Working at Height

Work at Height
 Work at height is any work activity that is
performed where the work is to be performed
at a height of 2 meters (6 ft.) or higher.

 Work at height hazards can occur during a

number of work tasks, such as:
 Daily operations (e.g. manually gauging (dipping) of
bulk storage tanks)
 Routine maintenance or repair work (e.g.
maintaining tank pressure/vacuum vents, cleaning
building windows, work on overhead pipelines, etc.)
 Non-routine tasks (e.g. replacing warehouse roofing,
installing or replacing signage)

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 Falls from Height
 Falls from height are the most common cause of fatal
injury and the second most common cause of major
injury to personnel.

 All industry sectors are exposed to the risks presented

by this hazard although the level of incidence varies
considerably.

Source; http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/index.htm

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 Potential of falls can be present
On:
 Ladders and stairways
 Elevated platforms
 Top of Trucks or Rail Cars
 Portable ramps

During:
 Scaffold installation or its removal
 Construction work
 Inspection of process equipment and
other mechanisms
 Personnel rescue
 Confined space entry
 During excavation work when the
depth is greater than 2 meters
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 Falls from Height
 Experience shows that these events usually arise due
to poor management control rather than because of
equipment failure.
 Common factors include, but are not limited to:
 Failure to recognize a problem.
 Failure to have adequate safe work practice
procedures in place
 Failure to follow safe work practices.
 Failure to provide safe systems of work.
 Inadequate information, instruction, training or
supervision provided.
 Failure to use appropriate equipment.
 Failure to provide safe plant/equipment.
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 Controlling Height Hazards
 The most effective form of fall protection is fixed
protection designed into the original facility.
 Means to design out work at height hazards include:
 Placing equipment that requires regular maintenance
or repair at ground level.
 Providing adequate access and work platforms, where
work is required to be performed at height.
 Ensuring all accessways, ladders, platforms, and
handrails conform to acceptable design criteria.
 Restricting unauthorized access to elevated work
areas.
 Check with the client’s Safety Personnel to verify job
site specific fall protection requirements.

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 2 Types of Fall Protection
Systems:

 Passive systems

 Active systems

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 Passive Systems
A passive fall protection system is one
which is built into the facility.
Passive systems may include:

 Ladders and stairs

 Guardrails
 Handrails
 Access platforms
 Barricading
 Gangways
 Ramps

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 Active Systems
Active fall protection
systems can be either fall
restraint or fall arrest
systems.

Active fall protection

systems are required when
passive fall protection is
not enough or unavailable.

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 Examples of Work at Height
 The following are some typical examples of tasks
that may involve work at height that occur at
facilities, but is not an all inclusive list:
 Construction or demolition work.
 Roof work, including cleaning, replacement, or
maintenance.
 Work performed in man baskets.
 Work with hoists.
 Working on scaffolds.
 Work on bulk storage tank roofs.
 Changing light bulbs when at or above 2 meter
high.
 Tanker truck inspections.
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 Access and Egress
 A safe means of access and egress should
be provided to work areas.
 Where regular access is required, steps,
fixed ladders, platforms and walkways
should be provided.
 Where access is on an irregular basis
portable ladders or suitable mechanical
plant, such as a scissor lift or power
operated elevated platform, may be
acceptable.
 Suitable access should take into account
environmental conditions such as weather
and lighting, as well as what people may
need to carry and other relevant factors.
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 Work on top of Trucks
 Serious injuries may result from falls from
the top of tank trucks, or other large trucks.
 Where access to the top of trucks is required
a safe means of access should be provided.
This may include:
 Provision of steps, permanent access ways,
walkways and guardrails.
 Provision of non-slip walkways along the tank
truck top.
 Provision of fall protection anchor points to
tie-off a safety harness.
 Provision of fall protection should be
considered at both the loading and delivery
locations if access to the truck top is
required at both locations.
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 Work on Truck Tops cont.
 Where practicable the work should be designed so
as much work as possible can be performed at
ground level.
 Prior to working on top of a tank truck the area
should be checked to ensure there are no overhead
power lines in the vicinity
 A minimum of 4 meters (12 ft) safe distance must be
maintained between the person and the overhead power
lines at all times.

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NOTE – Should utilize full body harness, not waist belt only
 Work on Rooftops
 Rooftop work may be one of the more dangerous
work at height tasks, as rooftops are not typically
designed with any fall protection system.
 Where regular rooftop access is required
consideration should be given to installing
permanent access-ways and platforms or, where
this is not feasible, installing an anchor system
for securing safety harnesses.
 Care must be taken on rooftops for unsafe areas.
These may often not be visible due to dirt, or
being painted over, and may include:
 Brittle roofing material such as aged asbestos,
compressed fiber board, or corroded roofing iron.
 Roof sky lights (these may not be visible if painted
over)
14  Deteriorated roof support structures.
 Work on Bulk Storage Tanks
A number of routine operations at a terminal or
depot facility may require access to the bulk tank
roof. The following safety precautions should be
observed when working on tank roofs:
 Ensure the tank roof is structurally sound and can
be safely walked on.
 If the roof is not fitted with guardrails wear
suitable fall protection.
 Where designated walkways are indicated, only
walk on the designated walkway areas
(designated walkways on tank roofs should be
demarcated with non-slip paint).
 Minimize the time required to work on the roof by
pre-planning tasks before accessing the roof.
 Always hold the handrail when climbing and
ascending the tank stairs.
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 Permanent Fixed Access and
Platforms
 Permanently installed steps, stairs, ramps etc. shall
comply with all relevant local regulatory requirements,
and with the requirements of Chevron’s Safety in
Designs manual.
 Any stairway or platform more than 1.2 meters (4ft.)
above ground level should have guardrails fitted to
prevent falls.
 Guardrails should be 0.9 – 1.1 meters (42” ± 3”) high,
and have a center rail fitted.
 Guardrails must be able to withstand at least a 90 kg
(200 lb) force applied within 5 cm (2”) of the top edge.
 Where a platform is located above a work area, or area
where persons may pass, a toe-board or kickboard
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should be fitted.
 Portable Ladder Safety
Whenever using a portable ladder the
following safeguards should be followed:
 Use only on stable and level
surfaces.
 Do not use on slippery surfaces
unless adequately secured.
 Keep the area around the base and
top of the ladder clear.
 Use the ladder only for the purpose it
was designed and intended for.
 Do not use the top of the ladder as a
step.
 Do not move, shift, or extend a
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ladder while it is occupied.
 Portable Ladder Safety cont.
 Only use non-conductive ladders when
working around live power lines (e.g.
wooden).
 Ladders should be placed at an angle of
approximately 1 in 4 (i.e. for every 4 meters
height, place 1 meter from the wall).
 When ascending a ladder always:
 Face the ladder.
 Maintain 3 points of contact (one hand and two
feet, or two hands, one foot).
 Do not carry onto a ladder any object or
load which may cause you to lose your
balance (tools or equipment to be taken up may be
roped up once up the ladder).
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 Portable Ladder Safety cont.

