Tag Archives: risk assessment

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues

WORKING AT HEIGHTS: A GUIDE TO STAYING SAFE (GUEST POST)

 There are going to be many times in your life where you are likely to be required to work at heights; whether it’s due to a tree that needs trimming or your roof tiles need replacing, working at heights can be incredibly dangerous. However, there are a number of ways in which you can change the way that you work at heights in order to make the process safer and thus reduce the risk of accidents occurring. 

Regulations Regarding Working at Heights

There are a number of rules and regulations in place that prevent those who work at heights for a living from making potentially fatal mistakes. 

Organization

One of the most important regulations in place is that all work at height must be organized and planned thoroughly to avoid any incidents or accidents. This also means that you should plan your actions in accordance with any accidents that may occur; for instance what would you do if you fell from a great height? Do you have a method of contacting others in the event of an emergency? 

Qualifications

It’s essential that all of those that work in forestry, arboriculture, construction and many other trades are qualified to work at heights and are competent in doing so. If you are not qualified to work at heights you could be putting yourself and those around you at risk, you could also get into a lot of trouble as you will be held responsible for any mistakes that are made.  

Assessment

Before you begin a job that requires you to work at height you should perform a risk assessment and determine whether or not the job is too dangerous for you to participate in. Even if the task that you have been given is not the most dangerous job that you have encountered it’s still recommended that you utilize a powered access platform as these platforms are often surrounded by barriers that will prevent your fall.

If you do not make an assessment of the area that you will be working in before you begin it’s possibly that you could cause harm to others through fallen branches, displaced roof tiles or falling debris. 

Equipment

Once you’ve made an assessment of the task that requires you to work at height you must select the appropriate equipment that you will use for the job. It’s crucial that you keep an eye upon the condition of your fall protection equipment and ensure that it is maintained at all times; allowing your equipment to fall into disrepair can cause serious issues as it means that they are liable to break or make the task at hand much more difficult than it has to be. 

Overall there are many different aspects of working at heights that you must take into account, and these include the various dangers. Where possible we recommend that you avoid working at heights, but if it’s necessary you should follow the guidelines above.

We also ask that you remember that falling from a great height can cause a loss of mobility and in many cases the fall can be fatal; ensure that there are measures in place that will minimize the distance and the consequences of a fall if it should transpire.

Submitted by Kevin Grant
PromaxAccess.com

General Safety Issues

APPOINTING A COMPETENT FIRE RISK ASSESSOR (GUEST POST)

Having a comprehensive fire risk assessment for your premises performed by someone suitably qualified could save you a lot of money and heartache in the long run.  The safety of yourself, your staff and potential customers is priceless.  A fire risk assessment is not an option – the responsible person for the business is legally required to undertake an adequate fire risk assessment for the business premises.      So what is a fire risk assessment?A fire risk assessment is about a qualified person performing a critical evaluation of your premises to achieve two main goals.  Firstly, the assessment seeks to identify the likelihood of a fire starting by detecting all potential fire hazards, and evaluates the ways in which these fire dangers can be eliminated or minimised.  Secondly, it identifies the people who will be at risk should a fire actually occur on your premises, and helps you to develop a plan about how you can keep everyone safe.So the fire risk assessment will look at both fire prevention, and how to deal with an actual fire on your premises.

A good fire risk assessment should include written records of how existing fire controls measure up, what changes need to be made or what additional controls should to be incorporated.  It is not about recording all findings, just anything that is significant.  Like many other aspects of your business, a fire risk assessment is not something static – it changes as your business premises and activities change, so it is something that needs on-going review.

How to appoint a competent fire risk assessor

A fire risk assessment is an organized process carried out by assessors who understand the principles of fire safety.  However, the duty of care for the safety of everyone on your premises remains with you, not the fire risk assessor.  As the duty holder, you need to make sure the assessment being carried out is adequate.  As a start, you need to take reasonable steps to ensure you are hiring someone competent to do the job.  This could involve checking that the potential assessor has registration with, or certification from, a professional body such as BAFE (British Approvals for Fire Equipment), or in the U.S., certification from the U.S. Fire Administration.  Being registered with a professional body is a sign of the assessor’s competence, so look for BAFE approved companies to carry out your particular assessment, or those registered on the BAFE SP205 scheme. 

