MOM - works at height

Programme-Based Engagement

Technical Advisory for Working at Height

Contents

1. Introduction

03

2. Tips to Reduce the Risk o Falling rom Height

04

3. Risk Assessment

08

4. Hierarchy o Risk Controls or Work at Height

14

5. An An Example o Risk Assessment

21

6. Useul Reerences

25

7. Acknowledgements

26

1.Introduction

Falls rom height (FFH) is the largest cause o death at workplaces in Singapore in recent years. Simply put, one out o three deaths in the workplace were the result o persons alling rom height. Many more are injured in this manner every year. Thereore, it is essential that measures are taken to protect workers. The role o the management is crucial in ensuring the success o any saety programme. A committed management leading by example to promote saety at the workplace will drive the rest o the organisation to behave similarly.  Over time, the saety culture in the workplace will evolve so that every person takes it as his responsibility to ensure a sae and healthy workplace. It is also very important or persons who are working at height to be competently trained in the work to be done, aware o the risks involved and ollow the required sae work procedures which include the use o proper personal protective equipment. This technical advisory will give guidance on measures that can be implemented to help eliminate or reduce the risk o alling rom height.

3

2.TipstoReducetheRiskoFalling rom Height Discourageunsaepractices Unsae practices among workers should never be condoned by the management. Should the management decide to disregard unsae practices such as not wearing the individual all arrest system when required; workers may be led to believe that it is acceptable to engage in such practices. Over time, these unsae practices may be unocially incorporated into the work  procedures, making it a norm. This will increase the risk aced by workers working at height.

Supervisionowork  The supervision o work is important and should be carried out by an appointed and qualied supervisor. Without proper supervision, workers may violate rules and regulations or adopt unsae practices and put themselves at risk. Supervisors should ensure that workers adhere to all the saety requirements such as using their individual all arrest system correctly. They should also be trained to spot and identiy any unsae work practices among workers. A buddy system should be encouraged in your company so that workers can help to remind and encourage each other on the sae work practices even in the absence o a supervisor.

Weartheallarrestsystemsaelyandcorrectly Workers should use saety equipment properly despite the discomort and inconvenience that may arise rom the use o the saety equipment (most commonly the individual all arrest system). One common reason or misuse is that by anchoring their individual all arrest system, it may hinder them rom doing their work due to restricted movement. Hence, or convenience, they may choose not to anchor. Such undesired practices can also be due to the lack o knowledge on the danger o their work and the importance o the individual all arrest system.

4

Properuseoequipment Some incidents were caused by workers using uncertied equipment or equipment that had yet to be approved. One common example was the use o scaolds that have not been certied sae. Scaolds that are sae or use carry a green tag. Attention should also be given to ensure that the equipment is not being misused such as using a saety barricade as a ladder to gain access to higher areas. Misusing equipment poses a signicant risk as they are not designed to carry out the intended unctions.

1

1

1 Scaolds have to be certied and tagged as sae beore use.

Saerouteoaccess One common unsae practice noticed was the requent use o unauthorised and oten unsae routes o access in order to hasten work. Such shortcuts should not be allowed and workers should be reminded to use the identied sae means o access.

1

1 The absence o sae routes o access may result in workers being orced to take unsae routes, increasing the risk o alling rom height.

5

CaseStudy1

1

Constructionindustry A worker ell 8m to his death through an uncovered gap in a ormwork while erecting the ormwork on the second storey.

Findings • The gap in the ormwork was not covered. • Insucient anchorage points were provided. • Rain had caused the working surace to be wet and slippery. 2

• The saety supervisor had not been invited to saety committee meetings.

Lapses • No risk assessment was carried out prior to the commencement o work.

3

1 The worker had allen through the uncovered gap in the ormwork, here. 2 A piece o plywood that landed on top o  the deceased. 3 The worker landed here.

• No Sae Work Procedure was in place. • The workplace was not made sae or workers.

CaseStudy2

Residentcontractor A proprietor ell 3m o a ladder while gaining access to a tank under construction. He died rom a ractured skull our days ater the incident.

