Working at height guidelines

Assuring work related accidental falls remain at nil always The most hazardous place to work is from a high place that is several meters above the ground. The peril is very real given the different reactions of people who work there when faced with these elevated working situations. Furthermore, the variations in personal vision can also affect the stability of any worker carrying out their job from certain heights. It may be impossible to completely control human nature but it is very possible to control the frequency and severity of the misfortunes that result from falls. Organizations that are keen on having a record of zero tolerance for falls, can achieve it consistently each and every year by employing a few simple strategies.

• Frequent inspection of all safety equipment – over time protection and safety gear gets old and worn out from constant use. This is particularly so for holds, harnesses and other equipment that are used hold the workers’ weight in elevated working conditions. Schedules should be set for regular inspection of the holding devices before and after use. Worker feedback should also be sought in case of any difficulties arising with the proper use and storage of these special equipments.
• Risk assessment audits – the health and safety committees of companies where workers are required to work from heights must be extra vigilant. They must conduct planned and random audits of their work premises so that they can identify potential danger zones and correct them in good time. They must also follow up all actions from previous audits to ensure their successful completion.
• Accident reporting – although accidents should be avoided at all costs, a mechanism should be put in place to immediately report any accidents as soon as they occur. Statistics should be kept for all major and minor accidents that have happened during the past. Investigation reports must be filed and referred to as often as required. These statistics form a good basis for the company to be able to tell whether they are reducing their accidents or not and also the reasons behind each accident.
• Corrective and preventive actions – after any audit is conducted at the work place, auditors normally designate certain corrective and preventive actions to take so as to avoid future occurrences of hazardous incidences. These actions should never be ignored because lack of timely action can create the conditions for an avoidable accident that can prove fatal. The negative consequences of such an accident are felt by the victims’ family and also the company well into the long run.

There are many other actions that serious companies can take so as to keep their accident history at zero always. This forms a good basis for any company wanting to start taking their worker safety very seriously.