Safety

while
Working at Heights

Presented by
Scorpion Safety Systems &
Services Pvt. Ltd.
Trainer: Saji K. Thomas
 Safety while Working at Heights
• Introduction
– Safety
– Working at Heights

• Hazards
– Fall of Person
– Falling of Objects
– Falls from Collapsing
Structures
 Safety while Working at Heights
• Precautionary Measures
– Prevent fall of person
– Prevent Objects Falling
– Prevent structures from Collapsing
• Equipments - Work at Height
– Ladder
– Scaffold
– Other Work Platform
 Safety while Working at Heights
• Equipments - Safety
– Trained Workmen
– Secure Workplace (edge Protection)
• Guard rails, Mid rails, Toe boards
– PPE’s
– Safety Harness
– Fall arresters
– Safety Nets
 Safety Record
Construction Sector is frequently associated with accidents.
Reason:
Highly Labour Oriented
Frequently changing Environment
Many parties Involved
Migrant Labour
Short term employment
Ignorant to construction techniques
Less/no training
 Construction Accidents statistics
• Fall from height 35%
• Contact with Electricity 18%
• Fall of Material 15%
• Hit by Machinery of Moving Parts 12%
• Tripping Hazards 05%
• Vehicles 05%
• Collapse of Scaffold or Form Work 05%
• Slide & Cave-in 03%
• Others 02%
 Height work
Working at height describes work undertaken
“Off the ground”.

Commonly, it involves the use of ladders,

scaffold, hoists, elevated work plat form, or
general roof work.

In other words any activity which is carried out

above 2 meter is called height work.
 Hazards and Precaution
Fall of Person – Reasons
1. Illness
2. Not having work experience
3. Vertigo / Sickness
4. Drugs usage
5. Slippery, obstructions, imbalance
6. Failure of platforms, PPE’s
7. Unsecured condition
 Hazards and Precaution
Fall of Person – Precaution
1. Medical examinations, Selection &
Screening, previous history etc.
2. Providing edge protection around the
dangerous work place openings.
3. Maintaining a safe work distance
from edges, house keeping
4. Providing Safety nets, Fall arresters
5. Safety harnesses and PPE’s
 Hazards and Precaution
Reasons for Falling Objects
1. Use of Loose objects and tools
2. Not securing the tools and equipments
3. Proper barriers not provided in platforms
4. Non exclusion of zones under work area
5. Unstable structure/workspace
6. In sufficient Housekeeping
 Hazards and Precaution
Precautions for Falling Objects
1. Ensures that there are no loose objects and that any tools
are properly secured;
2. Secures objects to the structure, e.g. lashing of scaffold
boards;
3. Provides barriers, e.g. a toe boards or mesh guards to
prevent items from slipping or being knocked off the edge of
a structure;
4. Creates an exclusion zone, where necessary, beneath areas
where work is taking place.
5. Ensure adequate design precautions were taken to confirm
the stability of the structure
6. Make sure the platforms and elevated work places are
cleaned periodically
 Hazards and Precaution
Hazards of Collapsing Structure

1. Not harnessed to sturdy structure

2. Non adherence to procedure
3. Improper Maintenance
4. Un authorised alterations
5. Un trained workmen-builder/user
6. Wrong use of structure
 Hazards and Precaution
Precaution of Collapsing Structure

1. Understand the proper use of Materials

2. Proper training and adherence
3. Regular and need based Inspection of
structure
 Working at Heights

Play working at Height Safety Clip for 6 Mins

 Equipments

Ladder

Scaffold

Other Work Platforms

 Ladder
Portable Ladder
Single Ladder (general), Step Ladder, Extension Ladder,
Trolley Ladder, Trestle Ladder, Rope Ladder, Fire Ladder

Built up(Fixed) Ladder

These are ladders that are permanently fixed to the wall,
container, building Etc.
Stair ways in our daily use at home and office buildings
 Portable Ladder
Falls from portable ladders are
a major source of serious
injury. Be aware of the hazards
and take proper precautions to
prevent falling.

Place a ladder so that the

horizontal distance from the
base to the vertical plane of the
support is approximately one-
forth the ladder lengths
between supports (75 degree
from the ground).
 Some Rules - Ladder
• Grasp the rungs when climbing a ladder, not
the side rails. If your foot slips on a ladder,
holding onto rungs is easier than holding onto
the side rails.

