WORK AT HEIGHT SAFETY AWARENESS

                                            WORK AT HEIGHT SAFETY AWARENESS

As you know work at height is the activity that leads to the height number of fatalities this is an important reason why yourc organization must focus on all activities that need to be performed at height whether you work at height every day or only on occasion

working safely should always remain a top priority it takes one mistake to turn a routine

task into a serious injury or fatality you must be prepared to protect your employees each and every time they could be exposed to a fall hazard what is working at height

working at height refers to any work where a person could potentially fall and injure themselves a ladder a roof's edge an opening on the floor and even a loading dock can be considered working at height in the general industry fall protection is required by osha for any height change of 4 feet 1.2 meters or more the main hazard when performing work at height are overreaching failure of a fragile surface unguarded holes in floors failure of the elevated work platform.

 

Poor edge protection items being poorly stored are secured falling objects work in areas without guard rails or covers for training work at height control measures to set a workable work at height control measures proper work at height risk assessment should be carried out this will guide the process of drawing up adequate control measures for work and height activity when performing a risk assessment always follow the hierarchy of controls if you want to know more about hierarchy of controls check our channel let's look at the general control measures we should implement in our workplace use existing working platform where an existing safe place of work is used to carry out work where possible this existing work platform is believed not to require additional protective equipment and with is no risk of falling because preventative measures are already in place preventing falls using collective protection this means protecting everyone who's potentially at risk.

 

This involves ensuring the use of a safe working platform the characteristics of a safe working platform the working surface must be stable and of sufficient strength and rigidity for the purpose the working platform must rest on stable and suitably strong surfaces. It must be a sufficient size to allow safe use for persons plant and materials

space must be suitable should be designed in such a way that falls from the platform are avoided no gap should be left on the platform.

 

Suitable protection such as platforms coverings crawling boards or guard rails must be provided measures should be taken to minimize the distance and consequence of any fall for example fall arrest systems safety nets and airbags ensure workers training

before any worker performs work at height activities the worker needs to be properly trained the training should cover what is working at height dangers of working at height who should work at height safety measures to adopt while working at height appropriate use of fall protection and its accessories different types of body harnesses and their suitability this will help in the choice of the best body harness for the job they could need a harness with a single lanyard or a double lanyard select the proper ppe if you're going to use personal fall arrest systems pfas you need to ensure you're choosing the proper equipment all full body harnesses that meet ansi standards will perform the same despite their cost however that price differential can get you something extra select an acceptable anchor point by this point you might be realizing that there are a lot of factors involved when it comes to fall safety especially ppe what good is the right harness and lanyard setup if the anchor point won't hold the load the answer is not you need to keep in mind that the rule says the anchor point must have the ability to support

5000 pounds around 2 300 kilograms per person attached if the anchor point does not support this load all systems will fail ensure proper use of lifts there are many ways in which something can go wrong when operating a lift so i won't get into the actual operation here however we do need to discuss fall protection in regards to lifts one thing that gets missed quite often is that any person in a boom lift at any time or height must be properly tied off use ladders properly ladders lie at the source of many industrial and workplace accidents simply because we take their use for granted before using a ladder consider whether or not they are the best solution for the task know when and what type of fall protection is required.

 

There are three factors to think about when considering when and what type of fall protection is required by osha frequency duration and location of work osha now uses two terms that will help you determine the frequency and duration of work taking place

infrequent work that is performed once a month or less temporary simple short-term tasks that take two hours or less to complete location of work once you've determined

the frequency and duration you will need to determine the location of the work in proximity to the hazard.

 

 One common misconception about working at heights (WAH) is that it can be performed manually. However this is not true. WAH requires a certain level of mastery. This is because the worker needs to know what they are doing, how they are moving and where they are going. Having strong legs or feet can provide more stability but it doesn't guarantee a good ride that will let you get through any rough ground work. Most of us have a fear of heights which makes most workers feel like we just can't be there at first. The reality for many of us is that we need to do some training so we can safely and efficiently deliver our assigned tasks.

There are some things we can do to keep ourselves safe even when we're working in high altitudes. We've got to take into account where we are standing, the nature of our job, the kind of surfaces we're going to use and that's just the tip of the iceberg. A lot of people overlook their own health and safety when there is an assignment to do. You don't want to show yourself as being less than you really are. One thing should always be kept in mind that everyone has a different physical ability and that's why each person has things differently.

Some people are great at climbing stairs and some can only climb down one section of the floor which is why you have to monitor your movements to ensure everything goes off without a hitch. To help with this it is recommended that someone who works in high altitudes should go for day hikes regularly (or get a coach) to make sure all the basics are covered. When it comes to weight lifting a lot of weight you don't want to be carrying unnecessarily. Your legs are probably going to hurt from this extra work. Another thing you should consider if you're working on a heavy load at its highest point is to find a spot on the wall that you can lean on that allows you to see around you.

When looking down from a wall to help you move around you should place a chair or something similar behind you so you can clearly see the object underneath you. If possible try to avoid leaning too heavily against the wall as your shoulders might hurt from the strain. This can also give you a stable foundation to stand on. Another tip would be you could do some stretches which allow your body to relax. Be aware of any discomfort that may come to you as you work out however this is very normal, the goal of learning how to lift weights is to get stronger muscles and you don't want to push it further.

The final step is to always back up your equipment before anything else because of your falling equipment, this is where you are meant to learn the fundamentals of life and it's a good way to check on you if something was to happen. It's important to understand that falling is not fun and no matter how much support and assistance you may need you'll still end up hurting. Make sure to stay alert and never forget any items that could fall on you like your phone or even a glass of water.

Lastly remember all those pieces of kit that you brought with you are meant to protect you from falling stuff so be careful about them too. They need to be put away carefully until next time which means you shouldn't just chuck them over. You're not going to win by being careless either so be sure to keep these things handy while you work out. As mentioned earlier, it's okay to have those moments where you stumble and fall at least once in your career. Just remind yourself that you've got to do better next time and keep going and you're going to be ok no matter how hard it gets.

Keep this mindset and always back up your equipment and know what you'll be able to handle so that nobody can ruin your experience. Keep going and be persistent and never give up. Remember you're getting the experience. Be careful, enjoy it and never think that anyone is going to notice. Keep these things in mind and above all never think about how hard it is to get somewhere or stay in any shape. Always focus on getting to the last second of success.