Working @ Heights
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Build it Smart
This material was produced under grant
46K1-HT18 from the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Labor. It does not
necessarily reflect the views or policies
of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor
does the mention of trade names,
commercial products, or organizations
imply endorsement by the U.S.
Government.
Table of Contents
Steps in Risk Assessment
Recognizing Hazards
Daily Preplanning
Preplanning Checklist
Fall Protection for Hazardous Exposures
Safe Work Practice Guidelines
Eliminate Structure Collapse
Eliminate Scaffold, Scissor lift, or Boom
Supported Work Platform Collapse or
Tip over
Eliminate Derrick, or Crane Collapse,
Tip Over or Failure
Eliminate Ladders Collapse or Failure
Eliminate Slipping & Tripping Hazards
Eliminate Falling Objects and Falls
Eliminate Unguarded Edges Hazards,
Lighting and Weather Related Hazards
Eliminate Electrical Hazards
High Voltage Safe Distance Chart
Risk Assessment-
Identify potential Fall Hazards using the
Preplanning Checklist
Hazard Analysis -
Exposure avoidance and control techniques
Fall Hazard Controls -
Employee awareness & communication (preplanning and coordination) ,Protection systems
Fall Restraint - Guard rails, travel restraint systems
Fall Arrest - Personal arrest systems, safety nets, lifeline systems- vertical and horizontal walk line requirements
Anchor Requirements - Restraint versus arrest, temporary versus permanent
Procedure Development - Safe Work Practice Guidelines
Consider Hazardous Falls- Falls at the same level
- Falls against an object
- Falls from vehicles/equipment
- Falls from stairs, ladders and ramps
- Falls from one work level to another
- Falls into/through openings
Underlying Causes of Falls
- Reaching beyond the work surface
- Poor housekeeping
- Walking off unguarded edge
- Carrying objects
- Slippery surfaces
- Climbing onto or from work surface
- Using machinery or equipment
- Weather conditions: heat, rain, ice, and/or winds
Identify:
Existing and potential height related hazards and exposures to falls
Ask:
1) Why is this a hazard?
2) How do we abate or minimize the hazard?
Know:
1) Risks you impose on
others and risk others
impose on you
2) Risks of your trade and
the risks of the trades
around you
Remember:
If you see a hazard, see it
gets fixed.
SILENCE IS CONSENT!
Excavations |
______ |
Scaffolds/ladders |
______ |
Ramps, runways, and walkways |
______ |
Crane supported work platforms |
______ |
Aerial platforms |
______ |
Temporary work platforms |
______ |
Welding, decking, bolting |
______ |
Roofing and roof openings |
______ |
Siding/sheeting |
______ |
Wall openings |
______ |
Boom & scissor lifts |
______ |
Steel erection, welding, bolting |
______ |
Flooring |
______ |
Elevator openings |
______ |
Stairwells |
______ |
Forming, pouring, stripping concrete columns/walls |
______ |
Perimeter/leading edge activities |
______ |
Weather |
______ |
Working Over Dangerous Equipment: guard rail
system—safety net system—personal fall arrest system
Excavations: guard rail system—fences—barricades
Floor/Roof Openings: hole covers—guard rail system— personal fall arrest system—all restraint system
Formwork and Reinforcing Steel: safety net system— personal fall arrest system—positioning system
Hoist Areas: guard rail system—safety net system— personal fall arrest system—fall restraint system
Holes Covers: guard rail system—safety net system— personal fall arrest system—fall restraint system
Leading Edge: guard rail system—safety net system— personal fall arrest system—fall restraint system—fall protection
Over-head Work: guard rail system—safety net system—personal fall arrest system—controlled access zone
Precast Concrete Erection: guard rail system—safety net system—personal fall arrest system—fall protection plan
Roofing Work: guard rail system—safety net system— personal fall arrest system—safety monitor system— warning line with guard rail or safety net OR personal fall protection or fall restraint system
Unprotected Sides and Edges: guard rail system— safety net system—personal fall arrest system—fall restraint system
Ramps, Runways, Walkways: guard rail system— personal fall arrest system—safety net system Wall
Openings: guard rail system—safety net system— personal fall arrest system—fall restraint system
Eliminate Structure Collapse
Follow erection sequence
Install all temporary and permanent bracing
Remember bracing provides no value until both ends are connected
Leave all bracing in place until it can be safely removed
Keep erection within limits of bolts, welding and other fasteners
Do not over-load
On multiple story structures, check the status of the floor you are loading to ensure it can easily accommodate the anticipated load
Once plumb and square, install and secure bridging before loading, to eliminate possibility of collapse
Eliminate Scaffold
Collapse
Inspect:
All pieces before
erecting
All components before
getting on any scaffold
Over-head anchors
before each shift
Do:
Build base on level, solid
surface to withstand
weight
Consider and construct
for wind loads
Follow erection
procedures and
manufacturers
specifications
Install bracing and out
riggers
Travel only on level
surfaces
Do Not:
Over-load
Climb on bracing
Use damaged or faulty
planks or other
components
Eliminate Scissor Lift & Boom Supported Work Platform Tip-Over or Collapse
- Do not over-load
-
Be aware of all sources of electrical power
-
Be alert for surface penetration covers
-
Stay clear of workers,
ladders, and scaffolds
-
Use caution when
attaching anything that
could get caught
(Cords, hoses, etc.)
