Doc. No. SML/ELEC.

/SOP-
SAFE OPERATING 03
Version: 2.0
PROCEDURES
Date: 04.07.2024
Working at Height & Page 1 of 6
Fall Prevention
1. Purpose : The purpose of this Standard is to prevent injury and property damage when
conducting work at height .

2. Scope : This procedure is applicable to the Electrical Department in particular (and all levels
of operations) where there is presence of “persons working at height” .

3. Definition :

Competent
Person trained , experienced and authorized to carry out a particular function .
Person
Equipment typically consisting of a Double hook full body harness , a lanyard
Fall Protection not exceeding 2 meters in length and a deceleration device . The system needs
Equipment to be attached to an anchor point capable of withstanding a load of at least 300
kg .
Working at All working at height is above 2 m height where there is a risk of falling and a
Height person can become injured as per statutory act .
All high works which are not regular in nature should to be covered under work
Work Permit
permit system i.e. a work permit is to be issued and verified and checked by
System
authorized persons prior to start of work .

Responsibility Electrical Department Team Lead and Mines Manager

4. Work/ process based operating procedures for work at height & fall prevention

In the following sections, operating procedures have been described for each process/work
involving work at height.

4.1 Elimination or Minimization Program for Work at Height

The first step to fall prevention is elimination or minimization of the need for manual work
at height through

 Elimination of the need to perform work at height

 By eliminating the risk of fall (i.e. implementation of fixed barriers, scaffolds, mobile
elevated work platform etc.)

Where reasonably practical as much work as possible will be done at ground level to
minimize working at height e.g. sections of steel work can be bolted together, pipes welded,
radiography carried out and the items painted before being lifted into position.
Priya Ranjan Mallick Manoj Kumar Singh
Prepared By Approved By
Asst. Mgr. (Electrical) Mines Manager
 Doc. No.
SAFE OPERATING TEMPL/ELEC./SOP-03
Version: 2.0
PROCEDURES
Date: 04.07.2024
Working at Height & Page 2 of 6
Fall Prevention
4.2 Actions Prior to Starting Work at Height
If at all work at height cannot be eliminated or minimized, the following actions
must be undertaken prior to starting the work.
 Prior to any person working at height a risk assessment must be carried out to
identify the risks and the safety measures necessary to eliminate or reduce the
risk
 Collective protection measures must always be considered in preference to
individual protection measures
 Where it is not reasonably practicable to provide a safe working platform and
a person has to rely on the use of a double hook full body safety harness, life line
with fall arrestor, a suitable rescue plan must be considered along with the safety
measures.  A Competent Person must verify that the contents of this procedure
have been implemented before the commencement of any work at height. Work
may only commence with the written approval of the Competent Person.

4.3 Verification of Procedure Implementation

Prior to initiating work, the equipment and location must be verified for safety
and appropriateness using the following steps
 For all work of more than 1 day in duration, a systematic verification of the
satisfactory implementation of this procedure must carried out by Competent
Person, at a frequency appropriate the duration and risk of the task.
 On completion of the work it must be formally verified by a Competent
Person, that the work place has been left in a satisfactory condition and that all
persons have safely returned from the workplace. Note: Many accidents occur
because floor gratings have been removed and not replaced, or superfluous
materials are left in elevated positions causing slip, trip and fall hazards

Priya Ranjan Mallick Manoj Kumar Singh

Prepared By Approved By
Asst. Mgr. (Electrical) Mines Manager
 Version: 2.0

Date: 04.07.2024
Working at Height & Page 3 of 6
Fall Prevention

5. General Precautions for fall prevention

Apart from the above listed steps, following certain general precautions can help in
minimizing the incidents related to fall while working at height .

5.1 General precautions for fall prevention

The following precautions must be adhered to whenever work at height is

undertaken. This is irrespective of the height at which the work is being
undertaken.
 The first consideration must always to provide a safe working platform.
 The sides of all stairways, floors/platforms, walkways, buildings, etc, from where
a person can fall and suffer injury or from where articles could fall and injure
someone must be protected with double guard rails and toe boards of at least
150mm in height.
 With regard to permanent structures such as stairways and platforms, as much
of the permanent handrails as is reasonably practicable should be installed while
the structure is at ground level. Where this is not possible then handrails/guard
rails must keep place with construction.

5.2 Closing all Floor Openings

While ensuring fall prevention is essential, it is also imperative to ensure that any
floor openings present in the vicinity of the height work are closed or covered
properly, to avoid the person from falling into the floor opening.

 All openings, through which a person can fall and suffer injury, must be
covered and secured using material that is sufficiently strong to support any
forces that it may be subjected to. The word “Hole” or “Opening” must be
printed on the topside. If a cover is not used the opening must be protected by
rigid guardrails of adequate strength and toe boards.