 For non self supporting ladders ensure:

 The top of the ladder should extend 1 meter (3
ft.) past the step off point.
 The ladder must be secured against movement
while in use.
 While in use a second person should ‘foot’ the
ladder and it should be tied off at the top.
 Check the condition of the ladder before
use.
 Before using a ladder always ask yourself
“is a ladder the safest and best work
method to perform this task?”

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 Fall Arrest Systems
Where a person is required to work
more than 2 meters (6 ft.) above
ground level and no fixed fall protection,
such as guardrails, are installed then it
may be necessary to utilize a safety
harness.
 The following are some of the basic
requirements around the use of


safety lines and harnesses:
 Only full body harnesses should
be used (safety belts can cause fatal


injuries in fall situations)

 Persons using a safety harness

shall be trained in the correct use
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 Fall Arrest Systems cont.
 A shock absorbing lanyard
should be used whenever there
is potential to fall more than 4
meters (12 ft.).
 The safety lines must be
secured to a structurally sound
anchor capable of withstanding
a minimum load of 22 kN (5000
lbs.) tensile force.
 Safety lines must be capable of
being attached when still at
ground level (or on a safe
platform) – this may require special
attention in the case of inertia lock
21 retractable lanyards.
 Fall Arrest Systems cont.
 Safety lines, including an
allowance for the shock
absorbing lanyard if fitted, must
be shorter than the length of
the fall.
 An emergency rescue plan must
be in place to ensure the rapid
recovery of anyone who falls
while using a safety harness.
 A minimum of two people
should be present when using
fall arrest systems to ensure a
timely rescue.
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 Scaffolding
 All scaffolding shall be installed in
accordance with local regulations
and standards.
 Scaffolding must be installed by a
competent person and inspected
prior to use. The inspection shall
include:
 The surface on which the scaffold is
assembled is stable.
 Guardrails & working platforms are in
place on all areas in use.
 Safe access is provided to all platforms.
 Sufficient scaffold ties and braces are in
place.
 All load-bearing supports are in the
correct place and secured using the
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correct fittings.
 Scaffolding
……from previous slide
 Working platforms are fully decked
with no gaps, and planks are
secured against movement.
 Perimeter protection or guardrails
are correctly fitted.
 Any scaffold poles protruding
below 2 meters (6ft.) height above
grade have suitable end caps
fitted.
 Regular ongoing inspections
should be scheduled where
scaffolding is in place for more
than one week (to ensure no
unauthorized modifications)

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 Mechanical Plant
 There is a wide range of mechanical plant
available to perform elevated work tasks from.
These include
 Power operated elevating work platforms
 Forklift platforms
 Crane lift platforms

 Mechanical platforms must not travel with a

person in the bucket unless specifically designed
to do so.
 Climbing into and out of platforms should only
occur at ground level whenever possible.

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 Mechanical Plant cont.
 When working in an elevated bucket a
fall protection harness suitably anchored
to the bucket, should be worn (note –
harnesses are not required on elevated work
platforms (scissor lifts) if adequate guardrails are
fitted)
 Mechanical buckets and platforms shall
only be operated by suitably trained and
qualified personnel.

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 Forklift Platforms
 It is vital that any forklift platform is
properly constructed and only used on
forklifts that have been well maintained.
 Minimum requirements for forklift
platforms include:
 Platforms shall be fitted with guardrails, mid
rails and kickboards.
 Any gate on the platform should open inwards.
 A 2 meter (6 ft.) high guard that is sufficiently
wide to prevent any contact with the lifting
mechanism shall be fitted to the back of the
platform.
………..continued on next slide

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 Forklift Platforms
……from previous slide
 The tilt lever of the forklift should be
locked out or made inoperable.
 Operating instructions and the safe
working load of the platform must be
attached in a prominent position.
 The platform must be secured to the
forks so it can not slide.
 There must be an agreed signaling
system used to denote movement of
the hoist.
 The forklift operator must be
competent and remain at the forklift
controls at all times the platform is
in use.

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 Work at Height
– Additional Information
For additional details on Work at Height
requirements refer to:
 The Work at Height Safety Bulletin
 Your Company’s operating procedures
 Your Safety Officer
 The client’s Safety Department

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