Working at Height
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Breathing Apparatus, Head Protection, Height Safety Equipment, Arm and Hand Protection, Fall Protection, Height Safety Equipment
Working at Height Articles
Below is a list of articles that have been published on this topic.
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Working Safely at Height - Method, Equipment and Training are Top Priorities [Aug 2010]
As the single biggest cause of workplace deaths and a major cause of accidents at work, Working at Heights presents many and varied problems. These can be overcome by ensuring all workers are properly trained in method and usage of the correct equipment for the task.
Height Safety [Jun 2010]
Industrial rope access developments in Singapore and South East Asia
At the Construction Safety, Health and Security campaign in Singapore, the minister of State for Trade, Industry and Manpower announced key initiatives to raise the safety and health standards of the construction industry in Asia. The speech stressed the responsibility of all stakeholders in ensuring safety in the workplace.
At the meeting, the minister addressed the need for a Fall Protection Plan, highlighting that over the last three years Singapore’s construction and marine sectors accounted for more than 70% of the fall from height accidents. The HSE substantiated this claim reporting 34 fatalities in the six months to September 2008 for the sector including construction.
Working At Height [May 2010]
Why Rope Access?
Today, more than ever, operational costs of companies in industries such as; (petro) chemical, oil and gas, power and energy, nuclear, civil or construction are more scrutinised than at any time in the past 10 years.
Take the High Ground - Falls from height change lives [Apr 2010]
Latest statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reveal that falls from height remain one of the most common causes of fatality and major injury in the workplace. Last year 35 workers died as a result of a fall from height in the workplace and in the same period more than 4000 employees suffered major injuries. At their most extreme, falls can result in death and by their very nature, injuries to workers have the potential to be life changing, not only affecting the people themselves, but also impacting upon their families.
Height Safety - One death is too many [Mar 2010]
Falls are the biggest cause of deaths in workplaces throughout the world. On top of this, high percentages suffer major injury such as broken bones or fractured skulls. You don’t have to fall far to be hurt, many deaths and major injuries were from a fall from below head height. It’s easy to see why many authorities have made reducing the number of falls from height a priority.
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You may be interested in the following products and services on our sister site - OSE Directory.
Breathing Apparatus, Head Protection, Height Safety Equipment, Arm and Hand Protection, Fall Protection, Height Safety Equipment
Suspension Trauma - the effects and consequences of being upright and motionless [Feb 2010]
Outside the medical world, it is commonly thought that little is known about the effects and potential consequences of being upright and motionless (orthostasis), for example, as one would be if unconscious and suspended in a harness. However, over the past 3 years much has been discussed and even some courses have been available to educate the workforce on its effects and prevention techniques, usually coupled with rescue devices or rescue training.
Fall Protection PPE [Jan 2010]
With the introduction of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 in the UK (followed by the amended work at height regulations 2007), the old guidance based on the ‘2 metre rule’ has been swept away, replaced by the definition of work at height as any place a ‘person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury’.
Working at Height - Windmills... but not as you know them! [Nov 2009]
Wind turbines get a mixed press, but they are here to stay and they have to be looked after. These unusual constructions are best maintained by an increasingly popular procedure – industrial rope access.
Working At Height - Falls result from poor management control rather than equipment failure [Nov 2009]
Falls are the biggest cause of deaths in workplaces throughout the world. On top of this, high percentages suffer major injury such as broken bones or fractured skulls. You don’t have to fall far to be hurt, many deaths and major injuries were from a fall from below head height. It’s easy to see why many authorities have made reducing the number of falls from height a priority.
Seams Ridiculous ... [Nov 2009]
Martin Lill of Lakeland Industries looks at the whole issue of seam structure for disposable chemical protective garments.
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Breathing Apparatus, Head Protection, Height Safety Equipment, Arm and Hand Protection, Fall Protection, Height Safety Equipment
What Goes Up... [Sep 2009]
Fall Protection When Working At Height
Fall Arrest [May 2009]
Calculating the Total Fall Distance (TFD)
It is well documented and acknowledged within the HS industry that falls account for the majority of HS related fatalities and injuries in the workplace and foremost in the construction sector. However, certainly in the Middle East, we all see instances where proper fall arrest measures are either ignored or just not in place, nearly on a daily basis. But saying this we must remember that fall arrest systems used poorly can be as dangerous as no protection at all.
Safety at Height [Apr 2009]
The challenges facing the height safety industry
When entering the world of height safety some 18 years ago, I was astounded by the range and complexity of available products for ensuring the safety of people who choose to work at height.
Training in PPE - Proper Use is Vital [Feb 2009]
Problem areas in fall arrest systems of the construction industry
In the construction industry, falls have been the most prevalent cause of worker deaths. In a study of construction worker fatalities occurring between 1985 and 1989, 33% of fatalities were attributed to falls (OSHA, 1990). More recent studies reveal that the number of fatalities attributed to falls has increased to about 36%.
Heightened Safety [Jan 2009]
Safe working can never be assumed
- It has to permeate through every element of the workplace, including the all-important training.
Height and safety (yes, the title of this article is a play on words) are often enforced bedfellows when they should be inseparable. Of course, no-one should be working at height without extensive training and strict operational procedures but the ebb and flow of the annual HSE accident statistics for this sector suggests the battle for the routine delivery of responsible behaviour when operating at great height or in areas of difficult access has not yet been won.
Links to Products and Services
You may be interested in the following products and services on our sister site - OSE Directory.