Priya Ranjan Mallick Manoj Kumar Singh

Prepared By Approved By
Asst. Mgr. (Electrical) Mines Manager
 Doc. No.
SAFE OPERATING SML/ELEC./SOP-03
Version: 2.0
PROCEDURES
Date: 04.07.2024
Working at Height & Page 4 of 6
Fall Prevention
 When floor gratings are removed for fitting instrument cables etc, the area
must be physically fenced off and signs put in place. Rope or warning tape is
not considered as being adequate. Fences must not be removed before the floor
is reestablished and inspected.
 Collective safety measures, such as a safety net suspended beneath the area of
work, must be adopted for persons installing floor panels and the floor panel’s
locked/bolted in position as each one is fixed.
 Persons not connected with the works must be prevented from inadvertently
walking into the area until all panels are fixed and work complete. Double
guardrails must be used for closing off such areas and notices clearly displayed
prohibiting unauthorized access.
6. Work/ process based operating procedures for work at height & fall prevention

In the following sections, operating procedures have been described for each
process/work involving work at height.

6.1 Elimination or Minimization Program for Work at Height

The first step to fall prevention is elimination or minimization of the need
for manual work at height through
 Elimination of the need to perform work at height
 By eliminating the risk of fall (i.e. implementation of fixed barriers,
scaffolds, mobile elevated work platform etc.)
Where reasonably practical as much work as possible will be done at
ground level to minimize working at height e.g. sections of steel work can
be bolted together, pipes welded, radiography carried out and the items
painted before being lifted into position.

Priya Ranjan Mallick Manoj Kumar Singh

Prepared By Approved By
Asst. Mgr. (Electrical) Mines Manager
 Doc. No.
SAFE OPERATING TEMPL/ELEC./SOP-03
Version: 2.0
PROCEDURES
Date: 04.07.2024
Working at Height & Page 5 of 6
Fall Prevention
6.2 Actions Prior to Starting Work at Height

If at all work at height cannot be eliminated or minimized, the following actions

must be undertaken prior to starting the work.
 Prior to any person working at height a risk assessment must be carried out to
identify the risks and the safety measures necessary to eliminate or reduce the
risk
 Collective protection measures must always be considered in preference to
individual protection measures
 Where it is not reasonably practicable to provide a safe working platform and
a person has to rely on the use of a double hook full body safety harness, life line
with fall arrestor, a suitable rescue plan must be considered along with the safety
measures.  A Competent Person must verify that the contents of this procedure
have been implemented before the commencement of any work at height. Work
may only commence with the written approval of the Competent Person.

6.3 Verification of Procedure Implementation

Prior to initiating work, the equipment and location must be verified for safety
and appropriateness using the following steps
 For all work of more than 1 day in duration, a systematic verification of the
satisfactory implementation of this procedure must carried out by Competent
Person, at a frequency appropriate the duration and risk of the task.
 On completion of the work it must be formally verified by a Competent
Person, that the work place has been left in a satisfactory condition and that all
persons have safely returned from the workplace. Note: Many accidents occur
because floor gratings have been removed and not replaced, or superfluous
materials are left in elevated positions causing slip, trip and fall hazards

Priya Ranjan Mallick Manoj Kumar Singh

Prepared By Approved By
Asst. Mgr. (Electrical) Mines Manager
 Doc. No.
SAFE OPERATING TEMPL/ELEC./SOP-03
Version: 2.0
PROCEDURES
Date: 04.07.2024
Working at Height & Page 6 of 6
Fall Prevention

7. General Precautions for fall prevention

Apart from the above listed steps, following certain general precautions can help in
minimizing the incidents related to fall while working at height .

7.1 General precautions for fall prevention

The following precautions must be adhered to whenever work at height is

undertaken. This is irrespective of the height at which the work is being
undertaken.
 The first consideration must always to provide a safe working platform.
 The sides of all stairways, floors/platforms, walkways, buildings, etc, from where
a person can fall and suffer injury or from where articles could fall and injure
someone must be protected with double guard rails and toe boards of at least
150mm in height.
 With regard to permanent structures such as stairways and platforms, as much
of the permanent handrails as is reasonably practicable should be installed while
the structure is at ground level. Where this is not possible then handrails/guard
rails must keep place with construction.
7.2 Closing all Floor Openings
While ensuring fall prevention is essential, it is also imperative to ensure that any
floor openings present in the vicinity of the height work are closed or covered
properly, to avoid the person from falling into the floor opening.

 All openings, through which a person can fall and suffer injury, must be
covered and secured using material that is sufficiently strong to support any
forces that it may be subjected to. The word “Hole” or “Opening” must be
printed on the topside. If a cover is not used the opening must be protected by
rigid guardrails of adequate strength and toe boards.

Priya Ranjan Mallick Manoj Kumar Singh

Prepared By Approved By
Asst. Mgr. (Electrical) Mines Manager