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FALL PROTECTION PLAN

DOCUMENT TYPE AND TITLE

FALL PROTECTION PLAN

FOR

HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT PLAN

DOCUMENT INFORMATION

ORIGINATOR: ACTIVITY: TYPE OF DOCUMENT:

HSE Manager Fall protection Plan Safety Management Procedure

DOCUMENT CHANGE RECORD

REV DATE SECTION (S) OF CHANGE DESCRIPTION/REASON
OF REVISION

0 3rd May 2019 Development of Plan

1 16 Feb 2020 Layout Change Annual Review
2 21st Jan 2021 Approval update update
3 14th Jan 2022 No Change Annual Review
4 10th Jan 2023 Information Update Annual Review
Approved

R.A.Sham
HSE Manager 16(2)

INDEX
1 SCOPE....................................................................................................................................................................................... 3
2 PURPOSE.................................................................................................................................................................................. 3
3 REFERENCES............................................................................................................................................................................. 3
4 PROJECT DETAILS..................................................................................................................................................................... 3
5 HAZARD IDENTIFICATION.........................................................................................................................................................3
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6 PERMIT TO WORK.................................................................................................................................................................... 3
7 FALL PREVENTION SYSTEMS.....................................................................................................................................................4
7.1 Fixed Platforms.................................................................................................................................................................4
7.2 Temporary Barriers.......................................................................................................................................................... 4
7.3 Mobile Elevated Work Platforms......................................................................................................................................4
7.4 Scaffolding (Including Scaffold Towers)............................................................................................................................5
8 PERSONAL FALL PROTECTION SYSTEMS...................................................................................................................................6
8.1 Fall Restraint Systems.......................................................................................................................................................6
8.2 Fall Arrest System.............................................................................................................................................................6
8.3 Special WaH Technics.......................................................................................................................................................6
8.3.1 Work Positioning..................................................................................................................................................... 6
8.3.2 Rope Access.............................................................................................................................................................7
8.4 Fall Protection System Elements......................................................................................................................................7
8.4.1 Anchor Points.......................................................................................................................................................... 7
8.4.2 Body Support (Harness)...........................................................................................................................................8
8.4.3 Connectors (Lanyards, Life-Lines and Associated Devices)......................................................................................8
8.5 Inspection and Testing..................................................................................................................................................... 8
9 LADDERS AND STAIRWAYS.......................................................................................................................................................9
9.1 Mobile Ladders.................................................................................................................................................................9
9.2 Fixed Ladders....................................................................................................................................................................9
9.3 Stairways........................................................................................................................................................................ 10
10 FLOOR OPENINGS AND REMOVABLE HANDRAILS/BARRIERS.................................................................................................10
10.1 Fixed Ladders............................................................................................................................................................. 11
10.2 Stairways....................................................................................................................................................................11
11 FLOOR OPENINGS AND REMOVABLE HANDRAILS/BARRIERS.................................................................................................11
12 FALLING OBJECT PREVENTION AND PROTECTIONS................................................................................................................12
13 EMERGENCY CONTROLS.........................................................................................................................................................12
14 WORKER HEALTH AND SAFETY...............................................................................................................................................12
14.1 Health........................................................................................................................................................................ 12
14.2 Prohibited Behaviours................................................................................................................................................13
15 MANAGEMENT OF CHANGE...................................................................................................................................................13
16 TRAINING, COMPETENCY, AND AUTHORIZATION..................................................................................................................13
17 ROLES RELATING TO WORKING AT HEIGHT............................................................................................................................14
17.1 Work at Height Permit Issuer.....................................................................................................................................14
17.2 Work at Height Authorized Person............................................................................................................................14
18 TRAINING DELIVERY............................................................................................................................................................... 14
19 RECORD RETENTION...............................................................................................................................................................15
APPENDIX 2- WORKING AT HEIGHT – APPLYING CONTROL MEASURES..........................................................................................15

1 SCOPE
To achieve a safe working environment for personnel working at heights in accordance with the
Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 in particular the Construction Regulations of 2014.

2 PURPOSE
To provide guidelines necessary for the provision of maximum fall protection for all personnel working in
elevated heights.