1

Findings • There were no eye witnesses, the deceased had been working alone, and his workers had gone or lunch.

2

• The occupier and proprietor were aware o the hazards o using ladders at heights. • Sae Work Procedure was in place. • Proprietor had on previous occasions instructed his workers on sae practices associated with working on ladders. However, he had accessed the ladder alone without assistance, despite knowing the risks involved. • No legal action was taken against the occupier, as the deceased had violated sae work practice, despite knowing the hazards and the sae practices.

6

3 1 The deceased had presumably placed the ladder here to gain access to the tank to remove the wire rope that had been used or rigging. 2 The deceased was probably struck against this supporting leg as he ell. 3 The deceased was ound unconscious next to the collapsed aluminium ladder.

Lapses • Failure to adhere to Sae Work Procedure. • The deceased had been working alone with no supervision.

CaseStudy3

Constructionindustry

1

A worker installing lielines on a roo, ell ater he stepped on a roo tile which broke under his weight. He died in hospital on the same day.

Findings • Insucient anchorage points were provided. • The worker had stepped onto the midsection o the roo tiles, where there was no support structure.

Lapses • No risk assessment was carried out prior to the commencement o work. • No Sae Work Procedure was in place. • No supervision was provided.

2 1 The worker had allen through the roo, as it could not support his weight due to the absence o a support structure. 2 The worker landed here. ater a all o  4.8m.

CaseStudy4

Constructionindustry A subcontractor worker ell to his death ater taking an unsae shortcut, across a metal decking to cross rom the edge o one building to another building (3m). The metal decking buckled under his weight and collapsed.

Findings • The worker had squeezed past a saety barricade to access the unsae shortcut. • The worker had pushed the metal decking to create the shortcut. • The worker was seen to hit a metal scaold, which was located at ground level, as he ell. • A sae, longer route (50m) was available or the worker to reach his destination saely to do his work.

A re-enactment o the worker squeezing past the saety barricade.

7

Lapses • Failure to adhere to Sae Work Procedure. • Failure to take responsible care or own saety.

1

• Bypassing saety barricades and ailing to use a sae means o access.

2

1 The worker was seen pushing the metal decking here to create his shortcut, beore his all. 2 The external terrace

3.RiskAssessment

Risk assessment allows or the improvement o work conditions by identiying the hazards at the workplace and implementing eective risk control measures beore they escalate into accidents and injuries. Under the Workplace Saety and Health (Risk Management) Regulations, every workplace, including worksites, should conduct risk assessments or all routine and non-routine work undertaken. Prior to conducting risk assessment, adequate preparation must be done.  A risk assessment team should be ormed, preerably consisting o personnel rom the various levels o participation in the work activity. Relevant inormation should also be collated to acilitate better understanding o the work  process.

8

Whatmustbeknown?

Wheretondsuchinormation?

• Where is the work carried out?

• Plant layout plan

• Who is doing the work?

• Processes fowchart

• What equipment is used?

• List o work activities/trades

• What steps are involved?

• List o chemicals, machinery and tools used

• What are the existing control measures?

• Records o past incidents and accidents

• What do existing regulations and codes o practices

• Relevant legislations, codes o practice or

stipulate?

specications • Observations and interviews • Inspection records • Details o existing risk controls • Health and saety audit reports • Feedback rom sta, clients, suppliers or other stakeholders • Sae work procedures and copies o previous risk  assessments

Having completed the preparation work, workplace risks can then be assessed in 3 sequential steps: 1HazardIdentication • Identiy the hazards. • Identiy potential accidents or incidents.

2RiskEvaluation • Estimate the risk levels o the workplace hazards identied. • Prioritise the hazards to be controlled.

3RiskControl • Formulate the control measures according to the Hierarchy o Controls. • Analyse and evaluate the residual risks.



Step1:Identiythehazards Determine the work activities that are being planned to be carried out. Identiy and analyse the hazards associated with each work activity that involves persons working at height.

