Namaqua Engineering: Fall Protection Plan
Namaqua Engineering: Fall Protection Plan
ENGINEERING
Tel: (027) 213 1622/5 Fax: (027) 213 1620
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I N D E X:
1. Definitions
2. Abbreviations
3. Scope of Work
4. Management Commitment regarding working at Heights
5. Gear Control
6. Medical fitness
7. Work site Procedures
8. Emergency and rescue procedure
9. Review of plan
10. Engineered safety system
11. Anchor Points
12. Drop Zone
13. Suspension Syncope
14. References
15. Annexures
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1. Definitions
Anchor Point:
An attachment point at an anchor for anchor lines or persons (SANS50795 or EN 795).
Competent Person:
Competent person for any task is a person who has acquired, through training, experience,
qualifications and/or experience, or a combination of them, the knowledge and skills to carry out
that task, provided that where appropriate qualifications and training are registered in terms of the
provisions of the South African Qualifications Authority Act, 1995 (Act No. 58 of 1995), these
qualifications and training shall be deemed to be the required qualifications and training.
Fall Risk:
Refers to any potential exposure to the risk of falling. (Items falling on workers, workers falling from
an elevated position or workers dropping items onto other workers). Work cannot continue on site
unless this fall risk(s) has been mitigated, reduced and controlled to acceptable levels.
Fixed Barricade:
Barricading provided to prevent persons from entering areas where there is a fall risk, falling objects,
slipping, open trenches or manholes.
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Full Body Harness:
Body support primarily for fall arrest purposes, i.e. a component of a fall arrest system. Full body
harness may comprise of straps, fittings, buckles or other elements, suitably arranged and assembled
to support the whole body of a person and to restrain the wearer during a fall and after the arrest of
a fall.(SANS50361)
Hazard Identification:
The identification and documenting of existing or expected hazards to the health and safety of
persons, which are normally associated with the type of construction work being executed or to be
executed
Medical Fitness:
Refers to being declared medically healthy and fit to work safely in a fall risk position or such similar
environment and being in possession medical certificate of fitness.
Method Statement:
A written document detailing the key activities to be performed in order to reduce, as reasonably as
practicable, the hazards identified in any risk assessment.
Non-Building Structure:
Refers to bridges, viaducts, overpasses, towers, tanks, bill boards, antennas, and other similar
structures.
Permanent Barricade:
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Barricading which is permanently fixed to prevent falling, or to provide support when ascending or
descending stairways using three points of contact system, such as handrailing etc.
Power Tools:
All Portable electrical equipment including but not limited to welders and cutting torches, angle
grinders and drills etc.
Risk Assessment:
A process of determining all risks associated with all hazards at a specific construction site, in order
to identify the steps needed to be taken to eliminate, mitigate, and or control such hazards.
Rope Access:
A technique using ropes, normally incorporating two separately secured systems, one as a means of
access and the other as back-up security, used with a harness in combination with other devices, for
getting to and from the place of work and for work positioning.
Suspended Platform:
A working platform suspended from supports by means of one or more separate ropes from each
support.
Steel Erection:
Refers to any steel construction, part of a steel member or building or non-building structure that
needs to be erected.
Toolbox Talks:
Communicating the daily hazards and risks on site to the workers and it provides an opportunity to
reinforce the safe working procedures and PPE for that specific daily task; it is the most practical step
in connecting paperwork and actual work force.
Working Platform:
A platform whose purpose is to support the combined imposed loads of workers, materials and
plant.
Work:
Any task, observation or inspection performed by an Namaqua Engineering employed person.
Drop Zone
Open Area wear working at elevated positions are in progress and the risk of equipment or material
falling is possible.
Work at Height:
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Any work performed above or below a stable work surface, or where a person puts himself in a
position where he exposes himself to a fall to a lower level or into an area that will result in an injury.
Work Positioning:
A technique that enables a person to work supported in tension or suspension by personal
protective equipment in such a way that a fall from a height is prevented or restricted.