Another way of ensuring that you hire someone competent is to look for people or companies with a third party certification for their competence by a UKAS accredited body.  

Other ways to attain an adequate assessment include checking that your potential assessor has experience in assessing your type of business, as well as asking for references as proof of their previous work.  The scope of the work to be carried out should be documented, and you should get a few quotes so you can compare them.  Be wary of anyone who offers to do the same job for a significantly lower fee.

It is vital that your business takes the time to source a qualified and certified fire risk assessor. This will give you and your staff peace of mind that the business premises is free from any fire risks, and should the worst occur, the correct equipment is place and in full working order.

In the U.S., the same would apply; as contacting the Fire Prevention Association or other Fire Officials are certified to do the risk assessments.

 

First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Protective Clothing, Respiratory Safety

FIRE SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE (GUEST POST)

The Law 

According to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, if you’re an employer, owner, landlord or occupier of a business in England and Wales, you are legally responsible for fire safety within that building. This means you have an obligation to protect the building, and everyone within it, from the threat of fire as far as possible and, under the Fire Safety Order, this makes you the ‘responsible person’. 

As the ‘responsible person’ there are a host of tasks you must undertake and steps you must implement to: reduce the likelihood of fire, put an efficient evacuation process in place and ensure all of your employees are aware and informed of fire safety and your building’s procedures. 

Fire Risk Assessments 

Conducting a Fire Risk Assessment is one of the first, and most important, things businesses must do in order to comply with fire safety laws. If your business has five or more employees, your Risk Assessment must be kept as a written record and this should then be regularly reviewed and subsequently updated. 

The aim of a Fire Risk Assessment is to identify the fire hazards within your environment and the people at risk and then implement changes to eradicate or reduce these risks. There are five steps to a Risk Assessment and, due to the meticulous nature of each one, most companies choose to hire a professional fire safety company to conduct theirs. 

Planning for an Emergency 

Once the risks and hazards within your property have been identified, it is vital to plan exactly what would happen in the event of an actual emergency. This means carefully and comprehensively planning evacuation routes and ensuring they are as safe and efficient as possible. 

This should include making sure there are enough clear and unblocked exits for everyone to escape from – experts recommend at least two alternatives from each room in case the fire is blocking one – and that there are designated meeting points. You should also consider anyone who may be more vulnerable during an evacuation, such as children, people with disabilities and the elderly. 

Equipment, such as fire safety signs and emergency lighting, should also be installed where appropriate to make the evacuation routes immediately obvious, easy to understand and safe to navigate through. 

Installing Fire Equipment 

One of the best ways to remove or reduce the fire risks within your environment is to install high quality fire equipment. All business environments must contain a fire detection and warning system which, for most commercial premises, means installing a fire alarm system. Reputable fire alarm suppliers will tailor a system to the requirements of your environment. 

Most businesses also require fire fighting equipment and this includes fire extinguishers, fire blankets and sprinkler systems, conditional to the environment you work in. For example, there are a  variety of fire extinguishers available, depending on the application and type of fire being tackled. Again, fire equipment suppliers can advise you on the types of fire extinguisher required for your business. 

Provide Information, Instruction and Training

All new staff members should be trained on fire safety, including evacuation procedures, fire alarm system instructions and the location and use of fire extinguishers. Fire safety signage is also a great way to conform to regulations regarding information as they offer a permanent, tangible method of instruction. 

Fire drills should also be conducted to make sure everyone is thoroughly aware of evacuation procedures. These should be done regularly – at least once a year – and also provide an ideal opportunity to make sure your evacuation routes are suitable. Any findings from the fire drill should be recorded and any remedial action necessary should be taken. Additionally, any new risks identified within your environment should be communicated to all employees. 

Professional fire safety training programmes are also recommended for larger businesses, as it involves nominating Fire Safety Wardens who then also become responsible for overseeing fire safety and will learn valuable skills, including how to use a fire extinguisher. 

This post was written on behalf of City Fire Protection & Maintenance Services LLP by George Musson.

