WORKING AT HEIGHT

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Objectives:
• identify hazards related to working at height.
• identify relevant statutory requirements with respect
working at height.
• identify precautionary measures to be taken while
working at height.
• perform his/her duties as stipulated under Regulations
25 & 26, Factories & Machinery (Building Operations &
Work of Engineering Construction) (Safety), Regulations
1986.
Definition:
“Any work performed at a place from which the worker will be
liable to fall a distance of more than 2.0 M”

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Legal and Contractual Requirements:
• Part X – Scaffolds, Factories & Machinery (Building
Operations and Works of Engineering Construction)
(Safety) BOWEC Regulations 1986.
• Safety Belts & Nets, Factories & Machinery (BOWEC)
Regulations 1986.
• Part IX – Ladders & Step-Ladders, Factories &
Machinery (BOWEC) Regulations 1986.
• Part X – Scaffolds, Factories & Machinery (BOWEC
(Safety) Regulations 1986.
• Guidelines for the Prevention of Falls at the
Workplace 2007, DOSH
• General Specifications- G9. . Working at Height
Responsibilities:
• Client to implement compliance of all requirements related to
Working at Height (WAH)
• The Contractors PIC/Site Manager to ensure compliance of these
requirements.
• The Supervisor shall ensure;
1. All safety requirements for WAH are available
2. Adequate measures are taken to prevent persons/objects
falling from height.
3. Assess the hazards and conduct Job Safety Analysis to
determine additional safety measures
4. Inform workers on hazards ,risks and control measures
5. Employees to cooperate with supervisor and not misuse safety
measures that are in place.
Hazards:

• Surfaces- stability, slipperiness, strength to support

loads, slope of work surfaces.
• Levels – where levels change, employees exposed
to fall from one level to another.
• Scaffolding – erection/dismantling
• Edges – unprotected floor edges, work platforms,
walkways etc.
• Hand Grips – places where hand grips may be lost.
• Openings or holes/ unguarded shafts/excavations
which require protection.

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Hazards………contd.

• Proximity of workers to unsafe areas- loads placed

at elevated work areas, where work is to be carried
out above workers (falling objects), power lines
near work areas etc.
• Inadequate lighting/ poor weather
conditions/unsuitable footwear & clothing.
• Unsafe use of ladders
• Young, new and inexperienced employees.

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Hazards……contd.

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 Hazards………. Contd.

Improperly
Covered

Improper
Guarding

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Procedures- Basic Considerations
• Working at height shall not be conducted without an approved
method statement
• Fall prevention, fall arrest and falling object protection measures
shall be installed prior to commencement of working at height
• General working at height training shall be provided for all
persons involved in the activity
• A briefing based on the job safety analysis shall be provided for
all persons assigned to work at height.
• Only full body safety harness manufactured in accordance with a
national or internationally recognized standard shall be used for
working at height.
 Procedures- Basic Considerations….contd.
• emergency procedures are in place should an accident occur or
anything go wrong on site.
• barricading and signage below the area of work to prevent workers
or passers by from being harmed from tools or material which may
be dislodged from above).
• anchorage points compatible with any fall arrest system.
• The use of safety belt is prohibited
• Safe access shall be provided for working at height.

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SCAFFOLDING
• firm foundation.
• Guardrails, mid-rails and toe-boards in
position and at the correct height.
• work platform and are secured and at the
correct levels.
• safe means of access and egress.
• scaffold ties in place.
• certificated scaffolder is in direct charge of
erection, alterations or dismantling.

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MOBILE SCAFFOLDING

• firm level ground.

• all wheels are locked.
• wheels are turned out.
• decking on the scaffold is fully planked
out and secure.
• access is from a ladder within the
frames of the scaffold.
• height restriction - should be no higher
than 3x the width of the base and 1.5x
the length of the base.
• checked for overhead obstructions

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MOBILE ELEVATED WORK PLATFORMS
(MEWP)
• machine is the correct type for the intended
work eg. Boom type, scissor type or vertical
mast.
• trained operator.
• valid certificate of fitness.
• not to be overloaded or used as a crane.
• firm level ground with all support legs fully
extended.
• checked for overhead obstructions.
• person in the bucket of the platform wearing a
safety harness secured to anchor point.

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MOBILE ELEVATING WORK PLATFORMS (MEWP)
….Contd.

• workers shall always stand

firmly on the floor of the basket
and not climb out when at
height.
• do not tie off to any adjacent
structure
• inspected and tested.

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 LADDERS

• Use proper size ladder for the job and home made ladder
should not be allowed.
• Secure ladder at the top and bottom.
• Single and extension ladders must be laid with 4 up and 1
out to give the right angle/slope.
• Ladder must be at least 1.0 m above the landing place.
• Three anchor points shall be applied when ascending and
descending from the ladder.
• Tool pouches shall be used for carrying tools whilst
working at height.

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 LADDERS….Contd.
• Never use metal ladders around exposed electrical wiring.
• Erect warning signs or barricades to guide traffic away.
• Do not try to move a ladder while you are on it.
• Do not leave tools or materials on top of ladders.
• Never push or pull anything sideways while on a ladder.
• Allow only one person at a time on a ladder.
• Never use a ladder as a horizontal platform.

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What’s wrong here?

