ISSUE BASED RISK ASSESSMENT

ON

WORKING AT HEIGHTS

Date : 09 October 2013

Reference no : RA-Working at heights

Revision : 1

Revision date : October 2014

Author : J.J. Murray

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Standard Risk Matrix Hazard Effect / Consequence
(Where an event has more than one 'Loss Type', choose the 'Consequence' with the highest rating)

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 Loss Type (Additional 'Loss Types' may exist for an event; 1 : Insignificant 2 : Minor 3 : Moderate 4 : Major 5 : Catastrophic
identify & rate accordingly)
Single fatality or loss of quality
(S/H) First aid case / Exposure to minor Medical treatment / Exposure to Loss time injury / Reversible Multiple fatalities / Impact on
of life / Irreversible impact on
Harm to People (Safety / Health) health risk major health risk impact on health health ultimately fatal
health

Major environmental harm -

(EI) Minimal environmental harm - L1 Material environmental harm - L2 Serious environmental harm - L2 Extreme environmental harm -
L2 incident remediable post
Environmental Impact incident incident remediable short term incident remediable within LOM
LOM
L3 incident irreversible

(BI/MD)
No disruption to operation / R500k Brief disruption to operation / Partial shutdown / R50m to less Partial loss of operation Substantial or total loss of
Business Disruption / Material Damage & Other Consequential to less than R5m R5m to less than R50m than R500m R500m to less than R5bn R5bn and more
Losses
Serious breach of law;
Major breech of the law; Very considerable penalties &
(L&R) Minor legal issue; non compliance investigation/report to authority,
Low level legal issue considerable prosecution and prosecutions. Multiple law
Legal & Regulatory and breaches of the law prosecution and/or moderate
penalties suits & jail terms
penalty possible

(R/S/C) Slight impact - public awareness Limited impact - local public Considerable impact - regional National impact - national International impact -
Impact on Reputation/Social/Community may exist but no public concern concern public concern public concern international public attention

Examples
Likelihood Risk Rating
(Consider near-hits as well as actual events)
The unwanted event has occurred frequently; occurs
5
Almost Certain
in order of one or more times per year & is likely to 11 (M) 16 (H) 20 (H) 23 (Ex) 25 (Ex)
reoccur within 1 year
The unwanted event has occurred infrequently;
4
Likely
occurs in order of less than once per year & is likely 7 (M) 12 (M) 17 (H) 21 (Ex) 24 (Ex)
to re-occur within 5 years

3 The unwanted event could well have occurred in the

Possible business at some point within 10 years 4 (L) 8 (M) 13 (H) 18 (H) 22 (Ex)
2 The unwanted event has happened in the business at
Unlikely some time; or could happen within 20 years 2 (L) 5 (L) 9 (M) 14 (H) 19 (H)
The unwanted event has never been known to occur
1
Rare
in the business; or is highly unlikely that it could ever 1 (L) 3 (L) 6 (M) 10 (M) 15 (H)
occur beyond 20 years
Interpretation of Risk Level
Risk Rating Risk Level Guidelines for Risk Matrix
21 to 25 (Ex) – Extreme Eliminate, avoid, implement specific action plans / procedures to manage & monitor
13 to 20 (H) – High Proactively manage
6 to 12 (M) – Medium Actively manage
1 to 5 (L) – Low Monitor & manage as appropriate

Risk Assessment Report

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 Los
s Recommended Additional
No Sub System Hazard - "what if" Risk Current Controls C L R C L R
Typ Controls
e
1 Injuring workmen. All tools will be S/H 1 1 1L Regular Inspections. Pre- 1 1 1L
Working at heights Tools and
numbered and on use inspections on tools to
equipment not up
register be conducted.
to standard.
Areas below the place of
No homemade tools
work to be barricaded.
will be allowed on site

Falling objects Injuring workmen. All tools will have wrist S/H
lanyards attached
Kick plates on
scaffolding will be
erected to prevent
falling objects
Tool bucket will be tied
to the structure to
prevent it from falling
PPE must be worn at all
times
Scaffolding Injuries to workmen. All scaffolding will be S/H
green tagged before
being used.
Kick plates will be
installed to prevent
falling objects.
Scaffold erectors will be
appointed in writing.
Scaffold inspectors will
be appointed in
writing.
3 3 13H Regular Inspections. Train 3 1 6M
workmen and inspect
the P.P.E. regularly.
DSTI's to be conducted.
Toolbox talks to be
conducted regularly before
any task is performed.
Safe work procedures to be
followed.
Close supervision necessary
3 3 13H Trained safety personnel 3 1 6M
should be used to check all
the scaffolds daily.
Train workmen and inspect
the scaffolding regularly.

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 Los
s Recommended Additional
No Sub System Hazard - "what if" Risk Current Controls
Typ
e
Weather Injuring workmen. All scaffold to be S/H
conditions, e.g. inspected after rain
Rain, strong wind, occurred by an
Lightning, Dust and inspector, trained and
mist. qualified.
Cranes operating Wind speed must not
in the near vicinity. exceed limit.
During dusty and misty
conditions visibility
must be good.
Workers must not work
under a suspended
load of the crane
operations.
Loose and open Injuries to workmen All gratings must be S/H
gratings secured or fastened
down.
Open gratings must be
covered at all times
Open holes in the Injuries to workmen All holes must be S/H
structures covered in a manner
that can withstand the
weight of an employee.
All open holes must be
identified and
barricaded.
C L R C L R
Controls
3 3 13H Regular Inspections. 3 1 6M
No employee is permitted
to work in wet or rainy
conditions.
DSTI's to be conducted.
Toolbox talks to be held.
Visibility is to be monitored
continuously and if poor,
employees should be
evacuated.
3 3 13H Train workmen and inspect 3 1 6M
the workplace regularly.
Area underneath the
scaffolding should be kept
clear of any persons.
Barricade the area
underneath the scaffolding.
2 3 8M Train workmen and inspect 2 1 3L
the workplace regularly.

