Working at height

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Working at height

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Contents Purpose ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………3

Background ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….3

Responsibilities ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………4

Planning ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………. 5

Eliminating Work at Height………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 9

Safer Design ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..9

Using Alternative Construction Methods ……………………………………………………………………………9

Using Specific Tools and Equipment ……………………………………………………………………………….…9

Prevention…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…9

Engineering Controls …………………………………………………………………………………………………….… 9

Administrative Controls ……………………………………………………………………………………………………10

Training…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….11

Emergency Response Plan…………………………………………………………………………………………………11

PPE……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………11

Appendix A: Definitions …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..12

Appendix B: Work at Height Bowtie Analysis ……………………………………………………………………………………14

Appendix C: References ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…14

Working at height

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Purpose The purpose of this Key Requirement is to set out Watercare’s minimum controls to reduce the risks from work at height and to assist managers and contractors to reduce these risks.

All Watercare’s managers must ensure that work is planned in accordance with these controls and ensure that the tools and resources that are referred to are made available to workers. All Watercare’s workers must ensure that they follow the processes and controls for work at height, including using all equipment.

Background Working at height means working in a place where a person could fall from one level to another. This can be above or below ground level. It does not include slipping, tripping or falling at the same level.

Working at height occurs within many Watercare projects and operations. Construction projects require work at height. Operational, monitoring or maintenance work requiring access to structures and facilities can also involve working at height.

WorkSafe has published best-practice guidelines for working at height1. This Key Requirement requires compliance with these guidelines and describes their application to Watercare’s operations.

WorkSafe’s guidelines identify these factors as contributing to working at height incidents:

inadequate planning and hazard assessment inadequate supervision insufficient training for the task incorrect protection or equipment choices incorrect use or set-up of equipment, including personal protective equipment unwillingness to change the way a task is carried out when a safer alternative is identified suitable equipment being unavailable

The risks associated with working at height must be identified and controlled effectively, prior to any work at height starting. Too many falls from height are caused by a failure to plan and organise work properly. We aim to eliminate:

the need to work at height wherever reasonably practicable the potential to access any area where a fall can occur

This will be achieved by a hierarchy of controls, including:

the use of safer design (e.g. the installation of stairs, walkways and edge protection with handrails) using alternative construction methods or installing devices that negate the need to build or work at height the use of specialised tools and equipment (e.g. long-handled tools)

1 Best Practice Guidelines for Working at Height in New Zealand (2012) http://www.business.govt.nz/worksafe/information-guidance/all-guidance-items/best-practice-guidelines-for-working-at-height-in-new-zealand/working-height.pdf

Working at height

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Where it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate the need to work at height or to use edge protection, fall restraint devices must be used to prevent workers from reaching an area where they could fall. Where these options are not reasonably practicable then elevated working platforms, scaffolding or some other form of temporary working platform must be used. If the above controls are not reasonably practicable, appropriate protective equipment must be used.

To ensure full compliance with these requirements, we will:

plan safe work at height by identifying, assessing and controlling the hazards and by monitoring and documenting the approach

treat short duration work at height the same way as any other activity at height ensure that specific tasks are covered by standard operating procedures, a job safety analysis, or specifically

addressed and recorded through a permit to work, Take 5 assessment or a Toolbox meeting train people who work at height and ensure they are competent perform regular workplace Inspections to identify, document, and where practicable, eliminate fall hazards ensure work at height equipment is inspected, tested, certified (as required) and maintained to ensure it

remains fit for purpose develop appropriate rescue and emergency plans that are accessible and outline the actions required of all

onsite workers regularly review risk controls to ensure they are effective

Where possible, we will use equipment, work methods and controls that do not require any active judgment by the workers, such as edge protection, scaffold and elevating work platforms. Where personal controls (those that rely on judgment by the worker, e.g. fall restraint harness and fall arrest) are required, we will ensure that adequate training, inspection and equipment maintenance is in place.