Breathing Apparatus, Head Protection, Height Safety Equipment, Arm and Hand Protection, Fall Protection, Height Safety Equipment
Working at Height [Nov 2008]
A safe system of work
What is working at height? 'It is a place of work where a person may be injured falling from it, even if the place of work is at or below ground level'
Scaling New Heights [Oct 2008]
Preventing falls in the air transport industry
Each year, the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) receives about 40 reported incidents of air transport industry staff injuring themselves after falling from height1. About 15 of these are major injuries such as fractures.
Many of these accidents occur airside during aircraft maintenance, accessing or egressing the aircraft and working on or from service equipment - with falls from height and workplace transport incidents causing the majority of air-transport related accidents reported by the HSE.2 A significant proportion of the most serious accidents occur during aircraft turnaround. The scenario is broadly similar throughout Europe, though statistical data is hard to come by.
Fall Arrest Equipment Selection [Aug 2008]
The Right Product, The Right Training - The Complete Solution
Of all the sectors of the safety market Fall Protection is one of the most complex, with every different scenario requiring a different solution. It is also one of the least understood and most often poorly addressed areas of personnel safety - while still remaining one of the few sectors where the result of a wrong decision will almost certainly result in the death of a worker should they fall.
Going Down in the World - Safely [Jul 2008]
A look at descending devices' most comprehensive standard
In April 2007, a new International Standard for descending devices, ISO 22159, was published, without fanfare, after development over a period of nearly six years. This article gives an insight into the work involved in producing what is probably the most comprehensive standard for descending devices ever published.
Working at Height [May 2008]
A Problem or an Opportunity? Part 2
In my earlier article, (February 2008), I looked at the problem and some of the solutions of working at height.
Links to Products and Services
You may be interested in the following products and services on our sister site - OSE Directory.
Breathing Apparatus, Head Protection, Height Safety Equipment, Arm and Hand Protection, Fall Protection, Height Safety Equipment
HSI's Height FORUM [Apr 2008]
An insight into the height safety arena
We offered height safety manufacturers the opportunity to explain what they think are the most essential considerations when selecting this important area of PPE, what developments they are particularly proud of and how they see the market progressing in the future.
Working at Height [Feb 2008]
Problem, opportunity or just everyday life?
Rumours abound - again - that us safety folk want to ban people working at height. Well rest easy, because that’s all it is - rumours.
Fall Arrest [Jan 2008]
Then, now and tomorrow
Height safety equipment, a brief history
Over the past five decades the Height Safety Industry has undergone a progressive change to deal with situations where personnel are required to work in areas once deemed safe, but now considered to need regulation. There have been a constant series of developments, from the use of waist belts with short rope lanyards and chain lanyards in the 1980's to the vast array of different shock absorbing devices and full body harnesses now available. Only a handful of key manufacturers have consistently provided the innovations that have led the Height Safety Industry to where is it today.
Fall Arrest Equipment [Oct 2007]
The science behind the myth
Of all the sectors of the safety market Fall Arrest is one of the most complex, with every different scenario requiring a different solution and a different level of understanding. It is also one of the least understood and most often poorly addressed areas of personnel safety, whilst remaining one of the few sectors where the result of a wrong product decision or poor working method will almost certainly result in the death of a worker should a fall occur.
Workers Height Safety [Jul 2007]
The risk factors and inspection regimes
In recent years there has been an increasing requirement for industrial process operators to use equipment and services which comply with the standards of the Environment Agency MCERTS scheme. The benefits to process operators are evident in more reliable and appropriate monitoring data.
Links to Products and Services
You may be interested in the following products and services on our sister site - OSE Directory.
Breathing Apparatus, Head Protection, Height Safety Equipment, Arm and Hand Protection, Fall Protection, Height Safety Equipment
Working at Height [Apr 2007]
Standardisation of complex design PPE
Working at height is work undertaken at a place where injury could occur should somebody fall from it (even if it is at or below ground level) - often involving the use of scaffolds, ladders, hoists, gantries or general roof work. Falls from height are the most common cause of fatal injury, and the second most common cause of serious occupational injuries in the UK. 46 people died during 2005/2006, compared with 67 deaths during 2003/2004. Many of these accidents could have been avoided if the right equipment had been available and correct working practices put in place.
Inspection of Height PPE [Jan 2007]
Just how competent does a person need to be?
Every year businesses invest large amounts of time and considerable sums of money in providing suitable systems for carrying out work at height.
Falls from Height [Oct 2006]
There is still a vital need to protect workers
Although the total number of personnel being killed at work is on the decline, there are certain activities which are still of concern. Working at height, according to the HSE, remains the most common kind of accident in the workplace with falls from height accounting for nearly twenty five percent of deaths among workers across all industries.
Safe Approach to Height [Apr 2006]
Many deaths and major injuries are easily avoidable if simple, sensible measures are taken to reduce the risk of a fall from height.
Simplicity Works [Jan 2006]
The safe solution for work-at-height
Links to Products and Services
You may be interested in the following products and services on our sister site - OSE Directory.
Breathing Apparatus, Head Protection, Height Safety Equipment, Arm and Hand Protection, Fall Protection, Height Safety Equipment
UK’s New Work at Height Regulations [Jan 2005]
New fall protection hierarchy in practice
When they come into force The Work at Height Regulations (WAHR) will implement the Temporary Work at Height Directive1 in the UK. The key elements of the development approach taken by HSE in the drafting of the Regulations were:
Working at Height [Oct 2004]
Are your properly protected
Fall Arrest [Jul 2004]
Life hangs by a thread - or a fall arrester
Fall Arrest Equipment [Oct 2002]
Wayne Ellis discusses ongoing training, the latest techniques and the importance of quality equipment for an area that claims the lives of far too many workers and injures hundreds more; working safely at heights.