Work restraint:
A technique whereby a person is prevented by means of a harness and other devices from reaching
zones where the risk of a fall from a height exists.
- Persons must be aware of and acknowledge the work at height risk assessment for work at
height hazards and risks expected for the site;
- Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the various options available for fall
prevention, low level work restraint, fall protection, and fall arrest systems.
- Discuss a guideline for work at height audits to ensure that the FPP is implemented correctly
on site.
1. Abbreviations
- C.R: Construction Regulations of OHS act 85 of 1993
- SANS: South African National Standards
- SABS: South African Bureau of Standards
- PPE: Personal Protective Equipment
- FPP: Fall Protection Plan
- SOP: Standard Operating Procedure or SWP Safe Worksite Procedures - FAS: Fall Arrest
System.
- MEWP: Mobile Elevated Work Platforms - MBS: Minimum Breaking Strain.
- SWL: Safe working Load (normally with a safety factor of 10 for PPE i.e. MBS =
22kN/2200kg SWL =220kg or 1500kg and SWL of 150kg). - OHS Act: Occupational
Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 - OEM: Original Equipment Manufacturer.
- MFS: Minimum Free Space
- IWH: Institute for Work at Height
- HIRA: Hazard Identification Risk Assessment
2. Scope of Work
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A Fall Protection Plan is a documented plan to identify and evaluate all risks relating to working from
a fall risk position, considering the nature of work undertaken, setting out the correct methods to be
applied in order to mitigate, eliminate or reduce the risk(s) to acceptable level.
This plan includes a rescue plan and rescue procedures from any of the work at height areas
identified.
4. Gear Control
Introduction
For safety reasons it is vital that personnel, who intend to use personal protective equipment and
other equipment to control the potential fall related risks associated with working at height, are
aware of how to use that equipment properly. it is essential that personnel are trained, assessed as
competent and authorized which enable them to select, use and maintain PPE or other equipment
correctly, and to be aware of limitations, precautions and the dangers of miss use.
Selection of gear/PPE
The risk assessment will indicate the type of PPE you are going to use because it will differ from task
to task.
Inspections
Every person working at height, in a fall risk position, must do a pre-use inspection of all his PPE
before work commences. The site supervisor must control and supervise these inspections.
The site supervisor shall also inspect all the work at height equipment on long duration jobs and or
harsh environment work as per Risk Assessment e.g. continues hot metal work etc. This inspection
shall be done monthly and record kept thereof.
The 3-monthly full inspection shall be carried out by an accredited contracting company which will
issue a certificate as proof thereof. These records will be kept by the supervisors on file for scrutiny.
The supervisor must correctly schedule these inspections to minimise down time without affecting
the safety of the users.
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Rejected Equipment
• Rejected, suspect or sub-standard equipment must be taken out of service immediately and
marked clearly (with a red tag) to prevent re-use.
• This suspect/rejected equipment must be taken to the equipment controller for further inspection
and repair or disposal.
• If an item has fallen from height or has absorbed a shock load it must be marked clearly and taken
out service.
Identification
• Equipment used for work at height must be correctly identified, certified, marked in line with
SANS 50365 procedures.
• Must be marked with a suitable method not having a harmful effect on the material.
Maintenance
A Spec Sheet addressing the use, storage, maintenance (inspections), limitations on safety harnesses
is in place.
5. Medical Fitness
Employees required to work at heights are assessed by a Registered Occupational Practitioner on
an annual basis and a Certificate of Fitness issued as proof thereof. The examination will be
conducted by the guidelines as stipulated by the Man Job Specification for Working at Heights.
6. Anchor Points
A substantial structure such as a beam, column or similar substantial portion of the structure,
selected as an anchor point where no dedicated anchor point is available may be use as an anchor
point.
Steel angle sections, cold formed sections, cable trays, guard rail sections and the like shall not be
used as anchor points.
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7. Drop Zone
• Clearly marked drop zones need to be demarcated where working at heights activities are
taking place.
• Drop zone demarcating needs to be a third of the height from the base of the activities at
height.