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues

PREVENT AND ARREST FALLS FROM HEIGHTS

This article is  from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety monthly newsletter that we subscribe to: 
An apprentice carpenter was severely injured when he fell through a stairwell opening and landed on the concrete floor 37 feet below. In another incident, a roofer unhooked his lanyard from the lifeline and then slipped on frost, falling to his death, 53 feet below.

Every year workers die or are injured as a result of falling from ladders, scaffolds, roofs or other elevations. Falling is a risk faced by construction workers, painters, solar panel installers, window washers, firefighters, live performance workers, and others who work at heights. Ideally it would be safest to eliminate the risk all together by eliminating the need to work at heights, however in many occupations such as construction and other trades, this is not practical, and working at heights is a part of the job.

There are however, steps that employers and workers can take to minimize the risk, and help prevent falls and the injuries that go along with them.

Risk Assessment
Any work at heights should be properly planned, supervised, and not carried out in dangerous weather conditions. Conduct a risk assessment to identify and address any hazards related to the work to be performed. This information can help you select the right equipment for the job, and take adequate control measures and precautions to ensure the safety of workers and others.

Fall Protection Plan
When workers are working over 7.5 metres (25 feet) in height and are not protected by permanent guardrails the employee must develop a written, site-specific fall protection plan. The plan should include the fall hazards and fall protection systems that are in place in each area, and the procedures for using, maintaining, fitting and inspecting fall protection equipment. The plan should also include procedures for rescuing a worker who has fallen, and is suspended by a personal fall protection system or safety net.

Training and Supervision
People working at heights must be trained in practical fall prevention and fall arrest techniques. Whenever personal protective equipment is used, the employer must ensure that workers know how to properly select, fit, use, inspect, and maintain the gear they will be using. The employer is responsible for providing appropriate training, and safety equipment that complies with safety standards, and ensuring that workers use the fall protection system provided at all times.

Fall Protection
If you are at risk for falling three meters (ten feet) or more, you should use the appropriate fall protection system when working. There are various fall protection methods and devices to protect workers who are at risk of falling. Each has their appropriate uses; depending on the situation, use one or more of these fall protection methods:

Guardrails should be installed at the edges of construction sites, roofs, and scaffoldings whenever possible to prevent falls. Standards for guardrails dimensions may vary from province to province.  Fall restraint systems such as work positioning devices that prevent workers from travelling to the edge of the building or structure must be provided if the use of guardrails isn’t practicable.

Fall arrest systems (full body harnesses and safety nets) are used to stop workers in mid-fall to prevent them from hitting the surface below. Full body safety harnesses attached to secured lanyards are widely used, however to be effective, they must be fitted properly to each worker. Although a poorly fitting harness will stop a fall, it can injure the worker who is dangling in mid-air if the straps and metal supports are not contoured to the individual’s shape.

The lanyard, or line that stops the fall, and the anchor point for the lanyard are just as important as the harness. Anchor points must be carefully planned, usually in consultation with an engineer, and the length of the lanyard must allow for the stretch in the material resulting from the fall. Manufacturers can provide information to help you choose the correct length and avoid contact with the ground or other objects.

Safety netting can be used effectively in construction of industrial framed buildings. Trained personnel are required to install, dismantle and inspect the netting, and no worker should work above nets without proper training.

Suspension Trauma
When fall arrest systems are used, the possibility of suspension trauma is a serious concern. This condition, which can be fatal, occurs when a person is suspended motionless in a vertical position in the harness while awaiting rescue. When a person is suspended vertically and perhaps in shock, blood tends to pool around the legs, putting extra pressure on the heart while it attempts to pump blood to the brain. The situation can be made worse by the constrictions of the harness. Suspended workers with head injuries or who are unconscious are particularly at risk. The person must be rescued quickly (under ten minutes) and gradually brought to a horizontal position to avoid potential cardiac arrest. This is why it is critical to have a rescue plan with procedures for rescuing a worker who is suspended by a personal fall protection system.

Preventing the fall, or rescuing the fallen, the best way to protect workers from injury is to create a culture of safety that values the input of both employers and workers.