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3 REFERENCES
Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 and in particular the Construction Regulations of 2014.

4 PROJECT DETAILS

Client:
Project:

5 HAZARD IDENTIFICATION
a) A competent person must identify the working at height hazards associated with any job task and assess
the risks, and then eliminate or control those risks that have the potential to result in harm to people
involved.

b) The hierarchy of working at height controls must be applied during the job planning and during the
selection of risk controls (see Appendix 2).

c) Documented job specific procedures must be written that consider the following, as a minimum:

c.1. The workplace location, including its associated hazards and risks.
c.2. The likely fall distance and any hazards that may increase the risk (e.g. pendulum effect).
c.3. The potential for falling objects when WaH, or when underneath WaH activity.
c.4. Any floor or barrier openings or trap doors, shafts, etc.
c.5. The access to WaH and its condition (e.g. the condition of ladders or stairs).
c.6. The workplace conditions that could increase the risk (e.g. wind, lightning, rain, temperature).
c.7. The choice and effectiveness of control measures, including supervision and Permit-to-Work.
c.8. Additional considerations when the use of personal fall protection is selected:
c.8.1. The location of anchor point(s), their load capacity and maintenance regime.
c.8.2. The choice of personal fall protection system and its specification.
c.8.3. Calculation of the ‘fall clearance’ distance (also known as ‘clear fall’).
c.9. The competency, authorization and supervision required to carry out the procedure.
c.10. Emergency rescue plan

6 PERMIT TO WORK
a) A Permit to Work (PTW) is required for any tasks that require the use of personal fall protection
equipment, except where the specific working at height activity is an on-going day-to-day activity carried out
under written procedures, supervision, competency assessment and formal authorization, that adequately
manage the risk (e.g. opening/closing hatches from a dedicated platform).

b) A PTW record must contain the following as a minimum:

b.1. Verification of WaH hierarchy of controls having been applied.
b.2. Verification of the workers’ and their supervisors’ competency.
b.3. Verification of the suitability and good condition of WaH equipment, including appropriate anchor
points
b.4. Verification that a risk assessment was completed and that it identified the drop zone, fall clearance
distance and any associated hazards and risks (e.g. pendulum risk, etc.).
b.5. Verification that a rescue plan exists and is both suitable and sufficient.

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7 FALL PREVENTION SYSTEMS

7.1 Fixed Platforms
a) All permanent work platforms and elevated walkways with falling hazards must be protected with
guardrails and toe boards.

b) Guardrails and toe boards must be made from rigid and resistant materials, without sharp edges or
prominent parts that could result in injuries.

c) Guardrails must be no less than 95 cm and toe boards no less than 10 cm high. Midrails will be used to
ensure the maximum unprotected gap between guardrails and toe boards does not exceed 50 cm.

d) Permanent fixed platforms must be inspected no less frequently than every 2 years

7.2 Temporary Barriers

a) Barriers must be placed at least 200 cm from the fall hazard and be of sufficient height/design for the
purpose.

b) The barrier must be clearly visible (e.g. red/white, or black/yellow).

c) The design/selection of the barrier must consider:

c.1. Weather conditions (e.g. being blown over by wind, etc.).

c.2. The need to prevent tampering (e.g. unauthorized removal or relocation, etc.).

d) Visual inspection of barrier condition must be carried out daily.

7.3 Mobile Elevated Work Platforms

a) An assessment of the workplace must be carried out by either the Mobile Elevated Work Platforms
( MEWP) operator (if he/she is familiar with the workplace), or by a competent person that is familiar with
the workplace, e.g. knows the location of high voltage cables or other hazards that increase the risk of using
a MEWP.
b) The working area around the MEWP must be made safe so as to prevent falling objects landing on other
workers, and to reduce the likelihood of the MEWP being hit by other equipment - the size of the area must
be related to the maximum height of the tasks being carried out, and the workplace hazards/risks.

c) MEWPs must be operated on level, flat, stable ground to ensure stability.

d) MEWPs must not be used when the wind speed is above 12.5m/s (28mph).

e) There must be an access ladder or steps to access the platform. Grab handles must be fitted at a suitable
place(s) to make access easier and safer.

f) Access gates or doors in the barriers around the platform must open inwards and must not be used to exit
at height unless a risk assessment has been carried out and a safe method of exiting has been planned and
implemented.

g) A fall restraint system which is securely anchored and properly adjusted to prevent exit from the platform
must be used.