8. Guardrails
Guardrails are often the best and most convenient means of fall protection. Where possible and
practical, guardrails must be installed as per risk assessment recommendation:
Guardrails and/or Handrails are not considered to be safe anchor points for fall arrest equipment.
Sometimes guardrails have to be removed to land material or make installations along floor or roof
edges. The open edge should be roped off and marked with warning signs. Workers inside that area
must wear fall protection and use the correct restraint or fall arrest system as identified in risk
assessment.
No material or equipment may be thrown from heights. Alternatively such material must be
lowered with cranes or hoists, or carried down by hand. If there is a need to hoist equipment/
material, all necessary precautions should be taken to secure them during the activity.
All the correct safety signs must be in place and the correct barricade and or access procedure must
be followed at all times to prevent unauthorised entry to the site.
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the same level as your workers to keep your workers out of the drop zone while they are
working.
11. Lifelines
Lifeline Anchorage Inspection:
• Make sure that anchors can withstand a load 10 times heavier than the weight of the person
using the fall-arrest system.
• Check that lifelines are securely attached to anchors before using the system.
• Make sure that, wherever possible, only one lifeline is attached to each anchor.
• Ensure that lifelines are securely attached to solid anchor points.
• Whenever possible, attach only one lifeline to each anchor.
• Never anchor to bundles of material that may be moved or depleted through use.
• Do not anchor to exposed rebar unless embedment length is adequate.
Lifeline Inspection:
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12. Workers Working Below You
Ensure that proper barricade with the appropriate signage is erected in the drop zone. Do not
allow any workers below you in the drop zone.
To climb on and off construction equipment safely, always maintain three points of contact. That
means two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand on the equipment at all times.
• Break 3-point contact only when you reach the ground, the cab, or a stable platform.
• Mount and dismount facing the equipment.
• Climb on and off only when the equipment is stationary.
• Use the parts designed by the manufacturer for mounting and dismounting— steps, running
boards, traction strips, footholds, handgrips, etc.
• Keep these parts clear of mud, snow, grease, and other hazards that can cause slips, trips, or falls .
16. Roof top work OR Fragile surface work OHS Act: General Safety
Regulations section 8.5
Where roof work is being performed on a construction site, the site supervisor shall ensure that in
addition to the requirements set out in section 8 of OHS Act: General Safety Regulations, it is
furthermore indicated in the fall protection plan:
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1. No Roof work OR Fragile Surface work can be done without a proper Risk Assessment by a
competent person. All roofs and other unknown surfaces or platforms should be treated as a
fragile surface until the risk assessment has been completed.
2. Site supervisors to be trained in applicable rescue procedures;
3.6 that proper fall arrest equipment is installed by a competent person to prevent or catch a
worker from falling to the level below.
Lifeline Inspection
Personal fall arrest systems shall be inspected for mildew, wear, damage and other deterioration,
and defective components shall be removed from service if their strength or function may be
adversely affected.
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• On a daily bases by the by the user visual before use.
Using a Harness
Our company only uses double lanyard full body harnesses. Follow manufacturers' instructions for
wearing harnesses. These instructions are kept so employees can inspect them when requested.
It may be advantageous in some circumstances to locate the lanyard or tie-off attachment of the
harness as near to the body’s centre of gravity as possible to reduce the whiplash and other trauma
when a fall is arrested. This also facilitates moving legs upward and head downward while
suspended.
Where a worker is exposed to the hazard of falling to a lower level the worker shall wear a full body
double lanyard safety harness and lifeline (where necessary) adequately secured to a fixed support
and so arranged that the worker cannot fall freely for a vertical distance of more than 1.5 meters;
and
• Have sufficient capacity to absorb twice the energy and twice the load that under the
circumstances of its use may be transmitted to it, and
• Be equipped with a shock absorber or other devices to limit the maximum arresting force.
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• When a worker is exposed to a risk of falling to a level below;
• Unprotected sides or edges;
• Roof work;
• Arial Platform cradle;
• Scaffolding or Ladder;
• Man-cage;
Fall arrest equipment used must be used and maintained according to the manufacturer’s
recommendations:
1. Harnesses should be stored in a clean and dry area and should not be exposed to excessive heat,
sunlight or corrosive materials.