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety

General Safety Issues

ARE YOU A RISK TAKER? (GUEST POST)

Whether you work on site or in an office there are various precautions you must take to ensure your safety whilst at work. We’ve covered the ‘Who, What, Why, Where and When’ of the risky business to keep you safe and sound at work.

Who

Who needs to carry out a risk assessment? And who should it cover?  Ultimately you are responsible for the risk assessment if you own or manage a business. You can delegate the task; however you must ensure whoever you delegate to is competent and understands the process.

The risk assessment should cover all staff that you employ to prevent them coming to any harm. You must pay special attention to staff with disabilities, lack of experience, expectant mothers and poor literacy skills.

What

What do you need to include in your risk assessment?

Your risk assessment should take in to consideration the industry you are in, your employees and the activities that are carried out. The industry you work in will affect your risk assessment hugely; you need to check what legal requirements are needed for your risk assessment to meet with standards. Any activities that staff carry out that pose a risk must be recorded, their risk assessed and any precautions put in place to ensure the risk factor remains low.

Why?

Why do you need a risk assessment?

First and foremost you need a risk assessment to keep you and your staff safe. The risk assessment takes note of any factors that could harm a member of staff and records how these risks can be avoided or the risk lowered. Secondly, you need a risk assessment by law, if you don’t have a risk assessment in place and a member of staff is injured you can be prosecuted.

Where?

Where should my risk assessment cover?

If you work in an office, you risk assessment must cover in and around the vicinity. If you or your staff work ‘off location’, your risk assessment must take in to account the alternative place of work, this means if you are working in a different location daily your risk assessment must reflect this.

When?

When should you carry out your risk assessment?

You should carry out your risk assessment whenever there is threat of risk or injury. If you’re working in the same location/office you may only need to carry out one risk assessment and review it at select periods to ensure it is up to date. If you are working in alternate locations you will need to carry out a risk assessment for each place of work. 

Author Bio: Leah Jarratt is a regular guest writer for Ainscough Vanguard, specialising in industrial machine movals.

p.s.  Following the risk assessment, management should determine what type of industrial safety equipment meets the requirement for protection for the particular risks of the job. pb

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues

BE SMART WHEN IT COMES TO THE DANGERS OF THE HIGH LIFE (GUEST POST)

Reducing the dangers of the high life 

The risks of working at heights are obvious with potential for accidents whilst climbing to and dismounting from the raised point and while carrying out the work once there. In legal terms the word ‘height’ is applied to any surface above the ground from which a fall could result in injury. This could equally be the middle rung of a ladder or a raised operations platform. When it comes to this type of hazardous work, there are certain legal requirements which must be met by the employer. Here we will look at some of the key rules set out in the Working at Height Regulations 2005 pertaining to access and platform safety and safeguard mechanisms for arresting falls (Schedules 1, 3 and 4 of the government legislation) 

While most employers will search for alternative ways to complete work at raised points, such as using mechanical long arms for window and gutter cleaning, it is more often necessary for a hands-on approach to ensure the task is done correctly. The most important areas where safety must be assured are the access points and the working platforms, both of which will be upholding an operator who will be in varying degrees of motion, depending on the task. Therefore, the principal regulations for both sections are the same. The access route and platform must be suitably stable, strong and rigid for the purpose and large enough to hold the person safely upon it. There must be substantial fall-prevention mechanisms in place and no gaps through which any person may fall or become trapped. They must also both be constructed with a non-slippery surface. 

In the event of a fall, certain safeguards can be in place to prevent injury. However, the safeguard must enable the work to be carried out freely without adding to the risk, for example with excess ropes dangling or creating a trip-hazard. If it is indeed ropes which are in use, then training is obligatory for all operators, such as the IRATA (Industrial Rope Access Trade Association) qualification for abseiling. Rope-based safeguarding techniques must also take into account the elasticity of the rope on impact, meaning a much shorter rope than the actual drop distance. If it is an airbag or landing mat being used then this must be secure and stable upon the ground. The safeguard must also be such that it does not injure any person when put to use. 

These regulations are just a few of those which apply to all work carried out at height. Jobs which must abide by these rules include telecommunications rigging, window cleaning, film crews, building, scaffolding and cladding construction. It is legally the employer’s responsibility to ensure their workforce’s safety at all times, but designers and planners must also consider the risks when a new project is being developed. Risk assessments are then used to decide the type of precautions to be put in place so that with sufficient planning and preparation, work carried out at heights can be both safe and productive. 

