health and safety
WORKING AT HEIGHT always has risks attached
to it, says JTL’s Health and Safety Officer Steve
Smith, but in winter in the British Isles these risks
increase. The biggest hazard is the change in
environmental conditions.
In winter, working at height usually has the increased
risk of exposure to very cold, wet and windy conditions
making simple tasks more difficult to perform.
Ice, wind and rain
Ladders should always be tied and footed when
being used, but in winter you have the added risk of lower
temperatures around or below freezing. Higher wind speeds,
as well as a lot more rain and the possibility of ice build-up on
the ground, can make standing on ladder rungs or platforms
treacherous. Harsh weather conditions increase the risk of slips,
trips and falls which can result in serious injury.
If using a ladder for access when working in a trench you can still
be at risk even if the ground is not frozen. Being below normal
ground level the trench will be at a lower temperature as cold air
sinks to the lowest point.
A steady hand
When working at height in low temperatures, remember to keep your
hands covered and warm. As the temperature drops to freezing all metal
objects can become so cold that you can stick to them, especially with
bare skin. If your hands are warm, you will be able to maintain your grip
on the ladder (remembering the three points of contact guidance), and
warmth will keep the dexterity in your fingers. Cold slows down reaction
time and will numb the normal dexterity of your hands.
Wind-chill factor
If you are working at height with an increase in wind speed, with the
added problem of rain, remember the wind-chill factor. If you become
wet or damp the temperature (due to the drying affect of the wind on
exposed skin or wet clothing) can drop very low very quickly, causing
chills and possible hypothermia. When working in a cold, windy
and wet environment wrap up warm and stay dry.
If the wind speed increases, the biggest danger is high-speed gusts
compared with a steady wind speed. This has the capability of
blowing people off ladders and platforms or be strong enough for
them to lose their balance.
Winter 2014
Winter weather can slow down work
on-site and increase risk of accident
REMEMBER
Review your
risk assessmen
t
regularly as
conditions cha
nge
Keep a close ey
e
on the weather
forecast
Keep as
warm and
dry as
possible
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