Middle East

Work at Height

1.0 Purpose and Scope

1.1 To establish the minimum requirements for the management and supervision of operations and
activities to protect employees and workers when working at height and where they may potentially be
exposed to falls from elevated work positions and to ensure at all times that, if work at height cannot be
eliminated, then it is:

1. Appropriately planned (including other factors such as the environment it is carried out in, weather,
etc.)
2. Competently supervised
3. Carried out by competent persons
4. Carried out in a manner which is, so far as reasonably practicable, safe
5. Includes provisions for emergencies and rescues.

1.2 This procedure takes into account all work at height.

1.3 This procedure applies to all AECOM personnel and, where applicable, the management and
supervision of operational activity unless the Safety, Health, and Environmental Department permit any
variations.

2.0 Terms and Definitions

2.1 Work Equipment - Refers to any machinery, appliance, apparatus, tool or installation for use
at work.

2.2 Working Platform - Refers to any platform used (a) as a place of work, or (b) a means of
access or egress (to or from) a place of work, including:
 a scaffold

 a suspended scaffold

 a cradle

 a mobile platform

 a trestle

 a gangway

 a run

 a gantry

 a stairway

 a crawling ladder

2.3 Fragile Material - Any material, which would be liable to fail if the weight of any person likely
to pass across or work on that material (including the weight of anything
for the time being supported or carried by that person) were to be applied
to it.

2.4 Fall Prevention - An approved device and any necessary components that function
together to restrain a person in such a manner as to prevent that person
from falling to a lower level.

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 2.5 Fall Arrest System - The use of multiple, approved safety equipment components such as
body harnesses, lanyards, deceleration devices, drop-lines, horizontal
and/or vertical lifelines and anchorages, interconnected and rigged, as to
arrest a free fall.

2.6 Fixed Lanyard - Is a line used as part of a lanyard assembly to connect a harness to an
anchorage point or a static line in situations where there is risk of a fall.

2.7 Inertia Reel - Also known as self-retracting lanyard or fall-arrest block, is a mechanical
device that arrests a fall by locking onto a drop line and at the same time
allows freedom of movement.

2.8 Suspension Trauma - Is the effect that can occur when a person’s legs are immobile in an
upright posture for a prolonged period, after an arrested fall with a fall-
arrest system. The person is suspended and caught in an upright, vertical
position and the harness straps cause pressure on the leg veins. The
blood flow to the heart is reduced, resulting in fainting, restriction of
movement or loss of consciousness. This may lead to renal failure and
eventually death, depending on a person’s susceptibility. The condition
may be worsened by heat and dehydration.

2.9 Barricading - Is a physical barrier that prevents inadvertent access to an area e.g.
handrails, access doors and gates or similar installations, temporary or
permanent. Barrier tape does not qualify as barricading.

2.10 Demarcation - Is any method indicating an area being used for a specific purpose, or that
access is restricted. Examples are barrier tape, painted lines on floor
surfaces, portable signs denoting drop zones or no access past a specific
point.

3.0 References

3.1 Abu Dhabi EHSMS CoP 23

3.2 Qatar Construction Standards

3.3 Local Labour Laws

4.0 Procedure

4.1 General
4.1.1 If work at height cannot be eliminated, then, suitable and effective measures will be taken to
prevent:

 any person falling any distance likely to cause personal injury

 any person being struck by a falling object likely to cause personal injury
4.1.2 Suitable and sufficient steps must be taken to prevent any person (direct or indirect
employees) from falling. This will usually involve the provision of suitable work equipment or
other measures to prevent falls i.e.

 suitable working platforms

 guard-rails, toe-boards (not required in respect of stairway or rest platforms of a
scaffold used as a means of access or egress to or from a place of work, and
 barriers
4.1.3 These can be removed for movement of materials, but must be replaced as soon as
practicable.