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h) Workers must not exit the platform until the MEWP has been completely lowered to the ground (unless
the MEWP is being used for high-level access AND a risk assessment has determined that it is a safer than
other methods of access AND a safe method of work has been developed).

i) The elevation or descent of the MEWP platform must only happen when the MEWP is stationary.

j) The MEWP must not be moved when the platform is raised.

k) A maintenance and inspection program (including pre-use inspection) must be in place and MEWPs must
be thoroughly examined no less than every 6 months by a competent person.

l) MEWPs must be designed and manufactured to internationally accepted standards.

7.4 Scaffolding (Including Scaffold Towers)

a) Scaffolding must be designed and manufactured to internationally accepted standards, and must be
erected by competent persons.

b) Scaffold must only be erected, altered, or dismantled according to the manufacturer's / supplier’s
instructions by competent workers under the immediate supervision of a competent person.

c) Workers involved in the erection, alteration or dismantling of scaffolding must wear a suitable personal fall
protection system as per manufacturer instruction or risk assessment.

d) Scaffolding must be protected with guardrails and toe boards. Handrails (top rail) must be no less than 90
cm or no more than 110 cm above the working platform. Toe boards must be no less than 10 cm high..

e) Scaffolds must be inspected and findings recorded before first use, whenever modifications are made to
the scaffold and after any event likely to have affected strength or stability (e.g. high winds, heavy rainfall,
impact by mobile equipment, or an overloading event).

f) Each week the scaffold must be subject to a formal thorough systematic visual inspection.

g) During the inspection process, the findings and necessary corrections/repairs (if any) must be recorded.

h) All scaffolding must have a visible tag at points of access allowing or prohibiting the use of scaffolding
according to the current inspection status. No access is permitted to scaffolding unless the scaffold is
equipped with the ‘safe for use’ tag.

i) Scaffolding must be immediately dismantled after it is no longer needed.

8 PERSONAL FALL PROTECTION SYSTEMS

Fall protection must be used in any work where falling from one level to another may result in harm (e.g.
falling in a work area used as a path for a wheelbarrow or similar equipment, falling into operating
machinery,…) and in any case, any work at a height that is greater than 1.8 meters. It includes working next
to an opening or unprotected edge such as roofs, quarry walls, etc

8.1 Fall Restraint Systems

a) A fall restraint system must allow a worker to travel just far enough to reach the working area/edge but
not far enough to fall over.

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b) Restraint systems shall only be used on working surfaces with a downward slope of less than 4:12 (18
degrees) towards the fall hazard.

c) A full body harness that meets international standards of design and manufacture is used (a
waistband/belt type is not permitted).

d) The length of the lanyard must be determined following an assessment of the workplace; the assessment
must include the need to use multiple lanyards and anchors where a single lanyard could result in the worker
falling.

8.2 Fall Arrest System

a) A fall arrest system must prevent a falling worker from hitting the ground or any object or level below the
work.

b) Maximum free fall distance is 1.8 m, providing the system is engineered for the associated load.

8.3 Special WaH Technics

8.3.1 Work Positioning

a) Systems that allow workers to WaH hands free are permitted only when used in combination with
personal fall protection systems that are suitable and sufficient, and the worker has achieved
competency in the use of such systems.

b) If work positioning is required, an additional lanyard(s) of suitable strength and length to ensure a
comfortable work position (with sufficient freedom of movement) must be used.

c) Work positioning systems must limit the worker free fall distance to 60 cm.

8.3.2 Rope Access

a) Only certified workers are authorized to carry out rope access working.

b) A working rope and a safety rope must be used at all times and must be connected to anchor
points that have been determined as sufficient by a competent person.

c) Ropes must be protected from damage.

8.4 Fall Protection System Elements

a) Workers involved in the use of personal fall protection systems must be properly trained to recognize the
importance of every element of the system, known as the ‘ABC’.