Step2:Assessandevaluateallhazards identied Determine the possibility o someone alling or getting injured while working at height. Assess the risk levels or each o the hazards based on their likelihood and severity, The unguarded open side and staircase are taking into account the existing risk control measures. both potential alling hazards. Risk assessment will help identiy such hazards in the workplace Risk level can be determined once the severity and and control measures that can be used to likelihood have been established.  This can be achieved by reduce the risk o alling. using a 3 by 3 matrix given below.  The size o the matrix can be varied according to the complexity o the work  conditions. The ollowing chart illustrates how severity and likelihood come together to help determine the risk level.

Practice good housekeeping, tripping or slipping at height may lead to workers alling rom height.

Typesoaccidents/incidents • Person alling rom height

• Persons directly involved in the operation

• Object alling rom height

• Persons not directly involved in the operation

• Collapse o structure

• Visitors to the workplace

• Slipping or tripping

• Members o the public

• Struck by or against objects • Unsae ground conditions • Poor lighting conditions • Equipment not maintained properly • Insecure structures

10

Persons-at-risk 

Riskevaluationmap DetermineSeverity

DetermineLikelihood

Minor

No injury, injury or ill-health requiring rst aid treatment only (includes minor cuts and bruises, irritation, ill-health with temporary discomort)

Remote

Not likely to occur

Moderate

Injury requiring medical treatment or ill-health leading to disability (includes lacerations, burns, sprains, minor ractures, dermatitis, deaness)

Occasional

Possible or known to occur

Major

Fatal, serious injury or lie-threatening occupational disease (includes amputations, major ractures, multiple injuries, occupational cancer, acute poisoning and atal diseases)

Frequent

Common or repeating occurrence

Severity

Likelihood

DetermineRiskLevel Likelihood/ Severity

Remote

Occasional

Frequent

Minor

Low Risk 

Low Risk 

Medium Risk 

Moderate

Low Risk 

Medium Risk 

High Risk 

Moderate

High Risk 

High Risk 

High Risk 

I the consequence o a hazard is identied to have moderate severity and occasional likelihood, the risk level may be determined to be medium. I there is a risk that a all may still occur, additional saety measures need to be put in place to control the risk. The primary duty is to eliminate the risk at source where possible. I elimination is not practicable, the risk must be reduced so ar as is reasonably practicable ollowing the hierarchy o controls outlined in Step 3 in the ollowing page.

11

Step3:Controltherisk  Based on the risk level determined in Step 2, risk controls should be selected to reduce or conne the risk level to an acceptable level.   The ollowing table suggests the acceptability o risk or dierent risk levels. RiskLevel

RecommendedActions

AcceptabilityoRisk 

Low

Acceptable

No additional risk control needed. Conduct periodic review to ensure that the assigned risk level is accurate and does not increase over time.

Medium

Moderately Acceptable

Evaluate hazards careully to ensure that risk is reduced to as low as reasonably practicable within a dened time period. Interim risk control measures, such as administrative controls may be implemented. Attention by management is required.

High

Not Acceptable

Risk level must be reduced to at least medium risk   beore work commences. Interim risk control measures should not be used. Risk control should not overly rely on personal protective equipment. I possible, the hazard should be eliminated beore work begins. Immediate involvement by the management is required beore work commences.

In order to prioritise the risk controls adequately, the ormulation o such risk controls may take into consideration the relative risk levels o the dierent hazards and the cost and benet o the controls.   The residual risk ater the implementation o the controls should also be evaluated. Reasonably practicable measures must be taken to maintain the risk level within the acceptable range.  It is essential or risks to be eliminated or reduced  ‘at source’. I the risk level is high, work cannot commence until the risk level is reduced to the medium level or below. These risk controls must be eective and practicable. To control hazards and reduce risks, ollow the hierarchy o control methods. It may be necessary to use more than one o these measures to reduce a risk to its lowest possible level when no single measure is sucient on its own. Only where it is not reasonably practicable to use a higher order control, should a control at a lower level be used.

12

Follow the hierarchy o control: Provide and use correctly other suitable equipment such as saety harnesses or saety belts, only i  barricades cannot be provided.