1.1.1 C
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 Where the risk of a fall cannot be eliminated, suitable work equipment, or other measures to
minimise the distance and consequence of a fall, should it occur, should be taken:

 Personal suspension
 Safety nets
4.1.4 Where other precautions do not entirely eliminate the risk of a fall occurring, personnel
working at height must be trained in how to avoid falling, and how to avoid or minimise
injury to themselves should they fall.
4.1.5 All forms of portable and movable elevated work platforms and suspended work cages
must conform to relevant approved design standards. People in the work platform basket
must wear a correctly fitted harness attached by a lanyard to a suitable anchor point in the
basket.
4.1.6 There must be a work permit system in place to control all working at heights.
4.1.7 Selection of work equipment for work at height:
When selecting work equipment for use in work at height, collective protective measures
will take priority over personal protective measures and take account of:

1. The working conditions and risks to the safety of persons at the place where
the work equipment is to be used
2. In the case of work equipment for access and egress, the distance to be
negotiated
3. The distance and consequences of a potential fall
4. The duration and frequency of use

4.2 Risk Assessment

4.2.1 All work at height requires a written risk assessment. This shall include as a minimum:

1. Selection of suitable and sufficient equipment based on the risk assessment.

Selection must take account of how often the equipment will be used, at what height
and for how long
2. The steps to be taken to prevent or arrest falls from height, giving priority to collective
measures, such as netting, over personal protection measures, such as lanyards
3. The use of ladders and rope access, such as abseiling, shall be used only where
other safer equipment, such as scaffolding is not justified
4. The measures to ensure that the bearing components of scaffolding are prevented
from slipping or from moving accidentally during work at height, and that the
dimensions and layout of the decks are suitable for work and allow safe passage and
use and
5. Where absolutely necessary, how to ensure that ladders are used safely and
positioned and secured to ensure that they are stable and do not slip in use
6. The specific training that the personnel involved in the operations has received in safe
working at height
7. All ‘Danger Areas’, where due to the nature of the work there is a risk of any person at
work falling a distance or being struck by a falling object, must be barriered off and
clearly marked with warning notices
8. Where the work method requires persons to detach and re-attach at height, a dual
lanyard system must be utilized to ensure that at least one connection point is
maintained at all times
9. Where the use of personal fall arrest equipment is required, a person must not work
alone and there must be other personnel in the vicinity that can raise the alarm
immediately should a person fall

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 10. Persons working at height must ensure that their safety helmets are secured by using
a helmet chinstrap to retain the helmet on the head

4.3 Requirements for Guardrails and Toe-Boards Click here to view the list of
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4.3.1 guard-rails, toe-boards and barriers and other similar means of protection must be:

 suitable and of sufficient strength and rigidity for the purpose for which they are being
used
 so placed, secured and used as to ensure the avoidance of accidental displacement
4.3.2 structures supporting guard-rails, toe-boards, barriers and other means of protection, or a
structure to which these are attached, must be of a suitable and sufficient strength for the
purpose for which they are used
4.3.3 Top guardrails must be at least 950 millimetres above the edge from which a person is
liable to fall
4.3.4 there must not be an unprotected gap of more than 470 millimetres between any guardrail,
toe-board or barrier and the walking surface
4.3.5 toe-boards must be not less than 150 millimetres high and suitable and sufficient to prevent
the fall of any person, material or objects from a place of work
4.3.6 guard-rails, toe-boards, barriers and other similar means of protection must be so placed as
to prevent, the fall of a person, material or objects from a place of work
4.3.7 Guardrails systems shall be capable of withstanding a force of at least 1.25KN point load in
any outward or downward direction, at any point along the top edge of the rail.
4.3.8 means of protection will only be allowed to be removed (by a competent person) for the
time it takes to gain access or egress or for the performance of a particular task (i.e.
delivery of materials, etc) and shall be replaced as soon as is reasonably practicable. Te
task also must not be performed unless effective compensatory safety measures are in
place

4.4 Requirements relating to working platforms

4.4.1 Working platforms must conform to the following requirements.

 Stability– they must be:

- suitable and of sufficient strength and rigidity for the intended use
- erected and used to ensure the avoidance of accidental displacement
- remain stable and if modified or altered, remain stable after modification or
alteration
- dismantled so as to avoid accidental displacement
1. Safety – they must be:
- of sufficient dimensions to permit free passage of persons and safe use of
equipment and materials, and, be a safe working area
- at least 600 millimetres wide
- so constructed that the surface has no gap likely to cause injury, or from which
there is any risk of any person below the platform being struck by falling objects
- so erected, used and maintained to prevent any slipping or tripping, or any
person being caught between a working platform and an adjacent structure
- provided with such handholds and footholds as are necessary to prevent any
person from slipping or falling from a working platform
1. Load– they must not be so loaded as to give rise to danger of collapse or deformation
that could affect its safe use.
1. Supporting structures– must be:

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 - of suitable and sufficient strength and rigidity for the intended purpose
- so erected and, where necessary, securely attached to another structure as to
ensure stability
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- erected on surfaces which are stable and of a sufficient strength and suitable
composition to ensure the safe support of the structure, working platform and
any load intended to be placed upon the working platform
- and in the case of a wheeled structure, prevented from moving inadvertently
using appropriate locking devices

4.5 Collective Safeguards – Fall Arrest Requirements

4.5.1 A collective safeguard (such as an airbag, landing mat or other similar) for arresting falls
shall only be used if:

1. A risk assessment has demonstrated that the work activity can be carried out safely
whilst using it, without affecting its effectiveness
2. The use of other, safer work equipment is not reasonably practicable
3. Sufficient numbers of available people have received adequate specific training
including rescue procedures
4. The safeguard used is suitable and of sufficient strength to arrest the fall of any
person safely
5. In the case of such safeguards designed to be attached securely to all the required
anchors and the means of attachment sufficient to support and arrest any fall and
during subsequent rescue
6. In the case of airbags, landing mats, etc. – stable
7. In the case of any safeguard that distorts in arresting the fall, afford sufficient
clearance
8. Does not injure the person in the event of a fall

4.6 Personal suspension equipment – fall preventive requirements

4.6.1 Personal suspension equipment refers to suspended access (other than a working
platform) for use by an individual, including boatswain’s chair and abseiling equipment, but
does not include a suspended scaffold or cradle.
4.6.2 Where compliance with guardrail, toe-board or working platform duties is not practical, (e.g.
owing to short-term work), suitable personal suspension equipment must be provided and
used.
4.6.3 Personal suspension equipment must be:

1. of suitable and sufficient strength, having regard to the work being carried out and the
load, including any person it is intended to bear
2. securely attached to a structure or plant, and the structure or plant must be suitable
and of sufficient strength and stability to support the equipment and load and if
designed for use with an anchor, shall be securely attached to at least one anchor,
the means of attachment being sufficient to support any foreseeable loading
3. installed or attached so as to prevent uncontrolled movement of equipment
4. suitable so as to prevent any person from falling or slipping from personal suspension
equipment
5. Inspected before use, and at least every 6 months by a competent person.

Note:
1. Many harness systems have a maximum weight limit of 136kg/300lbs

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 2. The use of body belts (safety belts) is prohibited

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 4.7 Means of arresting falls
4.7.1 Where compliance with guard-rail, toe-board, working platform or personal suspension
equipment requirements is not practical, then suitable and sufficient means for arresting
falls must be provided and used.

4.7.2 Equipment provided for arresting falls must adhere to the following requirements:

1. The equipment must be suitable and of sufficient strength to safely arrest the fall of
any person liable to fall
2. The equipment shall incorporate a suitable means of absorbing energy and limiting
forces applied to the user’s body
3. The equipment should not be used in a manner which involves the risk of a line being
cut, where it’s safe use requires a clear zone (including any pendulum effect) or which
otherwise inhibits it’s performance and render it unsafe
4. The equipment must be securely attached to a structure or to a plant, and the
structure or plant (and the means of attachment) must be suitable and of sufficient
strength and stability to safely support the equipment and any person liable to fall.
5. Suitable and sufficient steps must be taken to ensure that in the event of a fall,
equipment does not cause injury to a person.

4.8 Ladders
4.8.1 Owing to a growing number of fatalities and serious injuries to workers involving the use of
ladders, ladders can generally no longer be used as:

 a place of work
 a means of access or egress, to or from a place of work, unless it is reasonable to do
so, having regard to:

- the nature of work and the duration of work, and

- the risk to the safety of any person at work arising from the use of a ladder.