A = Anchor
B = Body support (harness and suspension trauma foot loop)
C = Connectors (lanyards, lifelines and associated devices)

b) The selection of suitable anchor point devices, body support and connectors must be made by a
competent person. In this case, ‘competent’ must include a detailed understanding of the calculations for
the fall clearance distance, lifeline characteristics (e.g. rope elongation qualities and capacity), the associated
hazards of the workplace and the likely additional risks (e.g. pendulum effect), and sufficient authority to
prohibit these systems from being used where it is not safe to do so.
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c) All elements (ABC) of a personal fall protection system must be designed and manufactured to
internationally accepted standards.

d) All elements (ABC) of a personal fall protection system must be verified to be compatible.

8.4.1 Anchor Points

Anchor Points must be suitable for the conditions prevailing in the workplace (e.g. weather, salt
water spray or other corrosives, extremes of temperature).

a) Purpose Designed Anchors

a.1. Anchor points must be designed, manufactured and installed to ensure a static load capacity
adequate to the job to be carried out.
a.2. Anchors must be able to support 22kN per worker attached, unless otherwise qualified by an
competent person.
a.3. Anchorages for specific purposes must be tagged as such, e.g. “Work positioning only”, or “Rope
access only”.
a.4. Anchors must be tagged with their rating.

b) Non-Purpose Designed Anchor

b.1. Non purpose-designed anchors are only permitted after assessment by a competent person.
b.2. The competent person must determine the strength and resilience of the chosen anchor point
and confirm in writing that it is suitable for use as an anchor point, and specify any additional fall
protection system elements that may be required.
b.3. Where an anchor point is located such that the lanyard could be damaged by e.g. sharp edges,
then the lanyard must be fitted with a protection sleeve sufficient to resist damage to the lanyard or
its connections.
b.4. Handrails are prohibited from being used as anchor points.
b.5. The following are an acceptable anchor point once assessed and approved by a competent
person:
 D-bolts attached to beams
 Beam clamps
 Cross-arm straps

8.4.2 Body Support (Harness)

a) Full body harnesses must be suitable for the size and weight of the worker.

b) Harnesses must be fitted with a dorsal D ring.

c) Harnesses must be fitted with a D ring on each side if used for work positioning and with front attachment
points if used for ladder safety climbing.

d) Harnesses must be fitted with suspension trauma foot loops.

8.4.3 Connectors (Lanyards, Life-Lines and Associated Devices)

a) All connectors must be self-closing/self-locking with a gate strength of 16 kN.

b) Lanyards used for fall arrest must be fitted with or attached to a shock absorber sufficient for the weight
of the worker and fall distance.

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c) Lifelines must not interfere with other safety equipment.

d) Lifeline ‘systems’ comprised of more than one element, must be used as a whole; parts of the system
must not be used individually or with other systems, unless the manufacturer explicitly allows this.

8.5 Inspection and Testing

Anchor points, harnesses and connectors must:

a) Be inspected by the user before each use.

b) Be formally inspected and tested periodically,

b.1. Anchor points (including non-purpose designed ones): no less frequently than once per year (testing:
50% of the rated capacity of the anchor).
b.2. Harnesses: no less frequently than once per year (a thorough visual inspection of every element of the
harness).
b.3. Lanyards, lifelines and self-retracting reels: no less frequently than once per year (a thorough visual
inspection of every element of the equipment).

c) Be tagged with the next inspection or expiry date.

d) When WaH equipment has failed inspection or passed life date it must be destroyed and disposed of.

e) Any part of a fall protection system that has been used to arrest a fall must be removed from service.

