GENERAL RBM PROCEDURE

RICHARDS BAY MINERALS

Effective date: 17th August 2016
Applicable to Procedure No. Revision No. Page
All divisions E 28 GP 006 5 1 of 8
Working at Heights – Principles and minimum requirements
Compiled By : Reliability Engineer Support Services

1. OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this GP is to set out the procedure to be followed when working at heights and
to define the principles and minimum requirements for managing work at height hazards and the
processes by which safe access and working at heights is controlled.

2. RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITIES

Position/Role Description
Management  Ensure adequate resources (time, equipment, personnel) are allocated for
the effective implementation of this procedure
 Review the procedure at regular interviews, minimum of 3 years
 Review performance with respect to this procedure
 Ensure adequate training is afforded and maintained for personnel involved
with accessing and working at heights
.
Permit to Work  Review work at heights planning / work request documentation, including
Authorizers JTA and SOP/SWP and Permit to work
 Authorize the commencement of height access and work in accordance
with the PTW
Working at  Complete the working at Height Authorization Form and issue if
height officers requirements are met
Personnel  Undertake work at heights as per the requirements of this procedure, the
working at instructions of work coordinators and specific permit requirements
heights

3. METHOD
3.1 Hazards
A range of work at heights tasks are undertaken throughout the operations, during projects,
ongoing maintenance activities and repair tasks. RBM therefore aims to implement effective
working at heights standards and provide proactive means of controlling work at heights related
risks, including:
 Falls from height
 Falling objects
 Unprotected edges

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 Uncovered penetrations
 Brittle, fragile, uneven or slippery rooftops or work surfaces
 Incorrect use of ladders, personal fall protective equipment or height access equipment

Where a known fall risk exists within the operation, potentially due to retrospective standards, design
modifications and improved controls are to be implemented wherever practicable.

3.2 Accessing and work at heights

3.2.1 General requirements

Where practicable, accessing locations at height shall be done via a safe manner that
provides personnel with a work platform and edge protection that is fixed in-situ. This may
include:

 An existing work platform or stair access way with edge protection;

 An elevating work platform such a scissor lift or boom lift;
 A fixed scaffold, mobile scaffold or temporary work platform.
 Fixed platforms or walkway with edge protection
 Fixed stairway with edge protection
 Fixed incline ladder with handrails
 Fixed vertical ladder with travel restraint system
 Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices

3.2.2 Working at height hazards are to be controlled in accordance with the order of preference as
listed in the table below.

Control Option Preference Description

Eliminate the height access Eliminate the need to access the location at height. Examples
include:

 Relocation of an item or device from a position at height to

ground level;
 Redesign of an item or device enabling it to be lowered to
allow for access, inspection, repair or similar;

Use of an extension handle to enable location at height to be reached

from ground level.

Edge protection or cover The provision of controls or a means of access that provide
protection or a barrier that prevents access to an exposed edge or
unprotected location at height. Examples include:

 Erection of scaffolding to reach a location at height;

 Use of an elevating work platform or building maintenance
unit to access a location at height;
 Installation of temporary edge protection or guardrails along a
roof edge or unprotected location at height;
 Installation of a cover over a roof, grate or floor penetration.

Note: often, the means by which these controls are established may
require a lower order working at height control to be used as well.

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Control Option Preference Description

Fall protection The use of personal protective equipment that either prevents a fall or
reduces the severity of a fall. Examples include:
 Use of an industrial rope access system;
 Use of a travel restraint system;
 Use of a fall arrest system.

3.2.3 For any access or work at heights where fall protection system is required, the
following documentation must be completed:

 JTA and/or a Take 5 for the task to be performed as determined by the safety criticality of
the task
 Permit to Work, if or when required.
 Working at heights Authorization form

3.2.4 As part of pre-planning and completing the above documentation to ensure safe access and
work at heights, personnel and / or contractors shall consider the following activities, example:

1. Identified hazards relating to accessing the location at height;

2. The nature of work location;
3. Environmental / weather issues;
4. The presence of nearby persons who may be affected by the work or potential falling
objects;
5. The nature of the work activities to be undertaken at heights;
6. Personal fall protection equipment or other access equipment issues;
7. Anchorage selection issues;
8. The need for multiple personnel and means for safe communication;
9. A rescue plan that addresses retrieval / rescue contingencies. ( FARB are considered as
our W@H rescuers) If deemed necessary by risk assessment, they may need to be
present on the job. MEWP’s and ladders can also form part of the rescue plan.
10. Work on grating where falling objects could cause injury to people below (consider
covering with plating, netting or blankets).

11. Working above and open furnaces or any hole(penetration) where the potential to fall is
more than 1,8 m or the hole(penetration) is into a confined space
12. Working above molten metal;
13. multiple disciplinary teams – include all team players in planning and risk assessment;
14. Load rating of access platforms, work areas, anchor points etc.;
15. There is a danger to personnel;
16. Exposure to heat sources;
17. Use of a boatswain chair or mobile work platforms;
18. Any other conditions which may affect the safe execution of the task.

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3.3 Specific control requirements

During maintenance tasks in the area where walkways or platforms may be modified, any
penetration with dimensions of more than 200mm x 200mm or a diameter more than 200mm
is to have a fall prevention cover fitted to it to prevent a potential fall from height. If such
penetration cannot be covered, then the penetration shall be barricaded with a solid barricade
as close as possible to the hole. As deemed appropriate, penetrations with dimensions
smaller than the above are also to be covered.

