Falls From Falls From HeightHeight

Identifying fall hazardsIdentifying fall hazards

Falls are a major cause of workplace fatalities and serious Falls are a major cause of workplace fatalities and serious injuries. There are many jobs that require people to work at injuries. There are many jobs that require people to work at heights greater than 2 metres, or at ground level where a fall is heights greater than 2 metres, or at ground level where a fall is possible because of hazards like holes, pits or shafts. possible because of hazards like holes, pits or shafts.

Examples of typical fall hazards include:  Examples of typical fall hazards include:  Work on or near fragile roof surfaces such as skylights or Work on or near fragile roof surfaces such as skylights or

fibreglass panels with no guarding, safety mesh or other fall fibreglass panels with no guarding, safety mesh or other fall protection measures present protection measures present

Installation, maintenance or inspection of air conditioning units Installation, maintenance or inspection of air conditioning units situated close to unprotected roof edges situated close to unprotected roof edges

Work from ladders – such as painting, repairing or clearing gutters Work from ladders – such as painting, repairing or clearing gutters Tree work which requires climbing to reach the branches to be Tree work which requires climbing to reach the branches to be

pruned pruned Raising workers on pallets to reach items stored in high racking or Raising workers on pallets to reach items stored in high racking or

shelving shelving Climbing onto the tops of vehicles such as tankers or livestock Climbing onto the tops of vehicles such as tankers or livestock

carriers carriers Mezzanine floors without adequate guardrails or handrails Mezzanine floors without adequate guardrails or handrails

Reducing the risk of falls Reducing the risk of falls Employers must take steps to safeguard workers against falls. Laws Employers must take steps to safeguard workers against falls. Laws

now require every task which involves a fall hazard to be now require every task which involves a fall hazard to be assessed, to see whether it can be done safely from the ground assessed, to see whether it can be done safely from the ground or from a stable work platform. For example, equipment or from a stable work platform. For example, equipment mounted on a roof can often be relocated to ground level. mounted on a roof can often be relocated to ground level.

If those options are not practicable, there are a number of other If those options are not practicable, there are a number of other risk control measures that could provide the protection risk control measures that could provide the protection needed. They include: needed. They include:

Using an industrial rope access system, to enable the worker to Using an industrial rope access system, to enable the worker to supported by ropes which are attached to a strong anchor point supported by ropes which are attached to a strong anchor point

Setting up a passive fall prevention device – such as a scaffold or Setting up a passive fall prevention device – such as a scaffold or guardrail guardrail

Using a fall injury prevention system, such as an industrial safety Using a fall injury prevention system, such as an industrial safety net or safety harness system net or safety harness system

All of these require specific training and instruction for the All of these require specific training and instruction for the worker, and purpose-designed equipment which must be worker, and purpose-designed equipment which must be regularly checked for any wear or damage. regularly checked for any wear or damage.

The use of ladders The use of ladders 

Where the use of a ladder is the only practicable way to do Where the use of a ladder is the only practicable way to do a job requiring work above 2 metres, employers must a job requiring work above 2 metres, employers must make sure the ladder is appropriate to the task. Ladders make sure the ladder is appropriate to the task. Ladders should be ‘tied off’ where practicable to ensure that they should be ‘tied off’ where practicable to ensure that they are stable and will not slips sideways or fall backwards. are stable and will not slips sideways or fall backwards. 

Where a job requires that a ladder is used frequently, a Where a job requires that a ladder is used frequently, a ladder bracket may be fitted to enable to the worker to ladder bracket may be fitted to enable to the worker to secure the ladder before work begins. Ladders should secure the ladder before work begins. Ladders should always be carefully checked before use, and should never always be carefully checked before use, and should never be used where the ground is sloping or soft. Tools and be used where the ground is sloping or soft. Tools and equipment should never be carried up or down a ladder – equipment should never be carried up or down a ladder – they should be raised and lowered in a bag. A person on they should be raised and lowered in a bag. A person on the ground can do this, while at the same time keeping the ground can do this, while at the same time keeping watch for pedestrians and other traffic.  watch for pedestrians and other traffic. 

Falls Follow-upFalls Follow-up

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