If it is inevitable to work at a significant height, it is a compulsion that you take suitable safety measures. Whether you require working at a height often or handle such assignments seldom, it is equally important to ensure your safety.
If you catch some injuries, the damage is likely to intensify to some devastating extent, producing some unsolicited instances. It includes the chances of temporary or permanent disability. In case the situation takes the worst turn, it may even result in causality.
This way, companies end up wasting a major part of their working hours and incur some significant unproductive expenses paying compensation to their injured workers. Consequently, taking adequate safety measures while working at a height is not a matter of choice.
Use railings wherever possible.
It may not be possible to install railings at a height in all instances. But, it is one effective and simple way to ensure adequate safety for workers working at height. The fact is it is a simple way to achieve complete compliance with occupational safety measures & standards.
The best part is that it takes the minimum effort and expense to make this safety mechanism. Therefore, where possible, you should implement this idea to overcome the chances of catching injuries while working at a height. You can select from many options in this regard, based on the specific needs and requirements.
It is important to have the right PFAS.
Personal Fall Arrest system is a comprehensive mechanism to prevent the chances of fall from a height in the course of working. As you can make it from the name itself, it is a complete framework to protect workers working at a height. It comes as a comprehensive full-body harness that complies with the ANSI guidelines. It is simple to adopt the use and comes at an affordable cost.
However, it is important that you select the kit carefully so that it complies with your specific needs and requirements. A carefully chosen harness ensures that workers get foolproof safety while working at a height. Most importantly, ensure that the harness complies with the applicable quality management standards.
You should always have the appropriate tools for working at height.
It is impossible to ensure adequate safety unless you employ the right tool for working at a height. In this regard, there are options to choose between lifts, scaffolds, and ladders. All these equipment come with their respective features and functions. You need to select your tool in a considerate manner. You should opt for the one that best fits your needs. Most importantly, pick the tool that offers you the most comprehensive protection at a height. This simple trick will enable you to nullify the chances of occupational injuries to a great extent.
Spend as little time at height as possible
The more time you spend working at a height, the higher are the chances to catch an injury. Thus, the simple trick is that you should minimize the time in this regard. In other words, opt for working at a height only if that is inevitable. If it is possible to complete a portion of the overhead work at floor level, you should ideally do that. Consequently, just complete the remaining portion of the assignment working at a height.
Control the weight of tools and equipment at a height
The thumb rule to work safely at a height is to minimize the weight of tools and equipment. It is for this reason that the additional weight intensifies the chances of fall. Therefore, during the planning stage, take a precise estimate of the tools and equipment that you will inevitably need to complete the assignment. Refrain from carrying any additional weight while working at higher altitudes. This simple trick will help a lot to secure safety.
It is also vital that you take protection from falling objects while working at a height. Research suggests that construction workers stand the most vulnerable to catch an accident due to this point. Therefore, it is a compulsion to take necessary safety measures in this regard, or else you end up intensifying the chances to catch brutal injuries.
You should not send a large troop of the workforce to work on overhead assignments at a go. Even if you have selected the most comprehensive platform for working at a height, it will still have its ideal weight-bearing capacity. Accommodating too many men at a go, you challenge the weight-bearing capacity. Subsequently, there are higher chances for a fall from the height. Hence, you should plan the work well and try to complete the assignments with the minimum workforce possible. If it is inevitable to allot a bigger team to complete the work, ensure that the workmen keep working in rotation. You should develop a detailed and comprehensive safety policy for your enterprise. Subsequently, the management has to oversee that the workforce complies with the guidelines and directions in these regards. Your security and safety policy should address your specific needs, and it has to be tailor-made as per the type of assignments you perform.