This article was written by Emily Banham on behalf of Groves Window Cleaning, established in 1985, has over 25 year’s experience of commercial window cleaning. More information on Working At Heights can be found on the following link – http://www.groveswindowcleaning.co.uk/working-at-heights.html.

 

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues

WORKING AT HEIGHTS: HOW TO AVOID DAMAGE AND SERIOUS INJURY (GUEST POST)

Sent to us by Karl Young.

Most people would be surprised by what the definition of working at heights is: work at height means working in any place where, if precautions were not taken, a person could fall down and injure themselves.

Work at height means working in any place where you work above ground level, could fall from an edge, through an opening or fragile surface; or could fall from ground level into an opening in a floor or hole in the ground. If your job requires you to work with any of the above dangerous then you will be working at height. If on a day to day basis you use working platforms such as scaffolds, tower scaffolds, cherry pickers, scissor lifts and podium steps, work on a roof, piece of plant or equipment; or use ladders or stepladders you and your employer need to be following the working at heights regulations.

Precautions

More often than not you will only be working at heights as a one off, you might be changing a light fitting or climbing a ladder to access storage space.  One of the best ways to ensure injury prevention at height is to carry out a risk assessment; this is a simple process which will help you choose the right precautions to take when working at heights.

Small businesses are often the ones that don’t have the right equipment in place to protect their employees from the dangers of working at heights. In most cases injuries and damage can be avoided by investing in long handled tools and other equipment that can sometimes be used to safety carry out a task from ground level.  Long handled brushes, roller paint brushes, water fed poles and hatch openers are just a few pieces of equipment that can enable any user to perform a basic task without the need to move above ground level.

Prevention

Employees are most often at risk from falling when working at heights, there are several methods of prevention for falling in the work place that can easily be implemented.  You can ensure the fixtures around you are safe and tight, ensure the roof of your premise if accessible is fitted with guard rails. You should always ensure that equipment purchased as a safety precaution is safe to use and has regular checks and maintenance.

Additional measure can be taken at work to reduce the risk of a fall. When using any equipment for work at height you need to ensure that:

  • The people using it are trained to use it safely;
  • It is regularly inspected and well maintained; and
  • The work is supervised to check people are working safely

The consequences of a fall can be minimised if you try and avoid and the prevent a fall before using measures that will only minimise or limit the consequences. A good example of this are safety nets, they can be installed around the edge of a premises roof to minimise the risk of injury if someone falls. Fall arrest equipment will also minimise injury if someone falls, providing the equipment is set up correctly, users know how to look after it and they understand its limitations.

The key to a safe and happy workplace is a knowledgeable employer and employee.  The failure to follow and adhere to regulations when working at heights can result in hefty fines and extreme cases employees being injured resulting in a lawsuit. It is best to be knowledgeable and smart when your employee needs to work at heights, visit your local authority’s website for more information on working heights regulations and precautions.  

The post was created by Karl Young on behalf of Loxam Access a leading specialist in the rental of Access Platforms, Access Equipment and Cherry Pickers.

General Safety Issues

EASY WAYS TO DEAL WITH OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS (GUEST POST)

1 Comment

 All workplaces should be safe and not hazardous to the worker’s health and safety but unfortunately that is not always the case. Employers and employees have the responsibility to make sure the workplace is a safe environment and the hazards should be controlled immediately.

As a business owner, the responsibility lies on your shoulders and you should conduct “risk assessment” to evaluate and prioritize the hazards. The best way to deal with occupational hazards is to deal with them before they become occupational accidents.  Here are some things you can do to assess the risks:

  • Observe the workplace and identify potential hazards. Most of them are regulated by federal and state laws, but  safthere are some that might have slipped through.
  •  Have a safety plan, specific to the physical space of the business. Where are the exits, where is the ventilation, what   are the procedures for shut-offs?
  •  Have those safety measures clearly posted where workers can see them.
  •  Stress the importance of health and safety in the workplace.
  •  Have an open door policy in regards to health and safety issues.
  •  Survey your employees or co-workers about their health and safety concerns.
  •   Examine the sickness figures. Is a pattern emerging?

