As recent US reports indicate, a total of 12 construction workers have died so far this year in the city of Manhattan as a result of ineffective height safety equipment or training. Mark Haylett from Total Protection UK is working to prevent the same dim picture right here on UK soil.
According to the Health and Safety Executive falls at height in 2005 and 2006 accounted for almost 46 fatal accidents right here in the UK, and as the credit crunch continues, and many employers are tempted to cut corners, this year is set to be one of the most dangerous yet for construction workers.
As stated by the Work at Height Regulations 2005 (amended 2007), all employers should ‘do all that is reasonably practicable to prevent anyone from falling. Duty holders must also avoid work at height where they can, use work equipment or other measures to prevent falls where they cannot avoid working at height and where they cannot eliminate the risk of a fall, use work equipment or other measures to minimise the distance and consequences should a fall occur.’
Mr Haylett, whose company offer everything from gas detection equipment, breathing apparatus, noise monitoring equipment and height safety equipment, said, “It is essential that employers take heed of the warnings and realise that the deaths in the US recently were not down to chance. Height safety can be a complex issue and there are many preventative measures, one of which is working in restraint.”
Allowing workers enough access and mobility to reach a leading edge, working in restraint allows workers to carry on with their tasks without the danger of a fall from height. There are three types of restraint and these include adjustable restraint, which involves a line with an adjustment mechanism, which allows the user to personally adjust his or her equipment, fixed length restraint, which involves a line of a specific length, which prevents access beyond the fall hazard, and a running line restraint system which involves a horizontal line, which is used alongside an adjustable restraint which makes sure that the anchorage remains behind the user. If working at height cannot be prevented, work positioning then becomes an important consideration.
Mr Haylett, from the firm who offer a wide range of height safety solutions added, “Work positioning is when the user is suspended by equipment in their work position. If a user is fully reliant upon a work positioning system then a secondary system is generally required as a back up in case of failure. The secondary system may be a work positioning system or, in most cases a fall arrest system. Common equipment used in work positioning can include harnesses, lanyards and backup systems that make use of a vertical line.”
Finally, if a fall is allowed to occur, fall arrest is a vital consideration. Once the user has fallen the fall arrest equipment arrests the fall. With a fall arrest lanyard the potential fall may be significant and a shock absorber is required in order to reduce the impact the user receives. In the case of fall arrest blocks, they minimise the impact by reacting quickly to arrest the fall before the user gains momentum. Vertical Safety Line Systems use a combination of shock absorption and fall limitations to control the impact the user receives, all of which should be provided by the employer.
Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005 (amended 2007), duty holders also have a responsibility to ensure that all work at height is properly organised, those involved in work at height are trained and fully competent and that the equipment used for work is properly inspected.
Mr Haylett added, “It is essential that those in charge of site safety seek out further information if they are unsure of best practice methods regarding height safety. Anyone requiring further information is advised to visit our website and we can certainly help with any enquiries.”
For more information on height safety please visit the Total Protection UK website at www.totalprotectionuk.com
About Total Protection: Total Protection (UK) Limited is a specialist in the supply of Safety Equipment and Services. They pride themselves on delivering first class service and products to a broad spectrum of industries including Pharmaceuticals, Chemical, Oil & Gas, Utilities and Transportation & Construction. With a team of Product Specialists, Total Protection (UK) Limited bases its success and core values on the ability to respond quickly and effectively to your requirements. As they work alongside a range of manufacturers and suppliers, they can deliver a large portfolio of the highest quality safety products within the marketplace at very competitive prices. They can also offer a complete range of services to give you the flexibility when purchasing, servicing or hiring safety equipment.
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