Working at height refers to any work done from such a height from where the worker can fall and get injured if there were no precautions in place. It remains one of the biggest reasons for fatalities, serious injuries, and hospital visits. People working through fragile places are prone to get injured if no precautionary measures are taken.
When working from height, care must be taken and ensure that the work is well-planned, supervised, and conducted by trained people.Using the right type of equipment when working from height can help lower the risk of accidents.
Define The Risk Factors
To avoid any mishaps it is essential to assess the risk factors before beginning. When it comes to working from height, evaluate the height of the task, duration and frequency of work, and the condition of the working place.
Do as much work as possible from the comfortable surface of the ground, only work from height when it is not possible to work from the ground. Never put yourself in danger when an easy alternative is available, whenever reasonably practicable, avoid working from height.
To prevent falls, utilize the existing place of work that is already safe enough to work. Whenever working from height, always make sure to use the right type of equipment to prevent falls. The equipment being used to work from height must be suitable, stable, and strong enough for the desired job. Such equipment must be properly maintained and regularly checked for its efficacy.
Take precautions when working on or near fragile surfaces where the person is liable to injury if he gets slipped from height. Protecting falling objects can help lower the risk of falling from height. Always consider emergency evacuation and rescue procedures, as these can be of great use when working from height.
Things to Avoid
Working from height is a huge task for a layman, their lack of experience and skills may become troublesome for them. For the safety of the personnel, it is recommended to ask a competent person to work at height.
Avoid resting your ladder against fragile upper surfaces, for instance, plastic gutters or glazing. Always check the pictogram on the ladder for information and consider the type of material and equipment before working from height.
Ladders and stepladders are effective in short duration, and the material being used is light in weight. However, working with ladders is not a good option when it performing strenuous tasks from height.
Select The Right Equipment
Personnel who work from height must use a Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) to do their job. The employer is responsible for the selection of equipment according to the type of work being done by the employees.
Not all PFAS are the same; their efficacy varies from material to material. Some PFAS are composed of better materials that are capable of supporting heavy material, more durable, and protect from hazards like fire or electricity.
It is crucial to maintain your equipment and perform risk assessments on regular basis. To ease your job, this company has specialists’ advice to recommend the best platform for your job. Our machines are well-maintained according to the recommendations and HSE requirements. So, you can lean on us if you’ve never worked from height and dealt with your first ever project.
Evaluate the type of hazard that you may encounter while performing your job and select the fall arrest accordingly. A fall arrest with a fireproof material is essential if your working condition is prone to fire hazards. The price of the PFAS fluctuates with the material. Never stint on fall protection equipment, and go for the PFAS that will serve you best regardless of the price.
Final Verdict
Making a proper plan and consulting the advice of an experienced individual before carrying out work from height can be fruitful for the well-being of the workers. Using appropriate equipment plays a leading hand in avoiding the incidence of undesirable events. Hence, always reach out to the skillful and experienced individual to work from height.
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