Summary Statement
Discusses risks associated with working at heights and safe practice guidelines. Includes a checklist.
This material was produced under grant 46K1-HT18 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Table of Contents- Steps in Risk Assessment
Recognizing Hazards
Daily Preplanning
Preplanning Checklist
Fall Protection for Hazardous Exposures
Safe Work Practice Guidelines
Eliminate Structure Collapse
Eliminate Scaffold, Scissor lift, or Boom
Supported Work Platform Collapse or Tip over
Eliminate Derrick, or Crane Collapse, Tip Over or Failure
Eliminate Ladders Collapse or Failure
Eliminate Slipping & Tripping Hazards
Eliminate Falling Objects and Falls
Eliminate Unguarded Edges Hazards,
Lighting and Weather Related Hazards
Eliminate Electrical Hazards
High Voltage Safe Distance Chart
Steps in Reviewing the Hazards Associated with Working @ Heights
Risk Assessment-
Identify potential Fall Hazards using the Preplanning Checklist
- Hazard Analysis -
Exposure avoidance and control techniques
Fall Hazard Controls - Employee awareness & communication (preplanning and coordination) ,Protection systems
Fall Restraint - Guard rails, travel restraint systems
Fall Arrest - Personal arrest systems, safety nets, lifeline systems- vertical and horizontal walk line requirements
Anchor Requirements - Restraint versus arrest, temporary versus permanent
Procedure Development - Safe Work Practice Guidelines
Consider Hazardous Falls
- Falls at the same level
- Falls against an object
- Falls from vehicles/equipment
- Falls from stairs, ladders and ramps
- Falls from one work level to another
- Falls into/through openings
- Reaching beyond the work surface
- Poor housekeeping
- Walking off unguarded edge
- Carrying objects
- Slippery surfaces
- Climbing onto or from work surface
- Using machinery or equipment
- Weather conditions: heat, rain, ice, and/or winds
Identify:
Existing and potential height related hazards and exposures to falls
Ask:
1) Why is this a hazard?
2) How do we abate or minimize the hazard?
Know:
1) Risks you impose on others and risk others impose on you
2) Risks of your trade and the risks of the trades around you
Remember:
If you see a hazard, see it gets fixed. SILENCE IS CONSENT!
Preplanning Checklist
| Excavations | ______ |
| Scaffolds/ladders | ______ |
| Ramps, runways, and walkways | ______ |
| Crane supported work platforms | ______ |
| Aerial platforms | ______ |
| Temporary work platforms | ______ |
| Welding, decking, bolting | ______ |
| Roofing and roof openings | ______ |
| Siding/sheeting | ______ |
| Wall openings | ______ |
| Boom & scissor lifts | ______ |
| Steel erection, welding, bolting | ______ |
| Flooring | ______ |
| Elevator openings | ______ |
| Stairwells | ______ |
| Forming, pouring, stripping concrete columns/walls | ______ |
| Perimeter/leading edge activities | ______ |
| Weather | ______ |
Fall Protection Options for Hazardous Exposures
- Working Over Dangerous Equipment: guard rail
system—safety net system—personal fall arrest system
Excavations: guard rail system—fences—barricades
Floor/Roof Openings: hole covers—guard rail system— personal fall arrest system—all restraint system
Formwork and Reinforcing Steel: safety net system— personal fall arrest system—positioning system
Hoist Areas: guard rail system—safety net system— personal fall arrest system—fall restraint system
Holes Covers: guard rail system—safety net system— personal fall arrest system—fall restraint system
Leading Edge: guard rail system—safety net system— personal fall arrest system—fall restraint system—fall protection
Over-head Work: guard rail system—safety net system—personal fall arrest system—controlled access zone
Precast Concrete Erection: guard rail system—safety net system—personal fall arrest system—fall protection plan
Roofing Work: guard rail system—safety net system— personal fall arrest system—safety monitor system— warning line with guard rail or safety net OR personal fall protection or fall restraint system
Unprotected Sides and Edges: guard rail system— safety net system—personal fall arrest system—fall restraint system
Ramps, Runways, Walkways: guard rail system— personal fall arrest system—safety net system Wall
