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Compliance with the new COP for fall prevention

Carl SachsSafety in Action 2012

Falls, trips & slips – Fact and figures

� 108 peole died over 7 years *1� $8.7 billion in costs (2008 – 2009) *2� 26,705 compensation claims *3

*1 Compendium of workers compensation statistics Australia 2009-2010*2 Published 2012*3 Table 18, serious claims by mechanism of injury or dispose

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Major changes to current legislation

� Who is responsible� How high is too high� The hierarchy of controls.� Suspension trauma and rescue.� Ladder inspection.� Anchor and static line inspections.� What if someone falls?� How to prepare18 April 2012 3Subject to copyright- please copy the author for permission to use and distribute

Michael ToomaSenior partner, Norton Rose

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Michael ToomaSenior partner, Norton Rose

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Legislative Framework WHS Act

WHS Regulations

WHS Code of Practice

Australian StandardsAS/NZS1657 � AS/NZS 1891AS/NZS 4488 � AS/NZS 1892

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Who is responsible?

• The PCBU (Person conducting a business undertaking)• Reasonable behaviour expected• “consult, co-operate and co-ordinate activities with

others who have a workplace health and safety duty to the same matter”.

• Due diligence obligation (risk assess)

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How high is too high?

� No longer a 2 metre rule

� Applies to all”heights”

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Hierarchy of Control Regulations part 4.4

Undertake the work:Level 1: from the ground or on a solid construction Level 2: using a passive fall prevention deviceLevel 3: using a work positioning systemLevel 4: using a fall injury prevention system

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If a risk remains then:Level 5: from ladders, or administrative controls

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Michael ToomaThe hierarchy of controls

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Hierarchy of ControlLevel 1: Ground or solid construction

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The first level aims to eliminate the hazard altoge ther

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Hierarchy of ControlLevel 1: Ground or solid construction

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� Perimeter protection• Guard rails• Barriers

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Hierarchy of ControlLevel 2: Passive fall protection deviceFall prevention equipment that does not require adj ustmentonce installed.

� Temporary work platforms• Scaffolds• Cherry pickers• Work platforms

� Perimeter protection• Guard rails• Barriers

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Hierarchy of ControlLevel 3: Work positioning systems If levels 1 and 2 are “not practicable”, industrial rope access systems and travel restraint systems used to preven t workers falling over an unprotected edge

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Hierarchy of ControlLevel 4: Fall injury prevention systems

While work positioning systems prevent the fall fro m occurring at all, level 4 controls merely minimise the distance of the fall.

Examples:

• safety nets

• catch platforms

• individual fall arrest systems (IFAS)

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Hierarchy of ControlLevel 5: ladders, administrative controls

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Preventing suspension trauma through rescue

� Toxic shock = suspension trauma

� Risk of fatality� 2nd person to rescue� Training, documentation,

supervision, � equipment

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Preventing suspension trauma

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Michael Tooma

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Ladder inspection

� Mandatory� “regular”

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Michael ToomaAustralian Standards

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Anchor/static line inspection

� Presently• 6 monthly in Qld, SA, Vic, ACT• 12 monthly in other states

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How to prepare

• Due diligence • Identify hazards – audit• Allocate appropriate resources• Risk assess and risk rate)• Fall prevention action plan

• Continue to comply with current legislation(Victorian Fall Prevention Regulations)

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Fall Prevention Solutions

1300 552 984

Providing a national approach

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