MainPhasesoaTypicalRiskAssessmentProcess.

n o it a t . n 6 e m e l p m I

d . ro 5 c e R

n o it a c i n u m m o C

w e i v e R d n a

g n i p e e K

l o rt . n 4 o C k si R

n o it . a 1 ra p e r P

ks ir p e e K •

e t a l u m r o F •

n o i k . s ta 3 i u R la v E

d r . a 2 z a H

ks ir w e i v e R

n o it a c  it n e d I

e t a m it s E •

:s t n e m ss e ss a

3 y r e v e e c n O •

t n e m ss e ss a

r o  st r o p e r

l o rt n o c

sl e v e l ks ir

s e r u s a e m

n o d e s a b

;s r a e y

ts a e l t a

o t g n i d r o cc a

d e f it n e d i

.s y i d r t n e a z e a h d I t h •

A R a m r o F •

. m a e T

n r o it e v a e m n e w ro h e  W n n i •

;s e c a r u s

e r e h t n e h W •

s e g n a h c e r a

kr o w o t

s e ss e c o r p

;r o / d n a

y n a r e t A •

e v it c e t o r p

.t n e m p i u q e

/ t n e id cc a

.t n e d ic n i

.s r a e y 3

y h cr a r e i H e h t

:s l o rt n o C  o

.s d r a z a h

y i t n e d I •

r e h t a G •

s ks ir H S O n o

t n a v e l e r

; n o it a n i m il E -

e si ti r o ir P •

l a it n e t o p

/ t n e d ic c a

; n o it u ti ts b u S -

s d r a z a h e h t

.s t n e d ic n i

g n ir e e in g n E -

e b o t

;s l o rt n o c

. d e ll o rt n o c

e v it a rt si n i m d A -

d n a ;s l o rt n o c

l a n o sr e P -

d n a e sy l a n A •

e t a u l a v e

. ks ir l a u d is e r

) A R ( t n e m ss e ss A ks i R

. n o it a m r o  n i

13

4.HierarchyoRiskControlsorWorkat Height A hierarchy o risk controls or working at height should be applied as detailed below:

Elimination Sae Design

Substitution

EngineeringControl

Administrative

Personal Protective Equipment

Sae Worker

Level1:Elimination Removing the need to work at height. The most eective way to make sure that persons do not all rom height is to eliminate the need to work at height. One obvious way to do so is by relocating the task required to ground level, where it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Examplesoeliminationinclude: • Preabrication o roos at ground level. • Using pre-cast or tilt-up concrete construction instead o concrete walls constructed in situ. • Using paint rollers with extendable handles. • Using remote released shackles or crane lited loads positioned at height. I eliminating the hazard is not reasonably practicable, then measures that reduce the hazard should be considered and implemented, where reasonably practicable to do so.

14

Level2:Substitution Undertaking the work using a all prevention system. Fall prevention systems are ‘materials or equipment’, or a combination o both, that are designed and intended to prevent a person rom alling. When using all prevention systems, it is important to ensure that ater the initial installation, no adjustments, alterations or unauthorised operations are perormed by any person, except or perorming regular checks or maintenance. This is to ensure that the perormance integrity o the device is is important to ensure that boards used or ensured. Some examples o all prevention systems are It scaolding are secured. Unsecured boards or scaolds, mast climbing work platorm and aerial work  planks may shit or even tip over when stepped on. platorms.

Scafolds Scaolds are a common means o providing a sae work platorm or working at height, however, certain guidelines still have to be ollowed to make working on scaolds sae. For inormation on the sae use o scaolds, please reer to the Technical Advisory or Scaolds (See Section 6, Useul Reerences).

Mastclimbingworkplatorm Mast climbing work platorms can be set up in either a single mast or multi-mast conguration. The erection and dismantling o it must be carried out by competent persons. It should be installed, used and maintained according to the manuacturers’ manuals.

A mast climbing work platorm must be installed and used in accordance to its approved design.

Mobileelevatedworkplatorms Mobile elevated work platorms (MEWPs) such as scissor lits and boom lits are types o elevated work platorms used to position workers, materials or equipment at height. The persons working on MEWPs are protected by physical barricades to prevent alls. Ensure that platorms are tted with a saety interlock system to prevent accidental toppling. Workers working on the MEWP should wear saety harnesses with a short lanyard and anchor it properly. All MEWPs should only be used on a solid level surace and within the load limit. It should not be used in high wind conditions or on uneven ground.