2. When cleaning the harness use warm water and mild soap to remove grease and dirt. Excess
moisture should be removed with a clean dry cloth. Rinse the soap solution with water and hang
to dry.
3. All harness which has been subject to a fall should be removed from service immediately until
inspected by a qualified person.
Extension ladders, when extended, should always be erected so that the upper section is resting on
the bottom section and have sufficient overlap to transmit all forces safely from one section to the
next.
• Only one person at a time may use or work from a single ladder.
• Always face the ladder when ascending or descending it.
• Keep three limbs on the ladder at any one time, i.e. both hands and one foot or both feet
and one hand.
• Carry tools in a tool belt, pouch or holster, not in your hands, so you can keep hold of the
ladder.
• Wear fully enclosed slip resistant footwear when using ladder.
• Do not climb higher than the third rung from the top of the ladder.
• When working from a ladder, always work within an easy arm's reach from the ladder.
• Don't "walk" a ladder whilst standing on it. Get down off the ladder to move it to another
location.
• Do not use a ladder or step ladder if there is a missing or a weakened, broken or otherwise
defective rung or tread, or a broken or defective stile; or any rung or tread depends for its
support solely on nails, spikes, or other similar fixing device.
• Only a "trestle ladder" shall be used to support a plank upon which a person has to work.
• Ladders made by fastening cleats across a single rail or stile shall not be used.
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• No metal ladder and no ladder reinforced with wire shall be used in the vicinity of any
electrical conductor or of any electrified equipment or apparatus that may result in a person
receiving an electric shock.
• Ladders shall not be joined together to form a longer ladder.
• The user should ensure that the ladder is strong and long enough for the task.
• Do not set a ladder up on a scaffold.
• Ladders shall be securely fixed at the top. If it is not possible to secure a ladder, then a
person should stand at the base of the ladder and secure it manually against slipping.
Namaqua Engineering is dedicated to the protection of its employees from on-the-job injuries. All
Namaqua Engineering employees have the responsibility to work safely. The purpose of this plan is:
1. To supplement our standard safety policy by providing safety standards specifically designed
to cover fall protection on the job and;
2. To ensure that each employee is trained and made aware of the safety provisions which are
to be implemented by this plan prior to the start or erection.
This Fall Protection Plan addresses the use of other than conventional fall protection at a number of
areas on the project, as well as identifying specific activities that require non-conventional means of
fall protection. These areas include:
This plan is designed to enable Namaqua Engineering and its employees to recognize the fall hazards
on this job and to establish the procedures that are to be followed in order to prevent falls to lower
levels or through holes and openings in walking/working surfaces.
Each employee will be trained in these procedures and strictly adhere to them except when doing so
would expose the employee to a greater hazard. If, in the employee’s opinion, this is the case, the
employee is to notify the Construction Supervisor of the concern so that the issue is addressed
before proceeding. Safety policy and procedure on any one project cannot be administered,
implemented, monitored and enforced by any one individual. The total objective of a safe, accident
free work environment can only be accomplished by a dedicated, concerted effort by every
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individual involved with the project from management down to the last employee. Each employee
must understand their value to the company, the costs of accidents; the objective of the safety
policy and procedures; the safety rules that apply to the safety policy and procedures; and
compliance of their safety policy and procedures. If for any reason an unsafe act persists, strict
enforcement will be implemented. It is the responsibility of the Construction Manager to implement
this Fall Protection Plan. The Construction Supervisor is responsible for continual observational
safety checks of the work operations and to enforce the safety policy and procedures. The
Construction Supervisor also is responsible for correcting any unsafe acts or conditions immediately.
It is the responsibility of the employee to understand and adhere to the procedures of this plan and
to follow the instructions of the Construction Supervisor. It is also the responsibility of the employee
to bring to management’s attention any unsafe or hazardous conditions or acts that may cause
injury to either themselves or any other employees.