4.8.2 Ladders must be:

1. of suitable and sufficient strength for their intended purpose

2. erected as to avoid displacement
3. where they are of three metres in height or more secured or a person must be
positioned at the foot of the ladder to prevent it slipping during use

4. where used as a means of access between places of work, sufficiently secured to

prevent slipping and/or falling

4.8.3 In addition, ladders must also:

1. (where the top of the ladder is used as a means of access to another level), extend to
a sufficient height above the level to which it gives access, so as to provide a safe
handhold (unless a suitable alternative handhold is provided)
2. (where a ladder or run of ladders rises vertically 9 metres or more above its base), be
provided with a safe landing area or rest platform at suitable intervals
3. be erected on surfaces which are stable and firm, of sufficient strength, and of
suitable composition safely to support the ladder and its load
4. be erected on a maximum angle of 75 degrees to the horizontal (1:4)

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 4.8.4 The only circumstances where ladders may be used as a working platform is where a
suitable and sufficient Risk Assessment has demonstrated that the work is:

1. of low risk
2. of short duration
3. more suitable work equipment cannot be used because of existing features on site

4.9 Inspection of working platforms

4.9.1 Working platforms and personal suspension equipment must be inspected by a competent
person:

1. before being taken into use for the first time

2. after any substantial addition, dismantling or other alteration
3. after any event likely to have affected its strength or stability
4. at regular intervals not exceeding seven days
4.9.2 The report must be kept on site until completion and for a further three months at archive.
4.9.3 No report is required on a mobile tower scaffold unless it has remained in the same place
for seven days or more.

4.10 Safety Nets

4.10.1 Under the hierarchy of risk assessment, scaffold is the priority use for prevention of all falls,
followed closely by other working platforms. For roofwork, it is widely accepted as the
“preferred method of fall arrest” that the use of safety nets will be adopted.
4.10.2 Only trained competent people will erect safety nets.
4.10.3 Openings in roofs, floors and other structures:

1. Openings in roofs, floors, pits, tanks, vats, sumps, etc. must be securely covered
(instead of fenced). Temporary covers must be strong and able to support loads
imposed on them as well as passing traffic, both pedestrian and vehicular.
2. They should not be easily detachable and removable
3. They should be kept securely in situ except for purposes of inspection or access
4. Uncovered tanks, pits or structures must be fenced if there is a traffic route over them
5. All covers shall be colour coded or marked with the word “HOLE” or “COVER” to
provide warning of the hazard. (This does not apply to permanent covers e.g.
manholes, steel grates etc.)
6. The lifting of floor panels or removal of temporary covers from holes shall only be
carried out under a strict permit to work
4.10.4 Inspection and testing of safety nets will be carried out at frequent intervals and records
kept as applicable.

4.11 Fragile roofs and fragile materials:

1. Suitable and sufficient steps must be taken to prevent any person falling through any
fragile material
2. The risk presented by fragile roof lights and other fragile roofing materials can be
reduced by the requirement that designers stop specifying them
3. No person will pass, work on or from fragile materials through which they are liable to
fall 2m or more, unless suitable and sufficient platforms, coverings or other similar
means of support are provided and used which would support the weight of the
individual. Alternatively, suitable and sufficient guard-rails or coverings will be
provided and used to prevent any person working or passing from falling, and in the
above cases, prominent warning notices must be affixed at the approach to the place
where the fragile material is located.

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 4. Where possible, entry on to any fragile roof should be avoided and access provided
by means of a scaffold or mobile work platform
5. The rule of thumb is to assume that ALL roof coverings are fragile unless confirmed
otherwise by testing etc. The following are some of the materials classified as “fragile”;
- Asbestos and non-asbestos cement sheets
- Acrylic sheeting
- PVC sheeting
- Chipboard (particle board)
- Wood wool cement sheets and slabs
- Bitumen impregnated compressed fibre board (sarking board)
- GRP sheets unless there is evidence that demonstrates otherwise
- Steel liner sheets
- Straw board slabs
- All unfixed or temporarily fixed materials unless properly and fully fixed.