Responsibilities

All workers

Attend training courses as required by Watercare or its contractors Comply with the specified controls for working at height, as communicated in

standard operating procedures, job safety analyses, Take 5 assessments and Toolkit meetings

Use working at height protective equipment according to manufacturer’s directions and other controls imposed by Watercare

Supervisors Monitor workers to ensure they understand and comply with the risk controls

for working at height, as communicated in standard operating procedures, job safety analyses, and Tool box meetings

Working at height

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Tier 4 Managers

Ensure that the hierarchy of risk controls is used to determine if work at height can be eliminated

For work at height that cannot be eliminated, ensure that workers are isolated from the hazard, as far as is reasonably practicable

For work at height that cannot be eliminated or isolated, ensure that workers are provided with appropriate protective equipment; that safe methods of work are planned, communicated and implemented; and that workers have been trained and understand the use of this equipment

Monitor sites and projects to ensure that work is appropriately planned, that workers have adequate equipment and training and that work is being carried out in compliance with this Key Requirement

Tier 2, 3 Managers

Monitor sites and projects to ensure that this Key Requirement is understood by Tier 4 managers, supervisors and workers

Health and Safety Advisors

Assist managers to understand the controls in this Key Requirement Help managers to ensure that workers have adequate equipment and training

and that work is being carried out in compliance with this Key Requirement

Health and Safety Manager

Engage with managers and health and safety advisors to ensure implementation and effectiveness of this Key Requirement and report to the senior management health and safety committee

Recommend any further actions or changes required to ensure adequate management of working at height risks

Chief Executive Officer

Review reports of the implementation and effectiveness of this Key Requirement and report to the Board

Planning Watercare requires that careful consideration must be given to the hierarchy of controls when work at height is being planned. This will apply to work carried out by Watercare and to work that is contracted out to other PCBUs.

The steps that should be followed to ensure good health and safety outcomes when work is contracted out are:

scope the work to identify the key health and safety issues before the work is put out to tender or the contract is formalised.

ensure that the tendering contractors are competent to safely complete the required work negotiate health and safety requirements when the contractor is selected

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set out health and safety expectations in the contract documents monitor the contract to ensure that health and safety expectations are met complete a review after the contract for any learning that can be applied to future contracted work

The hierarchy of controls that should be used when planning work at height is shown below2:

2 WorkSafe New Zealand (2012) Best Practice Guidelines for Working At Height in New Zealand, page 11 http://www.worksafe.govt.nz/worksafe/information-guidance/all-guidance-items/best-practice-guidelines-for-working-at-height-in-new-zealand/working-height.pdf

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The hierarchy of controls is further illustrated below:

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When planning work at height, the following controls must be considered:

1. Can the job be done without working at height?

2. If the job must be done at height, then steps must be taken to isolate people from the hazard. This can be achieved using: safe working platforms, guardrail systems edge protection scaffolding elevated work platforms man cage mobile scaffolds barriers to restrict access

3. If steps 1 or 2 above are not reasonably practicable then steps must be taken to minimise the likelihood of

any harm. Consideration must be given to the use of: work positioning systems or travel restraint systems safety harnesses fall arrest harnesses industrial rope access systems soft landing systems

Where such work is regular or permanent, safe access must be provided. Safe access must remove the ability to access any location where a fall may occur.

Working at height

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Decision chart – working at height

Working at height

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Eliminating work at height Considering elimination should occur early in the planning stage. Eliminating the potential of a fall can be achieved through:

Safer design

Examples of safer design include use of low-maintenance building materials, locating air conditioning and similar plant at ground level, installing walkways with handrails and having permanent guardrails or other forms of edge protection, e.g. parapet walls.

Using alternative construction methods

Examples of alternative construction methods include prefabricating wall frames horizontally before standing them up, using pre-cast tilt-up concrete construction instead of concrete walls constructed in-situ, prefabricating structures on the ground before installation and lifting them into position, pre-painting fixtures or roofs before installation and installing and maintaining air conditioning or other equipment in areas other than at height.

Using specific tools and equipment.

Examples of tools and equipment include using long-handled tools, such as paint rollers or window brushes with extendable handles, thereby eliminating the need to work from a ladder.