Where conventional fall protection is not feasible or creates a greater hazard at the leading edge
and during initial connecting activity, we plan to do this work using a safety monitoring system and
expose only a minimum number of employees for the time necessary to actually accomplish the job.
Only individuals with the appropriate experience, skills, and training will be authorized as designated
erectors. All employees that will be working as designated erectors under the safety monitoring
system shall have been trained and instructed in the following areas.
1. Recognition of the fall hazards in the work area (at the leading edge and when making initial
connections-point of erection).
2. Avoidance of fall hazards using established work practices which have been made known to
the employees.
3. Recognition of unsafe practices or working conditions that could lead to a fall, such as windy
conditions.
4. The function, use, and operation of safety monitoring systems, guardrail systems, body
5. Harness systems, control zones and other protection to be used. Double lanyard safety
harnesses must be used at all heights of 1.8m or greater.
6. The correct procedure for erecting, maintaining, disassembling and inspecting the system(s)
are to be used.
7. Knowledge of construction sequence or the erection plan.
A conference will take place prior to starting work involving all members of the erection crew, crane
crew and supervisors of any other concerned contractors. During the pre-work conference, erection
procedures and sequences pertinent to the job will be thoroughly discussed and safety practices to
be used throughout the project will be specified. Further, all personnel will be informed that the
controlled access zones are off limits to all personnel other than those designated erectors
specifically trained to work in that area.
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Risk Assessment
A comprehensive risk assessment for working at heights is available and should be read in
conjunction with this Fall Protection Plan.
The evaluation for the medical fitness for employees to work at a fall risk position excludes the
following:
- Epilepsy;
- Poor balance;
- Uncontrolled hypertension;
- Uncontrolled diabetes;
- Vision defects;
- Fear of heights;
- Fear of confined spaces;
The original medical certificate is kept at the OMP who issue a certificate of fitness to Namaqua
Engineering. These records are available for scrutiny at our offices and in the relevant safety file on
site.
Training
All persons working from a fall risk position will be trained by an accredited service provider and
issued with a training certificate valid for the period stipulated on the certificate. Copies of these
certificates will be kept in the site safety file and open to inspection. Persons will re-attend the
training when the certificate expires and will not be allowed to work from a fall risk position without
a valid certificate.
Record of the said training is kept on a training matrix by the Namaqua Engineering training officer.
A safety monitoring system means a fall protection system in which a competent person is
responsible for recognizing and warning employees of fall hazards. The duties of the safety monitor
are to:
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1. Warn by voice when approaching the open edge in an unsafe manner.
2. Warn by voice if there is a dangerous situation developing which cannot be seen by another
person involved with product placement.
3. Make the designated erectors aware they are in a dangerous area.
4. Be competent in recognizing fall hazards.
5. Warn employees when they appear to be unaware of a fall hazard or are acting in an unsafe
manner.
6. Be on the same walking/working surface as the monitored employees and within visual
distance of the monitored employees.
7. Be close enough to communicate orally with the employees.
8. Not allow other responsibilities to encumber monitoring.
The safety monitoring system shall not be used when the wind is strong enough to cause loads with
large surface areas to swing out of radius, or result in loss of control of the load, or when weather
conditions cause the walking/working surfaces to become wet or slippery.
A controlled access zone means an area designated and clearly marked, in which leading edge work
may take place without the use of guardrail, safety net or personal fall arrest systems to protect the
employees in the area.
1. When used to control access to areas where leading edge and other operations are taking
place the controlled access zone shall be defined by a barricade or by any other means that
restricts access. When barricades are used, they shall be erected not less than 2m from the
leading edge.
2. The barricade shall extend along the entire length of the unprotected or leading edge and
shall be approximately parallel to the unprotected or leading edge.
3. The control line shall be connected on each side to a guardrail system.
4. A Standard Operating Procedure on Barricades and Barriers is available and should be read in
conjunction with this.
Holes:
All openings greater than 300mm x 300mm will have perimeter guarding or covering. All
predetermined holes will be covered. Prior to cutting holes on the job, proper protection for the
hole must be provided to protect the workers. Perimeter guarding or covers will not be removed
without the approval of the Construction Supervisor.