When using mobile elevated work platorms, workers should use saety harnesses with suitable anchorage points.

15

Level3:EngineeringControls The use o engineering controls such as barriers or guardrails can also improve saety while working at height by providing a barrier to workers against alling.

Barricades/Guardrail Guardrails may be used to provide eective all protection at: • The perimeters o buildings or other structures; • The perimeters o skylights or other ragile materials;

Provide and maintain a guardrail with a lower rail or other eective means to guard open sides o staircases.

• The openings in foor or roo structures; and • The edges o shats or other excavations.

Workers are needlessly exposed to alling risks/hazards i guardrails are not provided on staircases.

Provide an eective barrier or every open side or opening to prevent alls.

Barriers should visibility.

16

be

marked

to

increase

Guardrails should meet the ollowing requirements: • Be at least 1m above the working level; • Incorporate intermediate guardrails between the platorm and the topmost rail (also known as midrails); the distance between two adjacent guardrails or any work platorm,   workplace and the guardrail immediately above must not exceed 600mm; and • Be designed and constructed to withstand its intended load. Barriers at the edges o mezzanine foors to prevent alls.

Fencing to barricade an open lit shat.

Properaccessandegress Should there be a risk o alling rom height, proper means o access must be provided or workers to reach their working areas saely. Due consideration should be given to the tools and equipment that need to be moved to and rom the work areas.

Proper means o access and egress have to be provided or workers to arrive at their areas o  work saely.

Workers are endangered when they attempt to access areas where no sae passage is provided.

17

Level4:AdministrativeControls An administrative control reduces or eliminates exposure to a hazard by adherence to procedures or instruction.

Administrativecontrol-Fallhazards Administrative controls are systems o work or work  procedures that help to reduce the exposure o employees to all hazards. One such work procedure is the ‘permit-to-work’ system which is used to control potentially hazardous work. It is an eective way o managing entry into or work on scaolds.

Approved access points should be tagged ater inspection by a competent person to show that they are sae or use.

It provides a systematic ramework to ensure that hazardous work is allowed to commence only ater the work environment and condition have been assessed by competent persons to be sae and approved by the project manager, who would have knowledge and overall control o the worksite. With such a system in place, checks will be introduced at dierent stages o work, and the person responsible or endorsing the permit will be held accountable.

SaeWorkProcedure Sae Work Procedure (SWP) are a set o systematic instructions on how work can be carried out saely. Arising rom the risk assessment, a set o SWP should be written or various jobs on site. The SWP provides a step by step account o how jobs are to be executed, who is in charge o these jobs, what saety precautions must be taken (based on the risk assessment made earlier) and what kind o training is necessary or the workers doing these jobs. The permit-to-work system has to be integrated with the Sae Work Procedure so that the supervisors are made aware o the saety requirements and checks. The SWP must be communicated to everyone involved in the job so that each is aware o the role they play in it. The SWP must also be communicated to those who will be aected by the job.

18

Provide stairs and ladders to enable access rom one level o a scaold to a nother.

Level5:PersonalProtectiveEquipment Personal protective equipment (PPE) should only be used as the nal option where workplace saety and health is concerned. It is neither eective nor recommended to use PPE on its own or all protection. However, when used in conjunction with other control measures, PPE can provide an additional degree o saety. A work positioning system is equipment that enables a person to be positioned and saely supported at a work location or the duration o the task being undertaken at height, e.g. a travel restraint system. Work positioning systems require a higher level o worker competency and supervision than other control measures which are higher on the hierarchy o control.

Travelrestraintsystems The purpose o a travel restraint system is to restrict the user’s movement and to prevent him rom approaching an unprotected edge on a building or structure. Generally, the system consists o a saety belt or harness that is connected by a lanyard to a suitable anchorage point or a static line. The system must be set up to prevent the wearer rom reaching the edge.

