TECHNICAL CORNER
MASTER ELECTRICIANS
WORKING AT HEIGHTS WITH LADDERS
WORKING AT HEIGHTS IS A HIGH-RISK ACTIVITY AND A LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AND SERIOUS INJURY IN AUSTRALIA . STEVEN CHADWICK OF MASTER ELECTRICIANS AUSTRALIA DISCUSSES HOW YOU CAN MANAGE THE RISKS SAFELY .
FALLS FROM HEIGHTS
15 % falls from a roof
16
MOST AFFECTED AGE GROUP
66 % workers aged 45 years and over
FATALITIES
122
fatalities over the past 5 years ( 2015-2019 )
MOST COMMON CAUSES
% falls from a ladder
MOST AFFECTED INDUSTRY
40 % construction industry
SERIOUS WORKERS ’ COMPENSATION CLAIMS
6 %
serious claims between 2014-15 and 2018-19p *
17 % falls from a ladder
15
MOST AFFECTED AGE GROUP
23 % workers aged between 45 and 54 years
MOST COMMON CAUSES
% falls from steps or staircases
MOST AFFECTED INDUSTRY
23 % construction industry
* Includes data for 2018-19 which is preliminary and subject to revision . For further information see our working at heights guidance available from safeworkaustralia . gov . au .
MANAGING RISKS A PCBU ( person conducting business or undertaking ), or employer , has specific obligations under legislation to manage the risk , as far as is reasonably practicable , of someone falling from one level to another . This includes requirements to :
• Ensure any work involving the risk of a fall is carried out on the ground or on a solid construction .
• Provide safe means to access and exit a workplace .
• Minimise the risk of falls by providing a fall prevention device , work positioning system or a fall arrest system .
WAYS TO MINIMISE THE RISK OF FALLS Prior to working at heights and using a ladder , PCBUs and employers should consider the most effective way to protect workers from the risk of falling and , where possible , eliminate the need to work at heights . If this cannot be eliminated look at other preventative measures including edge protection and installing a fall prevention device .
This includes any equipment that is designed to prevent a fall when someone is temporarily working at heights , which once in place doesn ’ t need any further adjustment by workers using it , for example guard rails or barriers . Installing fall prevention systems should be considered at the design and planning stage . Examples include :
• roof safety mesh
• guard railing / barriers
• scaffolding
• elevating work platforms . Work procedures should be developed on how to correctly install , use , and maintain the system .
INFORMATION , TRAINING , INSTRUCTION , AND SUPERVISION The WHS Act requires PCBUs to ensure , so far as is reasonably practicable , the provision of any information , instruction , training , or supervision necessary to protect all persons from risks to their health and safety arising from work carried out as part of the conduct of that business or undertaking .
The PCBU must ensure that information , training , or instruction provided to a worker is suitable and adequate having regard to :
• the nature of the work carried out by the worker
40 GEMCELL . COM . AU DEC – JAN 2022