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 PERSONAL FALL PROTECTION
• Personal fall protection systems should be used to
minimise the risk of:
• a person falling from a height (fall restraint system)
• injury to a person after they have fallen from height (fall-
arrest system)
• The use of these systems requires appropriate training to
ensure the equipment is worn, attached and used in the
correct way.

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 PERSONAL FALL PROTECTION……..Contd.
• Fall restraint vs. Fall arrest
• A fall restraint system prevents workers from reaching a
hazard.
• A fall arrest system allows workers to reach a hazard and
then protects them if they should fall

Fall Restraint System Fall Arrest System

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Examples of Fall
Restraint

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Fall Restraint System

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 Fall Restraint Systems
• A fall restraint system (also known as a travel restraint
system) controls a person’s movement by physically
preventing the person reaching a position at which there is
a risk of a fall.
• This type of personal fall protection system is preferred
over those that arrest a person after they have fallen. Can
cause suspension trauma
• The system consists of a safety belt or harness that is
connected by a lanyard to a suitable anchorage point or
static line. The system must be set up to prevent the
wearer from reaching the edge.
• A restraint system is suitable for use where:

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Examples of Fall
Arrest

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 Fall Arrest Systems
• A fall-arrest system is intended to safely stop a worker
falling an uncontrolled distance and reduce the impact
of the fall.
Key safety considerations in using fall arrest systems are:

• correct selection, installation and use of the equipment;

• the equipment and anchorages are capable of
withstanding the force applied to them as a result of a
fall;
• the system is designed so that the person travels the
shortest possible distance before having the fall
stopped

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 Fall arrest systems
Individual fall-arrest systems will consist of some or all of the
following:
• Anchorages
• Lifelines
• inertia reels
• lanyard that will not allow a person to fall more than two metres
• retractable lifelines
• shock absorbers – both personal and industrial
• Harness
• karabiners (double or triple action to prevent rollout

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 The ABCDE of Fall Protection
A ANCHORAGE Provides a secure point of attachment for
the fall arrest system

B BODY HARNESS Support device designed to distribute fall

arrest forces across the body

C CONNECTORS Devices that connect the full body

harness to the anchorage system

D DECELERATION DEVICE Limits the forces on the body during a fall

E EMERGENCY RESCUE PLAN Allows for rescue in a much time

frame

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The minimum
structural
requirements for
permanent and Engineered Permanent
Anchor Point
Engineered Permanent Static
Line
temporary anchorage
points are identical.
All anchor points must
be designed to
maintain the minimum
strength required over
their lifetime.
Beam Clamp Beam Strap Temporary Roof
Anchor

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Fall Protection

Tongue Buckle Mating Buckle Quick Connect Buckle

lidah Buckle mengawan Buckle Pantas Sambung Buckle
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Harness- Donning
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3
Hold harness by If chest, leg and/or Slip straps over
back D-ring. waist straps are shoulders so D-ring
Shake harness to buckled, release is located in middle
allow all straps to straps and of back between
fall in place. unbuckle at this shoulder blades.
time.

Step 4 Step 5 Step 6

Pull leg strap Connect chest After all straps have
between legs and strap and position been buckled,
connect to opposite in mid-chest area. tighten all buckles
end. Repeat with Tighten to keep so that harness fits
second leg strap. If shoulder straps snug but allows full
belted harness, taut. range of movement.
connect waist strap Pass excess strap
after leg straps. through loop
keepers.

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Connectors

Fixed Length Lanyard Adjustable Lanyard Retractable Lanyard

Twin Tailed Elasticated Lanyard

Twin Tailed Lanyard Elasticated Lanyard

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 Connectors: ropes & lanyards

Fixed Length Rope Lanyard

Adjustable Rope Lanyard Twin Tailed Rope Lanyard

Fixed Length Wire Lanyard Twin Tailed Wire Lanyard

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 Decelerators
•A deceleration device (also known as a shock absorber) is
a mechanism, that dissipates or reduces the substantial
amount of energy imposed on a person during a fall arrest.

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 Emergency Rescue Plan
• Steps A, B, C and D reduce the chance of a fall, however once a
fall occurs, it is equally important to deal with the next potential
hazard - suspension intolerance.
• This must also include rescue planning. The best rescue plans
are basic and easy for most people to apply.
• Items like a chain block, with a sling or a rope, and a loop tied in
the end of it lowered to the person, could be all that’s needed to
prevent the onset of suspension trauma.
• The different types of emergency and rescue scenarios that
might arise should be considered, and information from the risk
assessment will help in this task.

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 Emergency Rescue Plan
• Location of the work area- Remote or isolated,
accessibility in an emergency, distance from medical
facilities

• Communications- Where are they located, what will be

used

• Rescue equipment- What equipment is required, where

is it located
• Capabilities of rescuers- Are they correctly trained, is
mock training conducted

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Emergency Rescue Plan……… contd

• First aid- Is it available, where is it located, are personnel

trained
• Local emergency service- How will they be notified, what is
the estimated response time

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Falling object prevention

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 Summary
• If you can fall more than 2.0 m you must be
protected
• Use fall protection on:
walkways & ramps, open sides & edges, holes,
concrete forms & rebar, excavations, roofs, wall
openings, bricklaying, residential construction
• Protective measures include guardrails, covers,
safety nets, and Personal Fall Arrest Systems

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