Fall safety solution
August 1st 2005 New regulations introduced in April this year mean a working situation is considered to be at height if there is any potential for a worker to be injured falling from it – even if this happens to be below ground level. Caljan Rite- Hite looks at some of the implications Falls from height are the single biggest cause of death in the workplace, and one of the main causes of serious injury. In 2003/04, such falls accounted for 67 fatal accidents and nearly 4000 major injuries in factories, offices and warehouses.
The 6th April 2005 saw the new Work at Height Regulations (WAH) introduced. A place is ‘at height’ if a person could be injured falling from it, even if it is below ground level.
‘Work’ applies to moving around at work, but not travelling to or from it. The new regulations extend the specific work at height requirements of the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996 (CHSWR) to all work at height where there is risk of fall, liable to cause personal injury. These could include working on a scaffold, climbing permanent structures such as telegraph poles, or using a ladder or kick stool for shelf filling, window cleaning or other maintenance task.
Risk-based approach The emphasis is now on a risk-based approach to implementation. The Health and Safety Commission has reinforced this message by opposing the demands of the construction sector to retain the ‘2 metre rule.’ The rule has not been retained because duty holders need to prevent falls from any height, regardless of the work equipment being used, the duration the person is at a height, and the height itself.
HSE inspectors will ensure that the existing standards are maintained, but that greater attention is paid to the risk from low falls.
Employers, the self-employed and any person who controls the work of others, such as building owners, have a duty to follow these regulations. They must ensure that all work at height is properly planned and organised, the people involved are trained and competent, and risks from falling are controlled. Designers have a legal responsibility to take measures during design and planning to minimise or eliminate work at height. Contractors, project managers and those involved in the supervision of work at height need a clear understanding of the new regulations, and the specific responsibilities they have as members of the construction team.
Likewise, employees have a duty to avoid work at height where possible, report hazards to their superior, use the equipment supplied, and follow all instructions correctly. Another key point is for employers to select preventative measures to provide protection against a fall.
One of the most common types of fall is from a loading dock. Often in these areas articulated lorries and trailers are serviced by forklift trucks. Loading docks are typically 1200mm high, which meant that prior to 6th April, loading docks were not covered by the work at height regulations.
Falling from a loading dock accounts for 7% of the thousands of forklift accidents that occur every year. The road vehicle will reverse up to the dock, and the floor of the trailer will be at the same height. A dock leveller moves up and down to bridge the gap between the two, to enable forklift trucks to make a smooth, safe transition into and out of the trailer. Where loading docks are open in the absence of a trailer, it is very easy for a dock operative driving heavy material handling equipment, to fall off. Pedestrians assisting the loading/unloading operation, are also at risk of falling.
Simple safety solution A safety barrier is a simple to use safety solution. The barrier is manually positioned across loading dock openings and physically stops forklift trucks and operatives from falling off the docks.
Available from Caljan Rite-Hite, the Dok- Guardian safety barrier will stop a forklift truck of almost 5000kg, travelling 4 miles per hour, with little or no damage to the barrier.
Caljan Rite-Hite made one of its first European installations of a Dok-Guardian at Unipart Logistics. Unipart Logistics provides warehousing, distribution, supply chain management and consultancy services.
The Dok Guardian has been described by Ron Mansfield, Senior Project Engineer at Unipart Logistics as “an excellent solution to a major safety hazard”. In the event that the Dok-Guardian is opened when there is no vehicle present at the dock, an audible alarm will sound and warning lights will flash. The same thing will happen in the event of vehicles moving too far away from the bumper face during the loading/unloading operation. Following the installation there has been improved operational health and safety, and the risk of falling from height from a loading dock, has been significantly reduced. More articles from Caljan Rite-Hite Limited: | 