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The following is a list of the products and erection situations on this job:
Conventional Fall Protection Considered for the Point of Erection or Leading Edge
Erection Operations
Leading edge erection and initial connections are conducted by employees who are specifically
trained to do this type of work and are trained to recognize the fall hazards. The nature of such work
normally exposes the employee to the fall hazard for a short period of time and installation of fall
protection systems for a short duration is not feasible because it exposes the installers of the system
to the same fall hazard, but for a longer period of time.
1. It is necessary that the employee be able to move freely without encumbrance in order to
guide the steel sections into their final position without having lifelines attached which will
restrict the employee’s ability to move about at the point of erection.
2. A typical procedure requires two or more workers to manoeuvre around each other as a
steel member is positioned to fit into a structure. Suitable fall arrest systems that avoid
persons becoming entangled should be used. In this specific erection sequence and
procedure, retractable lifelines do not solve the problem of two workers becoming tangled.
In fact, such a tangle could prevent the lifeline from retracting as the worker moved, thus
potentially exposing the worker to a fall. Also, a worker crossing over the lifeline of another
worker can create a hazard because the movement of one person can unbalance the other.
In the event of a fall by one person there is a likelihood that the other person will be caused
to fall as well.
3. Employees tied to a lifeline can be trapped and crushed by moving structural members if the
employee becomes restrained by the lanyard or retractable lifeline and cannot get out of the
path of the moving load. The sudden movement of a load being raised by a crane can be
caused by a number of factors. When this happens, a worker may immediately have to move
a considerable distance to avoid injury. If a tied off harness is being used the worker could be
trapped. Therefore, there is a greater risk of injury if the worker is tied to the structure for
this specific erection sequence and procedure.
4. The competent person, who can take into account the specialized operations being
performed on this project, should determine when and where a designated erector can or
cannot use a personal fall arrest system.
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(A) Cranes
1.Operator error;
2.Site conditions (soft or unstable ground);
3.Mechanical failure;
4.Structural failure;
5.Rigging failure;
6.Crane signal/radio communication failure.
(B) Weather Conditions
The following is an explanation of other fall protection measures available and an explanation of
limitations for use on a particular construction site. If during the course of erecting the structure an
employee sees an area that could be erected more safely by the use of other fall protection
measures, the Construction Supervisor should be notified.
1. A MEWP that will reach areas that are erected over other levels.
2. The leading edge of the structure is usually over a lower level of the structure.
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3. Care must be taken that MEWP does not interfere with the safe swinging of a load by the
crane, and that
4. Power lines and surrounding site work allow for the safe use of a vehicle mounted platform.
All fall arrest equipment used by Namaqua Engineering will be inspected and tagged every three
months with the current colour tag. A new test certificate will be issued by the accredited service
provider each time the fall arrest equipment is tagged. Inspection records will be kept on file on site.
Enforcement
Constant awareness of and respect for fall hazards, and compliance with all safety rules are
considered to be conditions of employment. The Construction Manager and Construction Supervisor
reserve the right to issue disciplinary warnings to employees, up to and including termination, for
failure to follow the guidelines of this plan.
Accident Investigations
All accidents that result in injury to workers, regardless of their nature, shall be investigated and
reported. It is an integral part of any safety program that documentation takes place as soon as
possible so that the cause and remedial action can be identified to prevent a reoccurrence.
In the event that an employee falls or there is some other related, incident occurs, this plan shall be
reviewed to determine if additional practices, procedures, or training need to be implemented to
prevent similar types of falls or incidents from occurring.
Changes to Plan
Any changes to the plan will be approved by the Construction Manager. Workers shall be notified
and trained, if necessary, in the new plan. A copy of this plan and all approved changes shall be
maintained at the construction site.