RestrictedTravelDistance Anchorage Lieline/ Lanyard SaetyBelt

1

Individualallarrestsystem Individual all arrest systems unction to saely stop a worker alling an uncontrolled distance and to reduce the impact o the all. Individual all arrest systems consist o an assembly o interconnected components comprising a harness connected to an anchorage point or anchorage system either directly or by means o a lanyard. They can be used where workers are required to carry out their work near an unprotected edge.

Fall Arrestor

HorizontalLieline Anchorage

Lanyard Shock-Absorber

FullBody Harness FallArrestandFull BodyHarnessSystem

Otherpersonalprotectiveequipment(PPE) In addition to the abovementioned specic PPE or persons working at heights, the ollowing could be considered: • Suitable ootwear to prevent slips; • Gloves to provide protection against abrasive materials and chemicals; • Eye protection such as sunglasses to ensure that a worker at height is not at risk due to glare or refection; and • Saety helmets that will remain in place in the event o a all.

Monitoringoriskcontrols The implementation o all risk control measures, including Levels 1, 2 and 3, should be monitored continuously by the immediate work supervisors so as to ensure that all such measures are being implemented eectively at all times.

20

5.AnExampleoRiskAssessment

r e k r o W , g n i L t a u H g n O ,r o si v r e p u S , e e L h A n a T

M R O F T N E M S S E S S A K S I R

: y b d e t c u d n o C

7 0 0 2 g u A 1 ,r e k r o W , g n i L i A n a T ) e t a D ( )s n o it a n g is e d ,s e m a N

r o ir e t x e , e s u o H  o r o o l y F n ts a 1 p / m g o in C t C n i B a A P

: n o it a c : o y L n /s a s p e m c o o r C P

0 1 0 2 g u A 5 : e t a D w ie v e R t x e N

,r e c f O n o it c A

n o it a n ig s e D

l a n o it i d d A

sl o rt n o C k si R

k si R

l e v e L

) e t a D (

Severity

r e g a n a M ,t a m a S n i B m il a S

: y b d e v o r p p A

7 0 0 2 g u A 5

) n o it a n g i s e d , e m a N (

& h tl a e H ll I /

d r a z a H k r o W o N

) 8 0 0 2 n a J(

si r e d d a L

e h t t a d e r u c e s

e p o r g n is u p o t

. e m g a s o tt u o e b ro e e h t b

t a d e t o o  r o

r e h t o n a t a h t is

e v it a n r e tl a n A

n a c r e kr o w

k si R -t a -s n o sr e P

d e n g is s a e b

e h t d l o h o t

y l m r f r e d d la

g n ir u d e c a l p in

. g in b im lc

… … …

… … … … … …

High

… … …

. n o sr e p t n e t e p m o c

g n i b im lc le i h w r e kr o w y b d e in a t n i a m e b o t tc a t n o c

t in o p 3 t a h t e r u s n e o t r e kr o w o t d e id v o r p g n i n i a rT •

. e g a s u e r o  e b d e kc e h c y ll a u si v is r e d d a L •

g n is s e cc A 1

.r e d d a l e h t

d a h h c u o p lt e b a , d n a h y b d e ir r a c e b o t t o n e r a sl o o T •

h t a e d r o y r ju n I

m o r ll a F y it v it c A

… … …

Occasional

a y b st c e  e d r o  s h t n o m 6 y r e v e d e kc e h c is r e d d a L •

) y n a i ( l o rt n o C k si R g n it si x E

st n e d i c c A e l b is s o P

r o si v r e p u S

m u i d e M

Likelihood

7 0 0 2 g u A 5 : e t a D w e i v e R t s a L

e e L h A n a T

. e s o p r u p si h t r o  d e d i v o r p n e e b … … …

… … …

t h ig e h g in ti x e d n a

… … … a e r a kr o w

a g n is u

r e d d a l

r e h t O

kr o w

s e it i iv tc a

2

21

A Risk Assessment orm is available on the MOM website at: www.mom.gov.sg/wsh/risk_management Occupational Saety and Health Risk Compendiums can also be ound at the same link.