No person using personal fall protection equipment as part of a fall arrest system is to
work in isolation. (Minimum of 2 people working together)

All personnel who use personal fall protection equipment must be trained in the safe
selection, inspection and use of the equipment and methods of work required.

Personnel using personal fall protection equipment must do so in accordance with specific
instructions or requirements specified by the equipment or system’s manufacturer/supplier.

Specific pre-use inspections, maintenance and fitting protocols must be ensured by all users
as detailed within manufacturer requirements or relevant SANS standards for fall protection
and prevention requirements as a minimum.

3.4 Work at Heights Training and Competency

Only those RBM personnel or contractors who have been trained with respect to work at
height hazards and controls are to access or work at heights, supervise work tasks at heights,
or carry out retrieval / rescue roles.

As there are a range of working at height scenarios and activities performed by RBM
personnel, not all personnel will be required to be trained to the same level. Following is a
training summary that may be used as a guide to determine training needs for personnel.

Records of work at heights training, attendance at RBM work at heights awareness sessions
or other specialized equipment item training (if applicable) are to be maintained and readily
accessible.

3.5 Working at Heights Officers.

Working at Heights Officers receives special training for authorizing working at heights when
fall arrest systems are to be used.

Working at Heights Officers that are not familiar with the plant and its associated hazards are
not permitted to issue Working at Heights authorizations.

Only permanent RBM personnel and Category 1 Staff Contractors are permitted to be
appointed as Working at Heights Officers.

Category 3 contractors with permanent workshops/ work areas may have W@H officers
trained and appointed for their specific workshops/ work areas.

3.6 Duties of the working at Heights officer

1. The W@H officer must inspect the area where the work is to take place to ensure that
there is no other practical alternative to doing the job.

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2. The W@H officer must check that the W@H check sheet has been filled in correctly and
has been understood by the applicant.

3. The W@H officer must check whether there are any risks which might have to be
addressed before the work can progress e.g. Isolation of a hot rail or crane etc.

4. The W@H officer must review the training records and the risk assessment with the team
leader to ensure all risks are mitigated as far as W@H is concerned.

5. The WAH officer must check whether the anchor points are adequate and suitable for the
job.

6. The W@H officer must check that the team has the correct PPE for the job – this includes
harness& lanyards that suit the application.

7. The W@H officer must check the team have a rescue plan and is it suitable/adequate.

8. The W@H officer must check that no person works at height without a standby person
observing.

9. The W@H officer must ensure that he visits the W@H site at least once after work
commences to check adherence.

4. REFERENCES
 COP 28 – Working at heights
 E 28 GP 001 - Fall Prevention – Scaffolding Standards

 E 28 GP 002 – Safety Harnesses and Fall Arrest Systems: Usage, Standards &
Responsibility

 E 28 GP 003 – Anchorage points: Identification and use

 E 28 GP 004 – Safety Barriers and Barricading

 E 28 GP 005 – Standards for erection and use of ladders

5. APPENDICES
Working at Height Authorization Request form
Working at Height Authorization Form

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6. REVIEW HISTORY
REV NO DESCRIPTION PAGE (S) DATE
0 New document All 1 March 2011
1 Item 3.2.4 (No 9) added 3 23 November
2011
“(FARB are considered as our W@H
rescuers) If deemed necessary by risk
assessment, they may need to be present
on the job. MEWP’s and ladders can also
form part of the rescue plan”.
Item 3.2.4 (No 10) added
“or any hole(penetration) where the
3
potential to fall is more than 1,8 m or the
hole(penetration) is into a confined space”
Item 3.3 Added sentence:
“If such penetration cannot be covered,
then the penetration shall be barricaded
with a solid barricade as close as possible
to the hole”. 3

Added Item 3.5 - Working at Heights

Officers.
Working at Heights Officers receives
special training for authorizing working at
heights when fall arrest systems are to be 4
used.

Working at Heights Officers that are not

familiar with the plant and its associated
hazards are not permitted to issue Working
at Heights authorizations.

Only permanent RBM personnel are

permitted to be appointed as Working at
Heights Officers
2 Item 3.5 – Last paragraph 4 30 Nov 2011
Added Category 1 Staff Contractors
Paragraph now reads: Only permanent
RBM personnel and Category 1 Staff
Contractors are permitted to be appointed
as Working at Heights Officers

3 Item 3.2.4 – Added point 10. 3 March 2012

Work on grating where falling objects could

cause injury to people below (consider
covering with plating, netting or blankets)

4 Added last paragraph to Item 3.5: 4&5 31 May 2012

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REV NO DESCRIPTION PAGE (S) DATE

Category 3 contractors with permanent
workshops/ work areas may have W@H
officers trained and appointed for their specific
workshops/ work areas.

Added Item 3.6 – Duties of Working at Heights

(W@H) Officer

5 Appendix A - Reviewed the Working at Heights 8 August 2016

authorization form

APPROVAL
POSITION NAME DATE SIGNATURE

Manager Reliability and Bully Naicker

Asset Management

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Appendix A

Working at heights Authorisation form

Working at Height
Authorization form.docx

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