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Falls from height are a significant issue in New Zealand. The Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment has conducted extensive investigations into falls from height, revealing that more than half of these incidents occur from less than three metres. A substantial 70 per cent of falls originate from ladders and roofs. These falls are not […]
Falls from height are a significant issue in New Zealand.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment has conducted extensive investigations into falls from height, revealing that more than half of these incidents occur from less than three metres.
A substantial 70 per cent of falls originate from ladders and roofs. These falls are not only common but also costly, with an estimated annual cost of $24 million.
Injuries from falls at height are most prevalent on residential building sites, surpassing any other workplace in the construction sector. A variety of factors contribute to injuries sustained from working at height.
These include:
In 2012, the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment launched the Preventing Falls from Height Project, a targeted harm reduction programme.
This initiative provides critical guidelines for managing work at height, aiming to reduce the incidence of falls and related fatalities.
The Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 outlines the duties of employers and employees.
It requires all duty holders to take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of workers when they are exposed to a fall or where the hazard of a fall exists.
The hierarchy of controls is a crucial aspect of safety management. In the context of working at height, it helps duty holders prioritise safety measures.
Can the job be done without exposing persons to the hazard (eliminate)? This can often be achieved during the planning and tendering stages.
If elimination is not possible, then steps should be taken to isolate people from the hazard.
This can be achieved using safe working platforms, guardrail systems, edge protection, scaffolding, elevated work platforms, mobile scaffolds and barriers to restrict access.
If neither elimination nor isolation is possible, then steps should be taken to minimise the likelihood of any harm occurring.
This means considering the use of work positioning systems or travel restraint systems, safety harnesses, industrial rope access systems and soft-landing systems.
A hazard assessment should be carried out for all work at height. It is essential that the hazards are identified before the work starts and that the proper equipment, appropriate precautions, and work systems are provided and implemented.
Doing nothing is not an option. Identify the hazards of working at if height where someone could fall. Four ways of identifying hazards are:
This involves a thorough walk-around of the workplace using a checklist to identify and manage hazards.
It’s a proactive approach to safety, where potential risks are spotted and addressed before any work begins. This could include checking the stability of ladders, ensuring guardrails are in place, or verifying the condition of equipment.
Regular physical inspections not only help in prompt hazard identification but also ensure that safety measures are consistently maintained.
This approach involves identifying the hazards involved in each specific task of the job. It’s a detailed examination of the work process, focusing on the potential risks associated with each step.
This method takes a broader view, identifying hazards at each stage of the production or service delivery process. It involves understanding the entire workflow, from start to finish, and recognising the potential risks at every juncture.
This method involves studying past accidents involving similar types of work to identify hazards and causal factors.
Decide if the identified hazards are significant. How badly could someone be harmed if they fall, and how likely is it that a fall will occur? If serious harm could result, then it’s a significant hazard.
Working at heights presents significant safety risks, making it crucial to prioritise safety measures.
Implementing safety protocols, such as proper planning, hazard assessment, adequate supervision, and correct use of equipment, can significantly reduce these risks.
Therefore, ensuring safety while working at height is not just a responsibility but a commitment to protecting both individuals and companies.
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