Openings: guard rail system—safety net system— personal fall arrest system—fall restraint system
Eliminate Structure Collapse
- Follow erection sequence
Install all temporary and permanent bracing
Remember bracing provides no value until both ends are connected
Leave all bracing in place until it can be safely removed
Keep erection within limits of bolts, welding and other fasteners
Do not over-load
On multiple story structures, check the status of the floor you are loading to ensure it can easily accommodate the anticipated load
Once plumb and square, install and secure bridging before loading, to eliminate possibility of collapse
Eliminate Scaffold Collapse
Inspect:
All pieces before erecting
All components before getting on any scaffold
Over-head anchors before each shift
Do:
Build base on level, solid surface to withstand weight
Consider and construct for wind loads
Follow erection procedures and manufacturers specifications Install bracing and out riggers
Travel only on level surfaces
Do Not:
Over-load
Climb on bracing
Use damaged or faulty planks or other components
Eliminate Scissor Lift & Boom Supported Work Platform Tip-Over or Collapse
- Do not over-load
- Be aware of all sources of electrical power
- Be alert for surface penetration covers
- Stay clear of workers, ladders, and scaffolds
- Use caution when attaching anything that could get caught (Cords, hoses, etc.)
- Use qualified operators
- Use qualified signal persons
- Do not over-load
- Ensure derrick flooring is adequately fastened
- Inspect all parts daily
- Refuse to use damaged derrick
- Use qualified operators
- Use qualified signal persons
- Do not over-load
- Travel only within manufacture's limits
- Inspect parts daily
- Refuse to use damaged crane
- Place outriggers on solid support
- Inspect daily
- Do not over-load
- Keep feet of ladder at even levels
- Use the proper ladder for the job
- Maintain good housekeeping
- Look for and remove nuts, washers, cords, rope & tools
- Keep loose parts and pieces in secure containers or non hazardous area
- Clean up and properly dispose of left over materials
- Pay attention to work surfaces; for mud, sand, water or ice
- Clean up oil, grease, paint, fireproofing, & dust
- Keep angle of the ladder within prescribed limits
- Secure ladders to prevent slipping
- Where possible, secure top and or bottom of ladder
- Do not splice together short ladders to make a longer ladder
- Destroy and discard damaged ladders
- When in traffic areas barricade or tape off the area
- Do not use the top two steps on step ladders
- Maintain good housekeeping
- Dispose of left over materials
- Secure materials, tools, parts on hoists
- Eliminate over-head work of welders and burners—when unavoidable every effort to catch the fire must be made
- Preplan for catching slag and fire
- Barricade holes before removing covers
- Use appropriate fall protection equipment
- Highlight all barricade hazards with signs
- Cover holes with clearly marked covers
- Preplan for leading edge work at unprotected edge, side, or openings in floors, roofs, ramps, or runways where there is no guard rail system in place
- Use appropriate fall protection equipment
- Preplan to limit exposures in non-daylight hours
- Use good lighting to illuminate work areas, pathways, corridors, hall ways, working platforms
- Have a supply of flashlights
- Keep work areas cleared, dry, sanded, covered, barricaded, or protected
- Use temporary bracing
- Use personal protective equipment
- Instruct crew members on location of all sources of electrical power and proper work practices including that equipment must be grounded or double insulated
- Tag, barricade and post warning signs in hazardous areas
- Watch distances when transporting ladders, or scaffolds, or other materials
- Flag roof mounted weather heads to prevent tripping or falling over power lines
Minimum Safe Distance From High Voltage
| Power line voltage
Phase to phase (kV) |
Minimum safe clearance (feet) |
| 50 or below | 10 |
| Above 50 to 200 | 15 |
| Above 200 to 350 | 20 |
| Above 350 to 500 | 25 |
| Above 500 to 750 | 35 |
| Above 750 to 1,000 | 45 |