9 LADDERS AND STAIRWAYS

9.1 Mobile Ladders
a) Ladders must be designed and manufactured to internationally accepted standards.

b) Ladders must only be used for short duration work (e.g. not likely to exceed 30 minutes).

c) Tasks that routinely use ladders must be risk assessed and the WaH hierarchy of control applied.

d) Workers that will use ladders are required to undergo training in the safe use of ladders, including how to
visually inspect them, how to properly erect them, and how to safely use them, and when it is not safe to use
them.

e) Ladders that are not in use must be locked away or otherwise prevented from being used.

f) Modifications or alterations to ladders are prohibited.

g) Any repairs to ladders must be carried out by a competent person, and may only be minor in nature, e.g.
replacing rubber feet.

h) Ladders must be inspected prior to use and Inspected at period not exceeding 6 months

i) When performing electrical tasks or near to an electrical installation, only fibreglass or wooden ladders are
allowed

j) Three points of contact must be maintained all the time.

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9.2 Fixed Ladders

a) Fixed ladders must be designed, installed and inspected to internationally accepted standards.

b) Fixed ladders must not exceed 6m in length unless an intermediate landing is installed. A safety cage or
lifeline must be used where the fixed ladder is greater than 2.5m.

c) A safety cage must start no more than 3m from the base of each ladder and end no less than 1.1m above
any landing.

d) Ladder width must be no less than 45 cm.

e) Safety cage diameter must be no less than 65 cm.

f) Fixings for attaching the ladder to the supporting structure must be spaced no greater than 2m apart.

g) Ladder rungs must be no closer to the supporting structure than 20 cm.

h) Fixed ladders must be formally inspected no less frequently than every year.

9.3 Stairways
Use of permanent stairways is not considered to come under WaH. Instead, the construction, design and
condition monitoring of such stairways comes under the responsibility of building design and construction.

a) Temporary stairways must be designed and manufactured to internationally accepted standards, and
must be installed and regularly inspected by competent persons. For example stairs for access to:

a.1. Scaffolding
a.2. High-level office cabins during a construction project
a.3. A temporary bridge structure

b) Visual inspections of temporary stairways must be no less frequently than once every 7 days.

c) Temporary stairways must be no less than 80 cm in width and rise no more than 350 cm unless an
intermediate landing is provided; the risers must all be of equal dimensions and, the treads must all be of
equal dimensions.

10 FLOOR OPENINGS AND REMOVABLE HANDRAILS/BARRIERS

a) Opening a floor (e.g. removing an access grate or a walkway) and opening a removable handrail/barrier
(including openings in equipment with vertical orientation like large manholes at ducts, hoppers, cyclones
etc ) to gain access to a place that places workers into a WaH situation, is prohibited unless a risk assessment
has been completed, and all controls required to reduce the potential consequences to an acceptable level
have been implemented.

b) Opening a floor and opening removable handrails/barriers to gain access to a place that places workers
into a WaH situation must be formally authorized.

c) Before opening the floor or opening the removable handrail/barrier, suitable fall restraint systems or fall
protections systems must be worn.

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d) For on-going access of floor openings, install a temporary barrier around the opening, and fit warning
signs.

e) For infrequent access of floor openings; install a removable cover over the opening (e.g. a hinged cover
with a lock) and fixing it into place (covers must have a sufficient surface and sufficient loading capacity and
be marked with the capacity).

i) When performing electrical tasks or near to an electrical installation, only fibreglass or wooden ladders are
allowed

j) Three points of contact must be maintained all the time.

10.1 Fixed Ladders

a) Fixed ladders must be designed, installed and inspected to internationally accepted standards.

b) Fixed ladders must not exceed 6m in length unless an intermediate landing is installed. A safety cage or
lifeline must be used where the fixed ladder is greater than 2.5m.

c) A safety cage must start no more than 3m from the base of each ladder and end no less than 1.1m above
any landing.

d) Ladder width must be no less than 45 cm.

e) Safety cage diameter must be no less than 65 cm.

f) Fixings for attaching the ladder to the supporting structure must be spaced no greater than 2m apart.

g) Ladder rungs must be no closer to the supporting structure than 20 cm.

h) Fixed ladders must be formally inspected no less frequently than every year.

10.2 Stairways
Use of permanent stairways is not considered to come under WaH. Instead, the construction, design and
condition monitoring of such stairways comes under the responsibility of building design and construction.

a) Temporary stairways must be designed and manufactured to internationally accepted standards, and
must be installed and regularly inspected by competent persons. For example stairs for access to:

a.1. Scaffolding
a.2. High-level office cabins during a construction project
a.3. A temporary bridge structure,

b) Visual inspections of temporary stairways must be no less frequently than once every 7 days.

c) Temporary stairways must be no less than 80 cm in width and rise no more than 350 cm unless an
intermediate landing is provided; the risers must all be of equal dimensions and, the treads must all be of
equal dimensions.