Prevention Engineering controls

Examples of engineering controls are:

permanent barriers, platforms, access ways edge protection scaffolding elevated work platforms anchor points

Working at height

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All engineering controls must have current inspection certificates attached to the equipment and must be erected by a competent person.

Permanently installed access ladders that exceed 6 metres in length must have a ladder cage or a protective device on the ladder to take the place of a ladder cage or a tripod for confined space rescue.

All permanently installed access ladders that are 3 metres or more in length (excluding those used for confined space entries where a tripod is used) must be fitted with a continuous fall protection device.

A permanent anchor point should be designed by a registered professional engineer. Each permanent anchor should be uniquely identified so that its installation, testing and maintenance can be tracked during its lifetime. Its expected design life should be specified.

Permanent anchor systems are exposed to environmental and other working stressors during their lives. They are also reliant on the condition and strength of the material they are installed into. Therefore, anchor testing and inspection regimes should consider all these factors.

Anchors should have a rated load of 15 kN. All fall arrest and abseil anchors should be tagged and recertified annually to remain compliant with AS/NZS 1891.4.

Ladders and step ladders do not offer fall protection and therefore should be the last form of work access equipment to be considered. They should be used for low-risk and short-duration tasks only.

Use of a ladder must meet the following requirements:

use on stable ground only face the activity secure the ladder by tying it off if possible do not overload do not overreach do not rest tools or other items on the steps carry tools on a tool belt stop at the third step from the top keep three points of contact ladders must be trade or industrial process standard ladders should be labelled clearly, structurally sound and not be covered in chemicals or other materials

Administrative controls

Before any item of plant or equipment is put into operation, managers must:

ensure that the work has been planned appropriately. A planned method for work at height should be contained in:

o a standard operating procedure for work that is routine and of low residual risk o a permit to work and a job safety analysis (JSA) for work that is moderate to high residual risk

provide all workers who are to use plant and equipment with information, training, instruction or supervision to ensure compliance with the planned method of work

ensure that all reasonably practicable steps to prevent harm from falling objects (e.g. tools, materials, lanyards, tool belts, PPE) have been taken

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Appendix A: Definitions Terminology Description

Anchorage A component cast or fixed into a building or structure for the purpose of attaching a scaffold or safety line

A rigid or flexible line secured to an anchorage point along which a fall arrest device travels, or a flexible line which unreels from a fall arrest device

Barrier to restrict access A rope, tape or other visual prompt to act as a boundary around a work area to prevent access to a hazard (It should be at least 2 metres from a height hazard and where a roof slope is less than 10 degrees.)

Continuous fall protection device

A device designed and used to prevent exposure to an elevated fall hazard (It consists of sliding fall arrester, [attached to a harness], which connects to a rail, or cable, extending the full height of the fixed ladder

Edge protection Some form of guardrail or barrier designed to prevent a person reaching or falling over an exposed edge

Fall-arrest harness (safety harness)

An assembly of interconnected shoulder and leg straps, with or without a body belt, and used where there is likelihood of free or restrained fall

Fall-arrest system An assembly of interconnected components comprising a harness connected to an anchorage point or anchorage system, either directly or by means of a lanyard or pole strap, and whose purpose is to arrest a fall in accordance with the principles and requirements of AS/NZS 1891

Fall hazard area Any areas that have been identified during the hazard identification process and secured to avoid harm (This normally refers to anywhere within 2 metres of the exposed or unprotected edge of the roof.)

Fall protection The backup system planned to control, or eliminate, potential injury for a worker who could lose their balance at height

Fall restraint harness A harness for workers who use fall arrest equipment and which can be adjusted as necessary to prevent the worker from reaching a point where a fall is possible

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Guardrail A rail or barrier secured to upright members above the work platform at between 900 mm and 1,100 mm (maximum) and erected along the exposed sides and ends of working platforms to prevent persons from falling (It includes a lower rail that is fixed to standard midway between the guardrail and the platform.)