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 Los
s Recommended Additional
No Sub System Hazard - "what if" Risk Current Controls C L R C L R
Typ Controls
e
Fatigue Injuries to workmen. Employee to do fatigue S/H 3 3 13H Train workmen and inspect 3 1 6M
checklist on himself The employees regularly.
Fatigue management
plan to be done.
Fatigue policy to be in
place.
Regular breaks should
be taken.
Untrained Injuries to workmen. All employees will be S/H 4 3 18H Supervisor's task 4 1 10
employees. Fatal injury. trained for working at observations should be M
heights. conducted to ensure the
All employees will be employees work safe and
trained in the correct do not need re-training.
use of a safety harness. Train workmen and inspect
the employees regularly.
All personnel will also
be trained to use a high
work support harness.
No one will work at
heights alone, there
will always be two or
more persons working
at heights. A trained
rescuer and a rescue kit
should be available on
site.

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 Los
s Recommended Additional
No Sub System Hazard - "what if" Risk Current Controls C L R C L R
Typ Controls
e
Ladders Injuries to workmen and All ladders to be S/H 1 3 4L Train workmen and inspect 1 2 2L
equipment. numbered and entered the workplace regularly.
on register and not
painted.
Only competent person
to inspect ladders.
Ladder inspector must
be appointed in
writing.
Ladder to be held by
employee when being
used by fellow
employee.
Extension ladder must
be secured to structure
when in use.
Extension stepladders
should not protrude
more than 1m over the
structure.
Ladders must be stored
in the appropriate
manner, according to
prescribed practices.

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No Sub System Hazard - "what if"
Suspension trauma Injuries to workmen.
Fatal injury.
Safety harnesses Injuries to workmen.
Los
s Recommended Additional
Risk Current Controls C L R C L R
Typ Controls
e
All employees to be S/H 4 3 18H Train workmen and inspect 4 1 10
trained the correct use the employees and M
of a safety harness. Workplace regularly.
Rescue team to be Planned task observations
trained. are to be conducted
Rescue team to be regularly to make sure the
easily identified. workmen don't need re-
Rescue team must be training.
able to rescue victim as Employees must hook-up
soon as possible. properly, with both their
hook hooked on when
Rescue kit must be
working.
available on site,
should it be needed.
All safety harnesses will S/H 2 3 8M Train workmen and inspect 2 1 3L
be inspected and the employees, equipment
registered as well as and workplace regularly.
physically numbered.
All personnel will be
trained and be in
possession of a
competency certificate.
All personnel will have
done a course on fall
protection, and be in
possession of a
competency certificate.
Safety harnesses must
be stored in the
appropriate, prescribed
manner.
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 Los
s Recommended Additional
No Sub System Hazard - "what if" Risk Current Controls C L R C L R
Typ Controls
e
High work support Injuries to workmen. Personnel will receive S/H 4 3 18H Train workmen and inspect 4 1 10
harness. Fatal injury. training, and will have the employees, equipment M
done the fall protection and workplace regularly.
course.
The high work support
harness will be
inspected and on
register.
A safety harness will be
worn at all times when
using a high work
support harness, and
must be hooked.
The end of the task Injuries to workmen. All the workers on that S/H 1 1 1L Train workmen and inspect 1 1 1L
procedure. specific high work task, the employees, equipment
will all be together on and workplace regularly.
the ground before
anyone leaves the work
site. This is to ensure
that no one has fallen
and not been seen,
once all are present ,
they may then leave
the work area together.

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Action Plan
Issue : Working at Heights
NB! To be signed off by all Responsible Management to demonstrate Due Diligence and to ensure Close-out
No Recommendations
1 Only trained and competent persons to be
allowed to work at heights.
2 Ensure that all the safety harnesses are
inspected regularly and that the inspection
sheets are kept up to date.
3 Ensure that the persons using the equipment
are trained and competent in the use. Allow
regular change of activity, to avoid fatigue.
4 Demarcate the area where work is being
conducted. Use the correct demarcating, as
prescribed by the safety officer on site.
5 Ensure that all rubble and scrap material is
removed from the place of work, to avoid
tripping and falling of objects, to maintain good
housekeeping practice.
6 Maintain the barricading of the area.
7 Safety harnesses should be placed back in the
store, and be checked when handed in for any
defects and damages. No person is ever
permitted to work with defective safety
harnesses.
8 All tools to be inspected regularly and before
any work is to be conducted.
Action taken / to be taken to eliminate, control Completion Follow-up
Responsible Person Signature
or minimize hazard Date Date
Ensure only trained and competent persons be
allowed to work at heights.
Ensure that all the safety harnesses are
inspected regularly and that the inspection
sheets are kept up to date.
Ensure that the persons using the equipment
are trained and competent in the use. Allow
regular change of activity, to avoid fatigue.
Demarcate the area where work is being
conducted. Use the correct demarcating, as
prescribed by the safety officer on site.
Ensure that all rubble and cut-off material is
removed from the place of work, to avoid
tripping and falling of objects, to maintain good
housekeeping practice.
Maintain the barricading of the area.
Safety harnesses should be placed back in the
store, and be checked when handed in for any
defects and damages. No person is ever
permitted to work with defective safety
harnesses.
Inspect all tools regularly. Use lanyards on all
tools.
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