5 Tips to Survive Working at Heights

SUDBURY, Ontario - May 1, 2014 - PRLog -- Tips to Survive Working at Heights

Eliminate the fall hazard. This involves assessing the work or task to determine if it can be performed without exposing the worker to a fall hazard. This is typically done by engineering out the hazard with the use of work procedures and/or alternative equipment. Here are some examples. Constructing the roof of a house while it is on the ground then lifting into place with a crane instead of constructing the roof in the air while standing on the framing. Cleaning windows, gutters, skylights, ceilings, snow, etc. with an extendable pole instead from a ladder. Locating building A/C unit in centre of flat roof instead of near an edge during building design and construction.Lowering devices for street lights that lower the light head to ground allowing bulbs to be changed without worker being exposed to fall hazard.

Prevent the fall. Prevention of falls involves providing same level barriers such as the following to prevent the possibility of a fall. Guardrails, barriers and protective covers.Guardrails are often the most common and convenient means of fall protection. Protective covers prevent falls by covering openings in floors, roofs, and other work surfaces if the openings pose a fall hazard.

Restrain the worker by limiting the available travel of a worker so that the worker can just reach the edge of a fall hazard but not far enough to go over the edge.

Implement an active fall arrest system. An active fall arrest system is a specialized set of equipment designed to arrest the fall of a worker before the worker hits a lower level, or obstruction, while minimizing the impact force on the worker. If this is your option you will require; an anchorage and anchorage connector, a means of connection (lanyard, Vertical lifeline & rope grab, SRL, etc...) a Personal Energy Absorber (or shock absorber) a full body harness and a Rescue Plan.

If you don’t know, don’t go!

Darryl Orser is the General Manager of Operations for Industrial Solutions Management (ISM), a safety consulting and engineering company specializing in fall protection, confined space and rescue. www.ismhelp.com   https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=220614104801719

darryl@ismhelp.com