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11 Floor openings and removable handrails/barriers

a) Opening a floor (e.g. removing an access grate or a walkway) and opening a removable handrail/barrier
(including openings in equipment with vertical orientation like large manholes at ducts, hoppers, cyclones
etc ) to gain access to a place that places workers into a WaH situation, is prohibited unless a risk assessment
has been completed, and all controls required to reduce the potential consequences to an acceptable level
have been implemented.

b) Opening a floor and opening removable handrails/barriers to gain access to a place that places workers
into a WaH situation must be formally authorized.

c) Before opening the floor or opening the removable handrail/barrier, suitable fall restraint systems or fall
protections systems must be worn.

d) For on-going access of floor openings, install a temporary barrier around the opening, and fit warning
signs.

e) For infrequent access of floor openings; install a removable cover over the opening (e.g. a hinged cover
with a lock) and fixing it into place (covers must have a sufficient surface and sufficient loading capacity and
be marked with the capacity).

12 Falling object prevention and protections

a) Drop zones (where items might fall) must be identified and assessed before WaH commences. The
potential for dropping tools, materials or other items onto people below must be considered.

b) Where practicable, tools or other devices must be fitted with a tool lanyard and anchored in a way that
does not increase the risk of WaH.

c) Work platforms and scaffolds must be fitted with toe boards to prevent tools, materials or other items
from being kicked from or rolling off from the work platform.

d) If the likelihood of items falling is not fully eliminated, either:

d.1. Fit a shield below the work area to protect people under the work area, or,
d.2. Prevent people from entering the area under the drop zone by using barriers.

e) Warning signs must be placed around a drop zone to inform workers of the risk of falling objects.

13 Emergency controls
a) Each site must have sufficient rescue capabilities immediately available (Note: this timeline varies by study
from between 10 and 30 minutes).

b) If a worker is unconscious and hanging in suspension, the need for rescue is immediate and all efforts
must be made to lower the worker to a platform or to ground level.

c) Emergency rescue drills , by using a mannequin with a weight of 75kg , must be completed at least once
per year.

14 Worker health and safety

Workers engaged in WaH activity must comply with planned working hours, rest breaks and daily and weekly
rest periods.

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14.1 Health
a) An occupational health assessment of fitness for duty must be conducted pre-placement and at least
every year for workers who conduct WaH using personal fall protection systems or, where working is in
locations that would be difficult to affect a rescue should it be needed.

b) Workers must be advised during training programs to notify their supervisor if they develop a health
condition or start medication that may affect their fitness for duty so that they can be referred to an
occupational health service for assessment.

c) Requirements must be established for:

c.1. An Occupational Health Assessment program for workers that WaH; including formal reporting to
management of fitness for duty outcomes after each assessment.
c.2. Rules to manage fatigue, including stipulating the maximum hours that worker can WaH and, the
required daily rest breaks and daily and weekly rest periods.

14.2 Prohibited Behaviours

a) Not properly wearing WaH equipment.
b) Not properly attaching the WaH equipment to a safe anchor point at all times when at risk of falling.
c) Not properly inspecting personal WaH equipment before use.
d) Allowing any other person to WaH without the proper WaH equipment.
e) Not reporting WaH incidents to a supervisor.

15 Management of change
a) Any changes to WaH controls or the workplace where WaH is to be carried out must trigger:
a.1. Review of applicable procedure(s) , including permit to work, and controls
a.2. Update of procedures and controls where they are found to be no longer valid or ineffective.
a.3. Communication about the change to all relevant workers

b) Where new plant/equipment or buildings are to be constructed/installed, the design phase must include a
documented design review that identifies ways to eliminate, or where this is not possible, to reduce the risks
associated with WaH.

c) The changes to procedures or working methods must also consider the need for new WaH equipment and
the associated training on the changes and or familiarization with the changes.