Handrail A rail at a height of between 900 mm (minimum) and 1,100 mm (maximum) designed to assist a person to retain their balance

Lanyard A line used, to connect a harness to an anchorage point or static line, usually as part of a lanyard assembly that includes a personal energy absorber

Man cage A certified device attached to a crane or forklift from which workers carry out their work at height

Scaffolding Any advanced scaffolding, basic scaffolding or suspended scaffolding or any framework or structure of a temporary nature used or intended to be used for:

a) the support or protection of persons carrying out construction work or work connected with construction work

b) the support of materials used in connection with any such work and includes: i) any scaffolding constructed as such and not dismantled,

whether or not it is being used as scaffolding ii) any coupling, device, fastening, fitting or plank used in

connection with the construction, erection or use of scaffolding

Work at height Work at a place, above or below ground level, where a person could be injured if they fell from that place – that is, falling from one level to another

Access and egress, except by a staircase in a permanent workplace, to or within a place of work

Does not include a fall at the same level (e.g. falling or slipping at ground or floor level)

Working at height

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Appendix B: Work at height bowtie analysis

Appendix C: References Standards Australia (2013), Fixed Platforms, Walkways, Stairways and Ladders. Design, Construction and Installation. AS/1657. http://infostore.saiglobal.com/store/details.aspx?ProductID=1694271 Standards New Zealand (1992), Fixed Platforms, Walkways, Stairways and Ladders. Design, Construction and Installation. AS/NZS 1657. https://shop.standards.govt.nz/catalog/1657%3A1992(NZS%7CAS)/view

Standards New Zealand (2015), Roof Safety Mesh AS/NZS 4389. https://shop.standards.govt.nz/catalog/4389:2015(AS%7CNZS)/scopeStandards New Zealand (1996) Portable Ladders AS/NZS 1892 https://shop.standards.govt.nz/catalog/1892.1%3A1996(AS%7CNZS)/view

Standards New Zealand (1997), Industrial Rope Access Systems Part 1: Specifications. AS/NZS 4488.1. https://shop.standards.govt.nz/c,atalog/4488.1%3A1997%28AS%7CNZS%29/view

Standards New Zealand (1997), Industrial Rope Access Systems. Part 2: Selection, Use and Maintenance. AS/NZS 4488.2 https://shop.standards.govt.nz/catalog/4488.1%3A1997%28AS%7CNZS%29/view

Standards New Zealand (2009), Industrial Fall-Arrest Systems and Devices. Part 4: Selection, Use and Maintenance. AS/NZS 1891.4 https://shop.standards.govt.nz/catalog/1891.4:2009(AS%7CNZS)/scope

Standards New Zealand (2009), Temporary Roof Edge Protection for Housing and Residential Buildings - Roof Edge Protection - Installation and Dismantling AS/NZS 4994.2:2009 https://shop.standards.govt.nz/catalog/4994.2%3A2009(AS%7CNZS)/view

Standards New Zealand (2015), Roof Safety Mesh AS/NZS 4389. https://shop.standards.govt.nz/catalog/4389:2015(AS%7CNZS)/scope?

WorkSafe New Zealand (2012), Best Practice Guidelines for Working at Height in New Zealand. http://www.worksafe.govt.nz/worksafe/information-guidance/all-guidance-items/best-practice-guidelines-for-working-at-height-in-new-zealand/working-height.pdf

WorkSafe New Zealand (2012), Industrial Rope Access in New Zealand: Best Practice Guidelines. https://www.worksafe.govt.nz/worksafe/information-guidance/pdf-documents-library/industrial-rope-access-guidelines.pdf

WorkSafe New Zealand (2013), Safe Working With Ladders and Stepladders: Fact Sheet. http://www.worksafe.govt.nz/worksafe/information-guidance/all-guidance-items/safe-working-with-ladders-and-stepladders/factsheet-safe-working-ladders-stepladders.pdf

WorkSafe New Zealand (2014), Best Practice Guidelines: Mobile Elevating Work Platforms. http://construction.worksafe.govt.nz/assets/guides/mobile-elevating-work-platforms/mobile-elevating-work-platforms.pdf