Have you ever worked at heights before? If you have, you probably know that high positions are a dangerous environment for everybody who isn’t adequately prepared and trained to work at heights. As a matter of fact, falls from elevation can be harmful or even fatal, so these types of working environments come with a higher risk of injury and death, which is why it’s so important to know how to work at heights safely.
To broaden your horizons on the matter and prepare yourself for your next working task, in this article, we’ll discuss the top 5 safety tips for working at heights so that you can stay safe on the job.
Use Ladders Properly And With Care
To begin with, we can all agree that ladders are the source of thousands of workplace and industrial accidents simply because people are so used to working on ladders that they take their use for granted. This may include using ladders to do some roof work or a professional roof access ladder to provide easy access to rooftops, mezzanines, loading docks, or other elevated areas.
Before using a ladder, always think about whether or not they are the best solution for the job. In addition, you also need to ensure that you and your employees are appropriately trained on how to use a ladder, as it’s not as simple as you might think at first.
For safe ladder handling, you should have a three-foot extension of the ladder past the level you are climbing at all times. Also, everyone has to constantly have three contact points with the ladder—two hands, one leg, two legs, one hand! Instruct your employees to do these things, and they will have a great start to a secure and safe ladder experience. Furthermore, for fixed ladders over 24-feet high, you need to ensure that the workers are using a ladder safety system, which includes a harness, lanyard, and a continuous vertical lifeline that spans the ladder’s height.
Protect Yourself And Your Coworkers By Using The Proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
To do their job, all employees who work at heights must have a valid “Personal Fall Arrest System,” provided by their employer. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure that employees have the proper equipment for the type of work that needs to be done. However, not all PFAS are created equal, and these systems’ prices can vary widely.
The brand name is not always the cause of the price increase. Some PFAS are made with more satisfactory materials to be more enduring, support more weight, and fend against other hazards such as electricity or fire. The method of fall arrest can also differ from one system to the next.
Depending on your working circumstances, you may require fireproof material, an arc-safe design, or extra D-rings to stay safe on the job. Be sure to do some research before choosing a PFAS that can protect you from possible hazards in your work environment. Never skimp on fall protection equipment, and always select the best PFAS for your job, regardless of cost.
Inspect Your PPE Every Time You Put It On And Take It Off
Even though using a Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) should avert all potential falls and unwanted accidents, there are concerns about assuming this will always be the case. In addition, occupational health and safety regulations require that all personal protective equipment utilized for working at heights be thoroughly examined and approved for use before an employee puts it on and goes to the high location where they are supposed to work.
For that reason, always inspect harnesses and lanyards for wear and tear that could cause the system to fail. Check that the D-rings are functional and not rusted and that all straps and clasps are tight. This must be double-checked before each use. The inspection must be comprehensive. After all, this quick pre-work check could save someone’s life.
Make Sure That Everyone Goes Through A Working-At-Heights Training
To reduce the likelihood of a workplace injury, all workers performing work at heights must complete their working-at-heights certification training and ensure that all relevant licensing is current. In addition, all workers performing work at heights must be aware of the risks involved.
Workers must also be trained to use the specific fall protection equipment required on the job. In addition, they will need to be retrained if the equipment changes or they discover that they are not fully competent in using the current equipment.
Perform Risk Assessments Regularly
Both employers and employees must be aware of the hazards and risks of performing work which can also change during a project. Conducting regular risk assessments helps you identify and address new threats and reevaluate existing ones to ensure that the necessary steps to mitigate, avoid, or eliminate hazards are taken.
Final Thoughts
Safety doesn’t just happen – as we’ve detailed in this guide, there is tremendous potential for danger working at heights. We hope that our compilation of hazards and safety tips will assist you. In addition, knowing what threats are lurking on the job site will allow you to devise strategies to counteract them and ensure the safety of you and your coworkers.