Safe Working at Heights

[BRM-GUI-004]
Purpose
To provide the minimum requirements for the safety of personnel that may need to work at height. No personnel will
work at heights unprotected. At all times, a physical barrier such as a scaffold or hand railing will be placed where
practicable, as the first means of fall protection.

NOTE:
The information within this presentation is not intended to be a complete guide on all aspects of working at
heights. Contractors have an obligation to provide detailed work procedures, certified training for
personnel working at heights, and certified equipment inspections.
Definitions
Definitions / Abbreviations
Competent Person
A person assessed and verified competent by their employer through an approved process

EWP
Elevated Work Platform

JHA
Job Hazard Analysis

RGBY
The most commonly used equipment inspection system within mining and construction industries is the RGBY (R[u]GBY) inspection system

PPE
Personal Protective Equipment

WAH
Working at Height – Any work that has the potential to cause harm as a result of people or equipment falling from one level to another.
Risk Assessment
Working at Heights Risk Assessment
• For any work that has the potential to cause harm as a result of people or equipment falling from one level to
another, a suitable means of control must be implemented.

• Any task where a person is at risk of falling, an Emergency Rescue Plan must be established as part of the JHA

• If there is any doubt over the adequacy or use of permanent / fixed or temporary systems to control the risks
posed from WAH then they must be confirmed with the Lycopodium HSE Advisor or Construction Manager.
Risk Assessment
• All WAH must be preceded by a risk assessment with consideration given,
but not limited to the following factors:
o The distance from any open edge
o The construction and load capacity of the work surface
o Equipment being used, e.g. work platforms or personnel cages
o Other work in progress
o Impacts of falling equipment or tooling
o Requirements for barricading
o Requirements for fall protection devices
o Emergency response to incidents

The hierarchy of control for WAH will include the following:

1) Elimination – Remove the need to complete tasks at height. Eliminate the need to
access the fall risk area by locating or relocating items requiring inspection,
maintenance or other attention elsewhere.
2) Substitution – Complete the task in a less hazardous location or manner, e.g. building
as much of a structure on the ground in preference to WAH, or use of an EWP.
Risk Assessment Cont.…
3. Isolation – Isolate the hazard or hazardous area (install temporary scaffold handrails, edge protection, cages on
ladders etc.)
4. Engineering Controls – Engineer or redesign the structure or equipment to reduce the hazard involved in the
task (move valves from heights to a lower level for operation, install remote valve operation devices, design and
install walkways, fixed ladders instead of using temporary staging, etc.).
5. Administration – Provide guidelines for all WAH activities, provide training, use warning signs and barricades to
control the hazard. Continue developing and/or updating guidelines to improve processes and reduce hazards.
6. PPE – When selecting PPE for WAH, consideration will be given to the level of protection provided before any
WAH commences. Free fall is not allowed under any circumstances.

NOTE:
PPE must only be considered as a last resort and only if all other control options are impracticable, unavailable or will
introduce further hazards to the work.
Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)
A JHA will be undertaken by the Contractor involving all Personnel who are going to undertake the work. The JHA
will ID major risks and safety controls. No activity will commence until JHA briefings have been completed. The JHA
will be checked and signed off by the supervisor prior to work starting.
Control Measures
Control Measure Table
Control Measure Table
Controls Measures
o Safe working areas should be provided by means of work platforms or scaffolds –
In all other cases, fall protection must be used.

o Restraint line may be used where neither a free or restrained fall is possible. It will
be used to limit horizontal movement on slopes not exceeding 15 degrees

o Full body harness may be used with a pole strap for pole work situations

o Pole strap must be constantly in tension once in the working position so a fall is
limited to a restrained fall and not a free fall

o The lanyard assembly will have a working slack length appropriate to the working
height but not more than 2 meters

o Each harness will be individually numbered.

o All safety harnesses must be marked as being compliant to AS/NZS 1891.4:2009

or equivalent
Controls Measures Cont.….

o All harnesses will be inspected by a qualified person for any possible damage or RGBY System
wear prior to use.

o Self-locking snap hooks or triple action twist lock karabiners will be used.

o All height safety equipment will be inspected and tagged quarterly under the RGBY
system by qualified and experienced person(s) as per manufacturer’s specification.

o Fall protection equipment must be destroyed following a fall or where inspection has
shown evidence of excessive wear or mechanical malfunction.

o Anchorage points must be selected with AS 1891 or equivalent. They should where
practical, be above the head of the worker, and in any event not below waist level.
Controls Measures Cont.….
• Lycopodium Engineer / Project personnel may audit any task or operation where a potential fall may occur and
will concentrate on the probability of a fall occurring and the resultant outcomes.

• Additional means of reducing risk of falls may include use of mobile scaffolding, elevating work platforms, scissor
lifts, boom type lifts, fixed scaffolding and portable ladders.

• WAH is not limited to working in areas that are above ground level. May include areas in which personnel are
required to work below ground, but above a void.

• Fall protection is required any time, when:

o There is a risk that personnel may fall and injure themselves
o Working from any EWP (except scissor lifts [only] unless required by manufacturer or Client) or personnel cage
o An employee feels that such protection is required
o A person is working within 3 meters of an unguarded edge.