By Juhlian Pimping from SafetyCulture
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OSHA recently announced its preliminary top 10 most frequently cited workplace safety violations for fiscal year 2018. “Fall protection” once again topped the list with 7,270 violations along with “Scaffolding” which came in at #3 with 3,336 violations. Falls remain the leading contributor of deaths in the construction industry, representing close to 40% of total deaths in construction in CY2016.
Here are the 5 most common causes of accidents when working at heights and some tips on how to avoid them:
1. Fragile Roofs –
Refer to elevated surfaces that are at risk of falling when under the pressure of unexpected loads. All roof surfaces should be considered fragile until a competent person has examined it. Examples of fragile roofing material can include skylights, asbestos cement-roof sheeting and corrugated steel.
Refer to elevated surfaces that are at risk of falling when under the pressure of unexpected loads. All roof surfaces should be considered fragile until a competent person has examined it. Examples of fragile roofing material can include skylights, asbestos cement-roof sheeting and corrugated steel.
Workers who step or sit on fragile roof materials are at risk of falling or slipping from heights which can lead to tragedy. Also, falling material and equipment can pose critical safety risks to those working below.
To reduce these risks, a risk assessment should be conducted before working on roofs to identify fragile roof surfaces and materials. Appropriate access and support material should be used such as ladders, crawling boards and load-bearing supports. Workers should also wear appropriate footwear.
2. Unprotected Edges –
This refers to walking or working surfaces both horizontal and vertical with no fall protection. Examples of unprotected sides and edges include scaffolding, platforms, and towers without guardrails, toeboards, or fencing.
Working from surfaces with unprotected edges puts workers at risk of falling, suffering major injuries and in extreme cases, fatalities.
To mitigate such risks, OSHA requires each employee to be protected by guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems if they are walking or working on surfaces 6 feet or more above a lower level.
3. Falling Materials –
This refers to tiles, bricks, wood cuttings, tools and other materials common in a construction site which may come loose and fall on workers.
Even small items can cause considerable damage to people and structures if dropped from a height. Injuries range from bruises to fractures, and even fatalities. Damage to structures can also affect work schedules due to repair-work.
The following hazards should be actively identified and controlled in order to lower the risk of falling materials injuring workers:
- Gaps in platform surfaces or between platforms
- Unprotected edges
- Improper transportation of materials, equipment, or tools from ground level to the working area
- Improper transportation methods of getting materials down to ground level, e.g. throwing
- Improper storage of materials, e.g. on scaffold edges or in unstable stacks
In addition, adequate warning should be provided to both workers and civilians entering the jobsite where the risk of falling materials cannot be completely eliminated. This can be done by posting a signage, wearing appropriate PPE/ head protection, verbally communicating the hazards, or providing civilian or guest routes to get around the jobsite.
4. Unstable Equipment –
Refers to access equipment such as scaffolding, towers, platforms, and ladders that aren’t stable enough to be considered safe.
Refers to access equipment such as scaffolding, towers, platforms, and ladders that aren’t stable enough to be considered safe.
Using unstable equipment puts workers at risk of losing their balance which can lead to falling and dropping materials.
Though there are inherent risks in using such equipment when working at heights, proper maintenance and use should be observed in order to reduce the risks to acceptable levels. Unstable equipment deemed unsafe by a competent person must not be used.
5. Weather Conditions –
This refers to adverse weather conditions that may affect work surfaces, workers, materials, and equipment. Here are some examples in which the weather can affect working at heights:
This refers to adverse weather conditions that may affect work surfaces, workers, materials, and equipment. Here are some examples in which the weather can affect working at heights:
- Rain or ice can cause workers to slip and fall
- Strong winds can blow loose materials/ tools away, make access equipment unstable, and affect the balance of workers
- Cold conditions may affect workers’ dexterity and increase the risk of injuries
- Overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can cause cancer, sunburn, and eye problems
OSHA requires employers to provide safety equipment to their workers in almost all cases free of charge, and workers are encouraged to wear PPE suitable for the weather condition they have to work in to minimize the risk of hazards.
Conclusion
Considering the high-level of risk when working at heights, employers and workers should first assess its necessity in relation to the work that needs to be done. Where it is unavoidable however, employers and workers need to be aware of the common causes of accidents when working at heights so they can take the necessary precautions to avoid them.
Performing regular safety inspections can help identify hazards when working at heights and prevent tragedies from occurring. Using safety checklists can help with performing inspections: here are seven working at heights safety checklist templates you can download and use. Using a mobile app like iAuditor can help you perform paperless inspections while onsite and streamline your reporting.