4.12 Rescue procedures in the event of a fall in a safety harness

4.12.1 It should be ascertained prior to starting the works what the possible positions would be of
any person relying on a harness should they fall and be left suspended. Having knowledge
of the estimated height of the suspended person is critical in planning rescue procedures.
4.12.2 The following means of rescue should be reviewed:

1. Rescue via Mobile Elevated Working Platform

2. Rescue via Forklift with man basket
3. Rescue via crane and man basket
4. Rescue via mobile platform
5. Rescue via roped access (rescue trained personnel only)
6. Rescue from above via winch.
7. Self evacuation by descent
Note: The review of the plant/equipment to be used for the rescue is even more important if
a rescue is to be afforded over water.
4.12.3 It should be noted that rescue from above is near impossible due to the position and weight
of the person, unless of course he is already attached to a winch.
4.12.4 It should also be considered a possibility that the suspended person may be unconscious.
4.12.5 In any rescue the suspended person should be supported fully prior to cutting or freeing the
lanyard.
4.12.6 The potential for a casualty to be located over an edge should also be considered. All types
of rescue will be further complicated where edges and obstructions are involved. Recovery
over an edge will:

1. Increase the effective load in raising operations due to additional friction

2. Create risks of cutting or abrasion of the anchor line
3. Interfere with the operation of rescue equipment
4.12.7 The above should be considered when selecting equipment to ensure that it will still operate
effectively in the conditions required.
Steps for making a rescue procedure:

1. Assess the situation fully before commencing a rescue operation

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 2. Establish height of suspended person in the event of a fall
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4. Establish the best suitable means for rescue and identify proper positions from which
to carry out the operation
5. Ensure the appropriate plant/ materials are on site
6. Identify proper anchorage points.
7. Identify a point of safety to move the casualty to
8. Make sure that all involved in the procedure are properly briefed and the briefing
recorded.
9. Ensure personnel have been trained in rescue procedures and are competent to carry
out their role
10. Appoint a responsible person for co-ordinating the rescue
11. Carry out the rescue steadily and in a controlled manner
12. Make sure communication is maintained at all times
13. Monitor the casualty’s condition at all times and where possible provide the necessary
first aid
14. Conduct a review of the whole situation identifying areas of improvement for the future
4.12.8 The agreed method of rescue following a fall in a safety harness must be included in the
method statement for the operation being carried out. This will ensure that the possible
occurrence has been identified, with appropriate actions in place to afford a safe rescue. It
will also ensure that all parties involved in the activity will be fully aware of the rescue
procedure.

4.13 Suspension Trauma

4.13.1 All users of personal fall protection systems, and others involved with work at height, should
be aware of the following precautions that might need to be taken in the event of a casualty
being in a suspended position.

1. The longer the casualty is suspended without moving, the greater the chances of
suspension trauma developing and the more serious it is likely to be. Therefore, an
injured person hanging in a harness awaiting rescue should be removed from upright
suspension as quickly as possible. The aim should be to do this within 10 minutes.
This is particularly important for a casualty who is motionless.
2. A conscious casualty should be encouraged to exercise their legs gently, to stimulate
circulation of the blood.

Note: Manufacturers provide various types of suspension trauma relief equipment for use
by a suspended person. These can delay the effect of suspension trauma, but they only
work on conscious and able casualties, so they are not an alternative to rescue.
 During rescue, a position with the lower limbs slightly elevated may be preferable
 After rescue, position the casualty in an upright sitting position, with knees bent – DO
NOT allow them to lie flat, not even in the recovery position
 Only move the casualty to a fully horizontal position at the advice of qualified medical
personnel
 If suspension trauma is a possibility, alert medical agencies immediately and advise
them of the issues
 Following an accident, the casualty should be:
- Removed from the suspended position and cared for in a proper manner
- Given medical assistance as quickly as possible

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  Users of personal fall protection equipment should be aware of the issues surrounding
suspension trauma. In addition, some staff will require training in rescue techniques or
how to summon specially trained rescue teams.
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5.0 Records IMS document owners

5.1 Training records

5.2 Inspection and testing of fall arrest equipment

5.3 Lifting equipment

6.0 Attachments

6.1 Working at Height Safety Flowchart (Attachment 1)

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 ATTACHMENT 1 - Work at Height Safety Flowchart

WORK AT HEIGHT SAFETY FLOWCHART

Measures must take account of

risk assessment

Avoidance

Can the work be carried out safely

Otherwise than at height?

No

Take measures to prevent

Yes
fall causing injury

Prevention

Collective protection measures priority over personal

Can an existing place of work
be used safely?

No

Yes Can we provide work equipment for

preventing a fall occurring?

No

Can we provide work equipment to

Yes minimise the distance and/or
consequences of a fall?

No

Provide additional training and instruction or take

Mitigation Yes other additional suitable and sufficient measures to
prevent anyone falling a distance liable to cause
personal injury

Yes

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