Common Working at Height Hazards and Control Measures

In many professions, especially maintenance and construction, there is always a safety concern. Whenever work is to be done at great heights, there is a potential risk of injury and accidents. Therefore, companies need to be a step ahead in recognizing and addressing these risks to ensure everyone’s safety. Among the popular ways to go about this is by requiring workers in these types of environments to take a working at heights course. This helps them be prepared and ensures all your employees are aware of the response procedures should someone be involved in an accident. There are several hazards to be aware of and different control measures that are executable to prevent the said accidents. Let’s go through some of the common dangers that working at heights poses. 

1. Falling from Heights

Because we are talking about heights, it is important to mention falling over the edge, and why there must be proper edge protection whenever work is ongoing on an elevated platform. The roof in particular is one where most accidents are known to occur. Others include work near holes or excavations, and this could also be at any other drop-off. 

When we talk about falling from heights, we don’t just mean people but also the falling of equipment, tools, or materials that may end up causing harm to those working below. 

The control measures for this hazard are a couple depending on the type of work going on. In most instances, guard rails are the best. These barriers are placed on the edge of the platform to prevent the workers from falling over or the accidental falling of tools. Top rails keep people from falling over while mid rails are particularly useful for preventing objects from tipping over. 

A safety net is another control measure that can be useful in these types of scenarios. They are installed to catch falling materials or tools and can be installed below the working area to act as an additional layer of protection. 

2. Unstable Working Surfaces

If the surface of the work location is unstable or uneven, there is a risk of falling, tripping, or slipping. Instability can be brought about by several factors from dirt or debris from the working material to the weather conditions, especially snow, ice, or rain. This can also be a result of the natural state of the surface material or structural deficiencies. Unstable surfaces pose a threat to human health and life especially when workers go up the roof, climb ladders, or walk on the platforms. 

When it comes to managing the risk, there are several ways to go about it. The first one is doing regular inspections to help identify potential risks before they cause accidents. This can be something like checking loose materials, detecting damage or wear, or even testing stability. 

It is also critical that workers have the proper footwear for the job; this might mean equipping them with shoes that have good ankle support or boots. The surfaces should also include slip-resistant materials whenever possible, particularly in harsh weather conditions. Training is also important to ensure the workers are well aware of the risks and that they understand why it’s important to wear the proper safety gear.

3. Scaffold Collapsing

The scaffold is a critical temporary working platform to allow for work to go on at great heights, particularly for construction and maintenance purposes. In some unfortunate circumstances, they collapse because of various reasons from overloading, poor construction, inadequate maintenance, and unauthorized alteration. 

A scaffolding collapsing can result in several fatalities, injuries, and property damage. Some of the factors that cause scaffolding include overloading, poor bracing, high wind speed, or environmental conditions. Scaffolding collapse can also be a result of poor set up by untrained workers, using damaged or defective conditions, and improper state of the ground. 

When it comes to measures, the first one is obviously for the scaffold to be set up by trained personnel. They should be designed, installed, and dismantled by the local regulations and the guidance of the manufacturers. There should also be regular inspections done by competent personnel during erection, modification, and dismantling. 

4. Equipment Failure

Machines such as lifts, man baskets, and hoists that are used for taking workers to high elevated areas can also fail. When they fail, they can cause accidents resulting in serious injury, property damage, or even death. Among the various causes of equipment failure are issues like lack of proper equipment maintenance, operation in an unsafe manner, overloading, environmental factors, and mechanical failure.

Control measures include regular inspection of equipment which aids in identifying issues and problems before they become life-threatening dangers. It is preferred that this is done by certified personnel to ensure that they are in perfect condition. Preventative maintenance helps to increase the longevity of the equipment and prevent failures. Among the things that happen in maintenance include lubrication of moving parts, replacing worn-out components, looking into minor issues, and fixing them before they cause major problems.   

5. Accidents Caused by Workers

Aside from equipment failure and everything else that can be done in the work environment, danger can also result and originate from the workers themselves. If workers don’t have the proper training then they are likely to cause accidents. This is because they will be unable to identify the potential hazards that are associated with working at great heights. There’s also a high chance that untrained workers don’t understand how to use personal protective equipment properly or how they should go about emergencies. 

Comprehensive training should be available to ensure employees are adequately trained and know how to use the tools around them. The training should also be job-specific; this means that if a worker’s job involves operating a lift, the training they go through is different from the one who sets up a scaffold platform. 

There should also be periodic assessments of the workplace to ensure that the training available to workers is up to date. Competency checks will ensure that workers have gone through the right training and their knowledge is enough for them to operate safely at heights.

The Takeaway

It is no secret that many dangers come with working at great heights. Despite the hazards of these environments, companies can take measures to ensure there are minimal casualties. Setting barriers to keep people and things from falling over the edge, employing trained personnel, and using the right equipment will go a long way in saving lives and preventing accidents.