After you’ve identifies the safety issues, there are five ways to deal with occupational hazards:

  • Eliminate the hazard by removing it completely. This is by far the most effective method of control but it is not always applicable. If the work process is still in its development stages it is easier to correct.
  • Substitution – Replacing one process with another to eliminate the risk. Changing chemicals to less harmful ones, replacing machines, adding air-condition units etc. Substitution also means changing work processes and equipment to do the job in a less harmful manner.
  •  Engineering control –Solving the problem in an engineering way like adding protective enclosures to the machine to prevent contact with dangerous moving parts. Controlling the dust by keeping a clean work environment and preventing it from spreading in the air is another form of engineering control.  Adding safety measures as automatic shut offs, interlocking guards or operating the machine by remote control are also good examples.
  • Administrative control – Limiting access to a certain area for only a handful of employees or limiting the number of hours workers can be in that place. Changing work schedules to allow more rest or shorter shifts.
  • Personal Ssfety equipment – providing your workers with protective gear to protect their eyes, ears and respiration.  Adding protective clothing or footwear also falls into this category.

Some methods are more efficient than others, but it is a fact that a combination of the methods works the best. Employees are entitled to have a safe and healthy work environment that enables him/her to perform his/her work without risking their health or their lives.

About the Author:

Patrick Del Rosario is part of the team behind Open Colleges.   When not working, Patrick enjoys blogging about career and business. Patrick is also a photography enthusiast and is currently running a photography studio in the Philippines.

General Safety Issues

FIRE SAFETY MEASURES FOR A SAFER WORKPLACE (Guest Post)

1 Comment

Today’s safety message comes to us from across the Ocean, from U.K. Fire Safety Solutions.

Health and safety in the workplace should be a top priority for any business, keeping your staff, customers and any other visitors safe on your premises is very important. The Fire Safety Regulation Reform Order has legislations in place that you must comply with as a business owner. 

One of these legislations is that you must perform a regular fire risk assessment on your premises; a fire risk assessment is a vital procedure towards keeping a safe working environment. It is the most effective way to identify any potential fire risks on your premises, eliminate them then maintain the work you have done. 

The law does not state who must perform an assessment only that the individual is a competent individual, this allows you to perform the assessment yourself or hire a third party fire consultant to do it for you. If you wish to perform your own fire risk assessment it would be beneficial to read up about it online. There is lot’s of informative websites which also offer fire risk assessment downloads such as checklists and forms to help you through the process. You can also purchase fire risk assessment software that will give you the information you need as well as running you through a full, step-by-step risk assessment.

Things you must consider when performing a fire risk assessment: 

Identification is key when it comes to preventing fire hazards, you must ensure to review your whole premises by hand to maximize the results of the risk assessment. The more thorough you are the less likely it is to miss a fire risk in your workplace. When identifying fire risks it is always good to consider the three elements that start a fire: heat, oxygen and fuel. 

Always consider individuals who may be at particular risks, these are the people most in danger, For instance – Anyone using highly flammable chemicals or liquids in an area high in oxygen is at particular risk. 

When you feel your whole workplace has been covered you must assess any risks that have been found and take action in removing them. Sometimes it is difficult to completely remove any threats so you must implement some form of fire precaution to protect against hazards. 

Another vital part of an assessment is to record the full process, by doing this you have written proof that you are complying with the fire safety law but it also makes it easier to manage your workplace fire safety. You can inform all staff members of what was carried out and make everyone aware of any specific duties they must carry out. 

Review your assessment on a regular basis; provided that you have recorded your fire risk assessment correctly it should be easy to review your workplace following your old notes. You should check that any implemented precautions are still in place and that removed fire hazards have not risen again. As you have your old notes it should be easier to spot any new fire hazards too. 

By following these simple steps you are taking great leaps towards creating a safer working environment for you and your staff. If you would like anymore information or help with fire safety and/or fire risk assessments then UK Fire Safety Solutions can help, they are professional fire consultants with years of experience in the sector having spent time serving as fire safety offices in the fire service.