Eliminate Derrick
Collapse or Failure
- Use qualified operators
-
Use qualified signal
persons
-
Do not over-load
-
Ensure derrick flooring is
adequately fastened
-
Inspect all parts daily
-
Refuse to use damaged
derrick
Eliminate Crane Collapse,
Failure or Tip-Over -
Use qualified operators
-
Use qualified signal persons
-
Do not over-load
-
Travel only within
manufacture's limits
-
Inspect parts daily
-
Refuse to use damaged crane
-
Place outriggers on solid support
Eliminate Ladder Collapse or Failure -
Inspect daily
-
Do not over-load
-
Keep feet of ladder at even levels
-
Use the proper ladder for the job
Eliminate Slipping & Tripping Hazards -
Maintain good housekeeping
-
Look for and remove nuts, washers, cords, rope & tools
-
Keep loose parts and pieces in secure containers or non hazardous area
-
Clean up and properly dispose of left over materials
-
Pay attention to work surfaces; for mud, sand, water or ice
-
Clean up oil, grease, paint, fireproofing, & dust
Ladders-
Keep angle of the
ladder within prescribed
limits
-
Secure ladders to
prevent slipping
-
Where possible, secure
top and or bottom of
ladder
-
Do not splice together
short ladders to make a
longer ladder
-
Destroy and discard
damaged ladders
-
When
in traffic areas
barricade or tape off the
area
-
Do not use the top two
steps on step ladders
Eliminate Falling
Objects-
Maintain good
housekeeping
-
Dispose of left over
materials
-
Secure materials, tools,
parts on hoists
-
Eliminate over-head
work of welders and
burners—when unavoidable every effort to catch the fire must be made
-
Preplan for catching slag and fire
Eliminate Falls Through Roofs or Floor Openings-
Barricade holes before removing covers
-
Use appropriate fall protection equipment
-
Highlight all barricade
hazards with signs
-
Cover holes with clearly
marked covers
Eliminate Unguarded
Edges Hazards
-
Preplan for leading edge
work at unprotected
edge, side, or openings in
floors, roofs, ramps, or
runways where there is
no guard rail system in
place
-
Use appropriate fall
protection equipment
Eliminate Lighting
Hazards
-
Preplan to limit
exposures in non-daylight
hours
-
Use good lighting to
illuminate work areas,
pathways, corridors, hall
ways, working platforms
-
Have a supply of
flashlights
Eliminate Weather
Related Hazards-
Keep work areas cleared,
dry, sanded, covered,
barricaded, or protected
-
Use temporary bracing
-
Use personal protective
equipment
Eliminate Electrical
Hazards
-
Instruct crew members
on location of all sources
of electrical power and
proper work practices
including that equipment
must be grounded or
double insulated
-
Tag, barricade and post
warning signs in
hazardous areas
-
Watch distances when
transporting ladders, or
scaffolds, or other
materials
-
Flag roof mounted
weather heads to prevent
tripping or falling over
power lines
Minimum Safe Distance From High Voltage
Power line voltage
Phase to phase (kV) |
Minimum safe clearance (feet) |
50 or below |
10 |
Above 50 to 200 |
15 |
Above 200 to 350 |
20 |
Above 350 to 500 |
25 |
Above 500 to 750 |
35 |
Above 750 to 1,000 |
45 |
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