Working at heightWorking around/in pits and holes

Corporate Health & Safety 2011

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Contents

• Introduction

• Main causes of accidents

• HIRA - Solutions

• Questions

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Introduction

December 2010

Fatality

Work: removal of a hanging charge (cleaning of bunker from batch mixture),

by a team of 3 men.

The victim was in a danger zone of possible charge coal collapse at the bottom

of the bunker at the height of 3m and was staying on a metal ladder installed

in the bunker (height of ladder – 12 m)

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May 2010

Fatality

Work: install an additional drain pump

on the concrete roof (slab) of the pumping station

The worker falls from the roof 6.2 m high

Introduction

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Lack of guardinga floor opening,

or unreliable covering

Not wearingfull body harness

Not using a controlled and well locatedanchorage point

Wrong selection and useof ladder

Not checking if the pit mustbe considered as a Confined Space

Not working with rescue plan and safety watch

Main causes of accidents

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ArcelorMittal Regulations• Group Companies will, as a minimum, follow the prevailing local regulations for

elevated work where there is a risk of falling. Where this ArcelorMittal standard is more demanding, then it will apply.

• In any case, fall prevention or protection shall be used for elevated work above 1.8 meters (6 feet). However, for any task where the risk assessment highlights a danger of falling, proper actions have to be taken, even if the distance one can fall is less than 1,8 m.

• Access to pits and holes, as well as working around the top of pits and holes, is working at height. Same requirements apply.

• More: some pits and holes are complying with the definition of a confined spaces. Access and working inside must consider the related risks too.

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Hazard or Risk Prediction

Example:

• How will we get to the work area?

• What are the hazards inside and around the work area?

• How deep is the work area?

• Are there holes or openings below or around the work area?

• Is the surface on which people are to walk stable and strong enough ?

• Are there slip or trip hazards around the work area?

• How to rescue someone if a fall?

• How to rescue someone if injured inside the pit?

• Is every employee / contractor on the job warned about the hazards and risk control measures?

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Solution Choices

• Use the Hierarchy of Control

– Elimination

– Substitution

– Engineering

– Administrative

– Collective Protective Equipment

– Personal Protective Equipment

• Each choice has its place and time. Standard solutions don’t apply systematically.

• Before making the choice(s), Evaluate the effectiveness of the control against the potential problems.

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• Floor opening: An opening measuring 30cm (12 inches) or more in its least dimension, in any floor, platform, pavement, or yard, through which persons may fall.

• Removing a cover without guarding = Floor openings can be a killer on a construction project, on a maintenance work…

• Main hazards are: the fall from an elevation, and being struck by objects falling through the hole.

• If you remove a section of a steel grating floor or a hole cover, guard the area. These openings are particularly hard to see when the floor below is also steel grating.

• Temporary cover: must be strong enough for the usual trafic (people, loads, vehicles). It should be marked with a danger warning.

• If covering a hole is impractical and if open for access and work, guardrails shall be installed with toe-boards.

• Never leave an opening uncovered or unprotected.

5) Floor openings

Example of a vehicle maintenance pit protected by removable posts and rope at distance, and strong full guardrails

on the crossing bridge (HSE)

Example of a protection kit for standard round manholes

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• Work Scenarios vs. Rescue Scenarios– Different planning– Different equipment– Different skills

• Do you plan for rescue at your facility?

• Each time PPE is used, there must be a rescue plan!– You must be able to rescue someone in a minimum amount of time

(<10 minutes).

For a rescue operation, every minute counts. It is known that for severely injured people a risk of death exists if not acted quickly : beyond 15 minutes 50% of patients will have died.

– Identify the Normal Conditions and Allowances.– Define the plan during the Hazard Identification

and Risk Assessment, defining proper mitigation actions.

• When preparing the rescue plan, always check if a confined space, and if a risk of entrapment.

6) Rescue Plan

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Questions1. What is a floor opening?

A. A space that has restricted access and has potentially a hazardous atmosphere or could cause entrapment.

B. Any accessible, open floor.C. An opening measuring 30cm or more in its least dimension, in any floor,

platform, pavement, or yard.

2. If I have to work in a pit and if I use collective protective equipment, what are the minimum requirements?

A. Complete floors, guardrails, toe boards and safe access and egress.B. As determined by the maintenance inspector.C. As determined by a competent fire brigade representative.

3. When I work in a pit considered as a confined space, I have to be assisted by a “stand by person”. What is the role of this person?

A. To monitor the air quality in the confined space.B. S/He must have no other duties than to monitor and stay outside of the

confined space.C. To communicate progress with the area supervisor.