Residualrisks Residual risks are the remaining risks ater implementation o risk controls. The risk assessment team should ensure that residual risks are acceptable and manageable; and highlight the residual risks o each o the controls. For example, i the risk control involves the use o saety harnesses and lanyards (a type o PPE), one o the residual risks is that the workers may not anchor the lanyards to protect themselves. In this case, the risk assessment team can highlight training (administrative control) as a urther measure to ensure that residual risks are urther minimised. Once all the risk controls are selected and their residual risks highlighted, the risk assessment team needs to identiy the ocers or action and ollow-up dates. In this way, the specic ocers to implement the controls can be clearly identied, and the ollow-up dates help to ensure timeliness in implementation.

Emergencyresponseprocedures A written emergency response plan must be established and it should cover the procedures or handling emergencies relating to alls rom height. In the event o a all, it may be necessary to retrieve the injured worker rom the site o the all. Thereore, equipment needed to perorm a rescue must be made readily available and workers need to be trained to perorm a rescue. It is important that a worker who is suspended in a ull body harness be rescued promptly. Studies have shown that unconsciousness rom suspension trauma can occur in around 5 minutes; death can ollow shortly, within a ew minutes. Emergency response procedures must be put in place when work has to be perormed at height. While developing these procedures, consider the dierent types o emergency and rescue scenarios that may arise. Use inormation obtained during the risk assessments to acilitate this task. Eective emergency response procedures may require one or more o the ollowing: • Workers using saety harnesses should not work alone; • A person trained in rescue techniques is allocated to each site; and • Rescue equipment is readily available or use. The emergency response procedures must also cover the provision o rst aid, they should: • Speciy how many workers will be trained in rst aid, the competencies and the necessary rst aid equipment required; • Identiy the nearest hospital and medical treatment rooms; and • Establish means o contacting the emergency services promptly.

22

TraininginthePreventionoFalls Inormation, instruction and training should be given to provide your employees with the skills and knowledge they need to perorm work at height saely. It should help them to understand: • The all hazards to which they are exposed;

1

• The risk o injury associated with the task; • Why control measures are needed and how to use them properly; and • What actions to take i there is an incident. Working at height requires the operator to be properly trained to use the systems employed to prevent alls. The training depends on the level o operator skill required to operate or use the control measure.

1 Workers should be trained in the sae use o ladders. Ladders should be s ecurely xed so that it can neither move rom its top nor bottom points o rest.

Tasks involving complex work procedures or risk  control measures require a comprehensive training process. Whatever level o control is used, a high level o  competency must be achieved. Where guardrails are being used, employees need to know why the guardrail system is needed and the limitations o  the system. They should, or example, be instructed not to stand on, climb over, or remove any part o the guardrail 1 system.

1

An unsecured ladder may slip during usage. I it is not possible to x the ladder, it should be held securely in place by a person during any climbing, to prevent the ladder rom slipping.

23

For example, an individual all arrest system requires a high level o competency on the part o the user to ensure its proper usage. Employees who use these systems should be trained in the correct tting, anchorage, use and maintenance o the individual all arrest system, including the nature o the all hazard and the risks o  injury associated with the tasks that they undertake when using the individual all arrest system. This training should cover the risks o injury associated with an arrested all. Induction training should be provided or all new workers. It is a good idea to keep a record o training to enable ongoing programme evaluation and review. Inormation should be provided in a orm that can be understood by all workers. This may include providing inormation in languages other than English.

Workers should be trained to identiy damaged or aulty equipment and report such ndings to their supervisors. They must not use such equipment nor carry out unauthorised repair.

Training must be provided or saety harnesses, belts or lielines to ensure that they are used correctly. The PPE must be o good construction, without any indication o wear, damage or deterioration.