• Ensure that the person at the foot of the

ladder faces the ladder with a hand on each
side rail and one foot resting on the bottom
rung.
 Some Rules - Ladder
• Do not rest a ladder on any rung. Only the side
rails are designed for this purpose.
• Secure the base of a ladder to prevent
accidental movement. Securing a ladder at the
foot does not prevent a side slip at the top.
• Use ladders equipped with non-slip feet.
Otherwise nail a cleat to the floor or anchor
the feet or bottom of the side rails.
 Use of Portable Ladder – Do s
Inspect the ladder before and after each use.
Reject and tag any ladders that have defects.
Have faulty ladders repaired or thrown out.
Use only the ladder designed for your task,
consider the strength, type and length.
Get help when handling a heavy or long
ladder.
 Use of Portable Ladder – Do s
Keep ladders away from electrical wires.
Tie off ladders at the top and secure bottom to
prevent them from slipping.
Set up barricades and warning signs when using
a ladder in a doorway or passageway.
Face the ladder when going up or down and
when working from it.
Keep the centre of your body within the side
rails.
 Use of Portable Ladder – Do s
Before mounting a ladder, clean
the boot soles if they are muddy
or slippery. Avoid climbing with
wet soles. Ensure that footwear
is in good condition.

Ensure that all electrical

equipment used during ladder
work is in good condition and
properly grounded. 3 Point Contact
 Use of Portable Ladder – Do s
Rest frequently to avoid arm
fatigue and disorientation when
the work requires you to look up
and reach above your head.

Drape your arms over a rung and

rest your head against another
rung or side rail if you become
dizzy or panicky. Climb down
slowly. 3 Point Contact
 Use of Portable Ladder – Don’ts
Do not use a ladder in passageways,
doorways, driveways or other locations
where a person or vehicle can hit it. Set up
suitable barricades or lock the doors shut.
Do not place a ladder against flexible or
moveable surfaces.
Do not erect ladders on boxes, carts, tables,
scaffold or other unstable surfaces.
 Use of Portable Ladder – Don’ts
Do not stand a ladder on any of its rungs,
Ladders must rest on both side rails.
Do not allow anyone to stand under a
ladder.
Do not overreach from a ladder; move as
required.
Do not use any type of ladder near electrical
wires.
Scaffolding
Scaffolding is widely used
during construction and
renovation activities. In
its simplest form, a
scaffold is any temporary
elevated or suspended
work surface used to
support workers and/or
materials.
 Scaffold & Scaffolding
• Scaffold is an elevated temporary working
platform for supporting both personnel and
materials. Scaffolding is the structure made
of timber or metal that supports the
working platform.
• Scaffolds may range from individual planks
placed on structural members of the
building to involved patent scaffolding.
Scaffold & Scaffolding
General requirements - Scaffolding
• The footing of scaffolding must be sound and
rigid, capable of supporting the weight.
Scaffolding must not be placed on unstable
objects, such as bricks or blocks.

• Scaffolds must be erected, dismantled, or

moved only by properly trained workers.
General requirements - Scaffolding
• Scaffolds and components must be able to
support at least four times the intended load.

• Standard guardrails (e.g., handrail and

midrail) and toeboards must be provided for
all open sides of the scaffolding that are ten
(10) feet or more above the surrounding
surfaces.
General requirements - Scaffolding
• To protect against falling objects, screens
must be installed between the toeboard and
midrail if anyone is required to pass under
the scaffolding.

• Standard guardrails (e.g., handrail and

midrail) and toeboards must be provided for
all open sides of the scaffolding that are ten
(10) feet or more above the surrounding
surfaces.
General requirements - Scaffolding
• To protect against falling objects, screens must
be installed between the toeboard and midrail if
anyone is required to pass under the scaffolding.
Any damaged or weakened component of a
scaffold must be repaired or replaced
immediately.
• All planking or platforms must be overlapped a
minimum of twelve (12) inches and secured
from movement. Scaffold planks shall extend
over their end support at least six (6) inches but
no more than twelve (12) inches.
General requirements - Scaffolding
• An access ladder or other safe access must be
provided.
• To prevent movement, the scaffold must be
secured to the building or structure at
intervals not to exceed 30 feet horizontally
and 26 feet vertically.
• Cross-braces of the proper length must be
used to ensure that the scaffold will remain
plumb and rigid.
 Suspension - Scaffolding
• The platform of a two-point suspension scaffold
must not be more than 36 inches wide unless
designed by a qualified person, and must be
surrounded with a standard guardrail and
toeboard.
• Ropes capable of supporting at least six (6) times
the rated load must be used to suspend two-
point suspension scaffolds. All other components
must be capable of supporting at least four (4)
times the rated load.
 Suspension - Scaffolding
• Only permitted number of workers are allowed
on the platform. One person = suspension
scaffold designed for a working load of 250
pounds.
• Each worker must be protected by a personal fall
arresting system attached to an independent
lifeline. The lifeline must be attached securely to
substantial frame of the structure (not the
scaffold) or to securely rigged lines that will safely
suspend the employee in case of a fall.
 Safety - Scaffolding
• Do not take up boards, move handrails or
remove ties to gain access for work.

• Changes should only be made by a competent

scaffolder.