16 Training, competency, and authorization

a) WaH activities must be managed by using a training and competency matrix that explicitly states the
required competency and training for both workers and their supervisors.
b) Procedures must be in place to ensure that workers who carry out WaH activities are formally authorized
for WaH.
c) A list of workers formally authorized to carry out WaH activities must be available at the site.
d) The competency of each worker who is assigned to carry out WaH activities must be periodically
evaluated and documented.
d.1. Evaluation of competency must be conducted at the time of initial and refresher training.
e) Line management must ensure that on-going observation of workers skills and compliance is carried out
as part of daily operations and that the information gathered is used during competency assessment.

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17 ROLES RELATING TO WORKING AT HEIGHT

The Client must include these roles in their procedures for WaH:

17.1 Work at Height Permit Issuer

A competent person must be identified as having overall responsibility for the control of WaH activity. This
person is also responsible for issuing any required WaH Permit to Work.
The Work at Height Permit Issuer (WPI) must :

a) Be competent in WaH and assessment, associated controls, and of hazard/risks associated with activities
that are to be carried out whilst WaH.

b) The WPI is not permitted to be directly involved in the WaH activity.

17.2 Work at Height Authorized Person

The person(s) who WaH must:

a) Be authorized to WaH.

b) Be competent in relation to the nature, hazards and risks of WaH and of any activities that they will carry
out whilst WaH.

c) Understand the WaH operational and emergency procedures.

18 Training delivery
Training requirements for WaH must be defined by the Client or legislation and, as a minimum, be
comprised of:

a) Training and authorisation must be specific to each type of WaH activity (e.g. MEWP operator, use of
personal fall arrest, etc.)

b) Where a WPI or WAP has not carried out their role in the previous 12 months, they must undergo
refresher training to maintain their authorization to carry out those jobs.

c) Refresher training must also be carried out when an incident investigation or audit identifies a
competency deficiency.

d) All workers operating a MEWP must be competent, and this competency must be documented (e.g. a
certificate of competency, or operator’s license).

e) The following persons must be aware of and understand the requirements of this Standard as they are
defined within the Country’s own WaH Standard:

e.1. The person(s) responsible for providing technical expertise support on working at height.
e.2. Maintenance Manager.

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19 Record retention

The requirement for record retention in this standard is an exemption from the Group HSMS Standard.

a) Records relating to the inspection and maintenance of WaH systems must be retained in accordance with
manufacturer’s requirements, or for a minimum of 36 months, whichever is the longer.

b) When, according to manufacturer, specific maintenance and inspection activities are to be completed at a
frequency that is longer than every 36 months, the last two specific inspections /maintenance records must
be retained.

c) Permit to work records must be retained for at least 6 months.

d) Records relating to the initial installation and the modification, including associated calculations, of
permanent WaH systems such as anchor points, horizontal lines, etc., must be retained for the duration that
they remain in use plus 36 months.

e) Records relating to worker WaH competency and training must be retained for the duration that they
remain as employees plus 36 months.

APPENDIX 2- WORKING AT HEIGHT – APPLYING CONTROL MEASURES

a) In all instances, consideration must be given to lowering the job to ground level as this eliminates the fall
risk

b) When a) is not practicable, then fall prevention is the preferred method of risk control. Fall prevention is a
form of control that provides a physical barrier between the person and the hazard (height/fall zone).

c) When b) is not practicable, the use of fall protection devices/ equipment that will prevent a person from
contacting/hitting the lower level or another structure in the event that they fall must be used. This method
is the least desired as it does not prevent falls it only limits the potential for injury after a person has fallen.

When selecting the most suitable risk control refer to the Control Hierarchy Chart and methodically
work your way down the list of options. You will usually have to use a combination of the control
methods to manage risks associated with working at height.

Can the task be performed at ground level so the risk of falling is eliminated?
YES/NO
Can a physical barrier be provided so workers will not reach the fall hazard?
YES/NO
Can the task be performed from a properly engineered work platform (MEWP, scaffolding)?
YES/NO
Can you use a fall restrain device that will stop you from reaching the edge?

YES/NO

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