AL SHAFAR UNITED LLC
HSE ALERT
Working at Height Date: 15/04/2019
Purpose
The purpose of this safety alert is to highlight the dangers associated with working at heights and suggest possible control measures to assist
industry to manage or reduce the risk of falls from height occurring on site. Potential harm includes death, head injuries, broken bones or other
injury and illness caused directly or indirectly by falls.
The risk of serious injury or death from a fall increases significantly when working at heights of more than two metres. Falls from height can
occur from building roofs, skylights, fragile roofing materials, structures, mezzanine floor, scaffolding and ladders.
Possible Contributing Factors
Poor edge protection, Unguarded openings
Items being poorly stored or secured
Using unsafe or incomplete scaffolds;
Using inappropriate ladders or unsafe ladder use;
Lack of awareness/ training regarding safe working at height
Working at ground level adjacent to an excavation;
Not wearing a harness or any other device that could have prevent worker from
falling off.
No risk assessment; therefore, no control measures identified to reduce the risk of
falling from heights.
Lesson Identified
Avoid work at height wherever possible
Follow the requirements as defined in HSE management system;
Ladders are only for work of short duration. Maintain 3 points of contact
Protect all edges and openings where a fall could occur
Work ceases during severe wind, temperature and rain;
Inspect the equipment and PPE used for work at height
Have Immediate on-site rescue and emergency plan;
Action Items
All employees and contractors who perform work at height must ensure that:
When working at height with fall exposure, 100% fall protection should be required;
Personnel working at height should be properly trained to use fall protection devices;
Personnel working at height should wear full body harnesses fitted with lanyards;
Fall arrest equipment should be carefully inspected before and after each use;
Platforms and walkways shall be kept free from obstacles such as materials, equipment, tools and rubbish, etc., which might fall or obstruct
safe working activities.
Carry out risk assessments for work at height activities and make sure that all work is Planned, Organized and carried out by a competent
person
Chose the right work equipment and select collective measures to prevent falls (such as guard rails and working platforms) before other
measures which may only reduce the distance and consequences of a fall (such as nets or airbags) or may only provide fall-arrest through
personal protection equipment.
Making sure you securely cover all floor/shaft openings;
Persons working at height are physically and mentally fit to undertake this work;
ASU will be increasing its focus on working at height and monitoring compliance through the internal audit program.
Method for confirming that action have been taken
Briefing this alert to be retained locally with project/site records and share this Incident Alert with your sub-contractor and ask them to share it
with their workers.
Original Source (Internal and external links)
Note: This Alert has been prepared using the best information available to ASU. Any information about legislative obligations or responsibilities included in this material is only
applicable to the circumstances described in the material. You should always check the legislation referred to in this material and make your own judgement about what action you may
need to take to ensure you have complied with the law. Accordingly, ASU extends no warranties as to the suitability of the information for your specific circumstances.
Al Shafar United for Electro-Mechanical Engineering
ASU/HSE-A/004
Doc No:
LLC
PO Box 13164, Dubai, United Arab Emirates © Copyright - Al Shafar United LLC - HSE Department
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