24

6. UseulReerences

• Workplace Saety and Health Act 2006 www.mom.gov.sg/oshd • Workplace Saety and Health (General Provisions) Regulations www.mom.gov.sg/oshd • Workplace Saety and Health (Construction) Regulations 2007 www.mom.gov.sg/oshd • Workplace Saety and Health (Risk Management) Regulations www.mom.gov.sg/oshd • Factories (Scaolds) Regulations 2004 www.mom.gov.sg/oshd • SINGAPORE STANDARD CP 14 : 1996 – Code o Practice or Scaolds • SINGAPORE STANDARD CP 20 : 1999 – Code o Practice or Suspended Scaolds • SINGAPORE STANDARD CP 23 : 2000 – Code o Practice or Formwork  • SINGAPORE STANDARD CP 62 : 1995 – Code o Practice or Sae Use o Tower Cranes • SINGAPORE STANDARD CP 63 : 1996 (2005) – Code o Practice or The Liting o Persons in Work  Platorms Suspended rom Cranes • SINGAPORE STANDARD CP 79 : 1999 – Code o Practice or Saety Management System or Construction Worksites • SINGAPORE STANDARD SS 292 : 1984 – Specication or Saety Nets or Construction Sites • SINGAPORE STANDARD SS 311 : 2005 – Specication or Steel Tubes and Fittings Used in Tubular Scaolding • SINGAPORE STANDARD SS 402 : Part 1 : 1997 – Specication or Industrial Saety Belts and Harnesses – Part 1 : General Requirements • SINGAPORE STANDARD SS 402 : Part 2 : 1997 – Specication or Industrial Saety Belts and Harnesses – Part 2 : Permanent Anchors • SINGAPORE STANDARD SS 528 : Part 1 : 2006 – Specication or Personal Fall Arrest Systems – Part 1 : Full-body Harnesses • SINGAPORE STANDARD SS 528 : Part 2 : 2006 – Specication or Personal Fall Arrest Systems – Part 2 : Lanyards and Energy Absorbers • SINGAPORE STANDARD SS 528 : Part 3 : 2006 – Specication or Personal Fall Arrest Systems – Part 3 : Sel–retracting Lielines • SINGAPORE STANDARD SS 528 : Part 4 : 2006 – Specication or Personal Fall Arrest Systems – Part 4 : Vertical Rails and Vertical Lielines Incorporating a Sliding-type Fall Arrester • SINGAPORE STANDARD SS 528 : Part 5 : 2006 – Specication or Personal Fall Arrest Systems – Part 5 : Connectors with Sel-closing and Sel-locking Gates

25

• SINGAPORE STANDARD SS 528 : Part 6 : 2006 – Specication or Personal Fall Arrest Systems – Part 6 : System Perormance Tests • SINGAPORE STANDARD SS 536 : 2008 – Code o Practice or the Sae Use o Mobile Cranes (Formerly CP 37 : 2000) • BS 7985:2002 Code o Practice or the Use o Rope Access Methods or Industrial Purposes • Risk Assessment Compendiums, Developed by MOM at: www.mom.gov.sg/managing_workplace_hazards • ProBE Technical Advisory or Scaolds at: www.mom.gov.sg/wsh/probe/scaold • Suspension Trauma, its Eects, Prevention and Treatment Methods at: www.suspensiontrauma.ino/

SingaporeStandards All listed Singapore Standards including Codes o Practice can be obtained rom: SNP Corporation (Legal) Ltd Legal Publication Retail Outlet 1 Kim Seng Promenade #18-01/06 Great World City East Tower S(237994) Tel: (65) 6826 9691 www.singaporestandardseshop.sg/Product/Home.aspx

7. Acknowledgements

The Workplace Saety and Health Council wishes to acknowledge the ollowing organisations or the images used in this publication: • Bovis Lend Lease Pte Ltd • Singapore Contractors Association Limited

26

PublishedinNovember2008bytheWorkplace SaetyandHealthCouncilincollaborationwith theMinistryoManpower. All rights reserved. This technical advisory may not be reproduced or transmitted in any orm or by any means in whole or in part, without prior written permission. The inormation provided in this technical advisory is accurate as at time o printing.   Please note that all inormation in this technical advisory are meant or learning purposes only. The learning points and inormation are not exhaustive and should not be taken to encapsulate all the responsibilities and obligations o the user o this technical advisory under the law. The publisher o this technical advisory does not accept any liability or responsibility to any party or losses or damage arising rom ollowing this technical advisory.