• Stop unauthorised access onto the scaffold,

for example by removing all ladders at ground
level, whenever it is left unattended.
 Safety - Scaffolding
• Never work from platforms that are not fully
boarded.

• Do not overload scaffolds. Make sure they are

designed to take the loads put on them. Store
materials so the load is spread evenly.

• Make sure there is suitable stair and ladder

access onto the working platform.
 Roof Work
• Any work on a roof is high-risk. High safety
standards are essential however long or short
term the work is.

• The nature of the precautions needed may

vary from one job to another, but not
providing any safeguards is simply
unacceptable.
 Roof Work
Falls occur:
▼ from the edges of roofs;
▼ through gaps or holes in roofs; and
▼ through fragile roof materials and roof lights.

In addition, many people have been seriously

injured by material falling or thrown from roofs.
 Fall arrest equipment
Providing adequate platforms and edge
protection may not always be possible or
reasonably practicable.

If so either safety nets or harnesses will be

required.
 Fall arrest equipment
They do not stop people falling, but minimise
the potential injuries if they do.

If harnesses are used make sure that they are

securely attached to a sufficiently strong
anchorage point and that they are always worn.
This requires user discipline and active
management monitoring.
 Fragile roofs
A fragile material is one that does not safely
support the weight of a person and any load
they are carrying.

The fragility of a roof does not depend solely on

the composition of the material in it
 Fragile Roof
• The following factors are also important:

thickness of the material;

the span between supports;
sheet profile;
the type, number, position and quality of fixings;
the design of the supporting structure and
the age of the material.
 Fragile Roof
Protection is needed when anyone passes by or
works nearer than 2 m to fragile materials, eg:

• along valley gutters in a fragile roof;

• when fragile roof lights or smoke vents are
contained in an otherwise non-fragile roof;
and
• during access to working areas on a fragile
roof.
 Working on sloping roofs
• On traditional inclined roofs most people fall:

• from eaves;
• by slipping down the roof and then over the
eaves;
• through the roof internally, eg during roof
truss erection; or
• from gable ends.
 Industrial roofing
Building and working on steel framed wide-span
industrial roofs involves a number of hazards, such
as falls:
• from the roof edge;
• through gaps in the partially completed roof;
• through liner panels;
• from the leading edge when unprotected gaps
are inevitable; and
• from the frame, eg when loading out with roof
sheets.
 Industrial roofing
Good planning can significantly reduce the risks
involved in industrial roofing. Key elements are
as follows.
• Reduce the need for workers to travel about
the roof.
• provide a safe place of work (eg properly
guarded working platforms or powered access
equipment) rather than relying on fall arrest
equipment to restrict a fall.
 Fall Arresters
A fall arrest block comprises a retractable lifeline
made of wire rope, webbing or synthetic fibre
rope which is stored on a reel within a
protective housing. The reel is spring-biased so
as to wind the retractable lifeline in, which
ensures that it is always under a light restraining
tension and there is the shortest possible length
between the housing and the user.
 Fall Arresters
The reel incorporates an inertia brake mechanism
which allows the lifeline to be slowly extracted and
automatically retracted to accommodate the user’s
body movements..

In the event of a fall, the lifeline is rapidly pulled out

of the housing until it reaches a critical velocity (the
“lock-on speed”) at which point the brake locks and
a clutch mechanism decelerates the user over a
short distance.
 Pre use Checks
There are a range of checks which should be
done before any fall arrest block is used. One of
the most straightforward is to check the service
indicator.

Do not use these devices if the indicator

mechanism shows signs of having previously
arrested a fall.
 Lanyards
A lanyard is a flexible link between other
components (e.g. a harness and an anchor
device) of a fall protection system. They are
typically made from textile rope or webbing,
with an eye at each end to allow connectors to
be fitted, or constructed as a closed circular
loop.
 Energy absorbing Lanyards
These combinations of lanyard and energy
absorber are used to link a fall arrest harness to a
suitable anchor – this is probably the most
widespread type of fall arrest system used in
industry.
Some energy absorbing lanyards are formed as
single products which perform both of the
functions described above. Energy absorbing
lanyards may be attached separately to a harness or
may be integral within the harness.
 Energy absorbing Lanyards
If energy absorbing lanyards are used in a situation
where the anchor is positioned close to a surface
which the user might fall onto (e.g. the ground), it is
essential that enough clearance is allowed for
extension of the energy absorber.
The following calculation may be used as a guide to
a suitable clearance distance in such situations
User height + lanyard length + extension + safety
margin = 2m + 2m + 1.75m + 1m = 6.75 m
Safety Harness
 Accessories
• Restraints
• Adjustable Restraints
• Anchorage end
• Rope Runner
• Restraint Horizontal Life line
• Pulley helps to keep the anchor right behind
• Hence no pendulum effect
 Movie Clip
• Working at Height - How to work in Restraint