person working at heights makes proper choices in the equipment to be used and implements that equipment properly, most of fallen workers will perform a Self-Rescue which should include:

Worker will climb back up to the level from which he fell (a few inches to 2 or 3 feet).

Worker will return to the floor or ground and be reviewed for possible medical attention.

Remove all necessary components of his fall arrest system from service and document (bag and tag) the components involved in the fall with name, date and activity at time of fall and give it to their manager.

Assisted Self Rescue with mechanically aided hauling/rope system

If self-rescue is not possible then an Assisted Self Rescue will be needed.  The following guidelines should be used during a mechanically aided rescue.

Assisted Rescue with mechanically aided hauling/rope system

If the workers injuries prevent them from attaching themselves to the rescue system, both self-rescue and assisted self-rescue are not options, an fully Assisted Rescue is necessary.

Assisted Rescue with mechanically aided aerial lift

Another means to perform an Assisted Rescue is with a lifting equipment as the following guidelines:

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