RESCUE PROCEDURE
The following rescue procedures are the preferred methods to be used if a rescue is necessary. The
preferred rescue method for any task performed must be identified in the mini-HIRA conducted for
the task. All rescues must be done under the supervision of the Construction Supervisor
Mobile Elevated Work Platform Rescue—If an elevating work platform (MEWP) is available on
site and the suspended worker can be reached by the platform, follow the procedure below.
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1. Bring the MEWP to the accident site and use it to reach the suspended worker.
2. Ensure that rescue workers are wearing full-body harnesses attached to appropriate
anchors in the MEWP.
3. Ensure that the MEWP has the load capacity for both the rescuer(s) and the fallen worker.
4. Position the MEWP platform below the worker and disconnect the worker’s lanyard when
it is safe to do so. When the worker is safely on the MEWP, reattach the lanyard to an
appropriate anchor point on the MEWP if possible. If it is necessary to cut the lanyard the
second lanyard must be used to re-attach the worker to the MEWP.
5. Lower the worker to a safe location and administer first aid. Treat the worker for
suspension trauma and any other injury if necessary. Do not lie the
patient flat and ensure that the legs are always below the level of the hips. Place in a
seated position with the knees bent if possible.
Rescue from Work Area or Floor Below—If the fallen worker is suspended near a work area
and can be safely reached from the floor below or the area from which they fell, use the following
procedure.
Bosun’s Chair (Basket) Rescue—If a worker has fallen and is suspended in an inaccessible
area, you may need to perform a basket rescue.
1. Notify the crane operator right away to position the crane to attach the basket.
2. While the basket is being attached, the crew leader checks that all safety rigging is done
and all the required safety equipment is available.
3. With two rescuers in the basket, hoist it to a position that is above and as close as possible
to the fallen worker. A designated worker on the ground guides the basket with a tag line.
The designated worker must make sure that when the rescue basket reaches the right
elevation. Rescuer 1 gets into a position to reach the fallen worker without endangering
himself. When doing this, rescuer 1 must be tied-off at all times to either the structure or
the rescue basket.
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4. Rescuer #2, attaches an extra lanyard to the line if required.
5. Rescuer 1 assesses the fallen worker for injuries and then guides the fallen worker into the
rescue basket, or lowers the basket to the ground with the fallen worker attached to it.
Rescuer 2 assists in this process.
6. Once the fallen worker has been brought to a safe location, administer first aid as
described. Treat the person for suspension trauma and any other injury.
7. Arrange transportation to hospital if necessary. A designated worker must the injured
worker to hospital if transported.
After a fall:
• Workers should be trained to try to move their legs in the harness and try to push against
any footholds.
• Workers hanging in a harness should be trained to try to get their legs as high as possible
and their heads as close to horizontal as possible (this is nearly impossible with many
commercial harnesses in use today).
• It the worker is suspended upright, emergency measures must be taken to remove the
worker from suspension or move the fallen worker into a horizontal posture, or at least to a
sitting position.
• The victim should not be suspended in a vertical (upright) posture with the legs dangling
straight.
• Victims should be kept as nearly horizontal as possible, or at least in a sitting position (lift
legs).
• Rescuers should be trained that victims who are suspended vertically before rescue are in a
potentially fatal situation. If the person is conscious they must be encouraged to move their
legs vigorously to improve circulation.
• Rescuers must be aware that post-rescue death may occur if victims are moved to a
horizontal position too rapidly.
Once the affected person has been removed from the harness standard First Aid ABC (Airway,
Breathing, Circulation) must be applied.
• If the patient is conscious at this time they must be placed in a sitting position for at least 30
minutes or until medical help arrives.
• Conscious patients must be encouraged to move their legs about as much as possible to
improve circulation.
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• Is the patient is unconscious they must be immediately be placed in a supine position (lying
down) to improve return blood flow to the brain. .
• Assessment of airway and cardiac status should follow immediately as well as appropriate
lifesaving measures including CPR if necessary.
• Medical help must be summoned immediately in the cases of unconscious persons, the
medical status of the patient must be relayed to the medical personnel by the rescue team.
• Patients must not be left alone under any circumstances at this time and must be continually
monitored until the necessary medical help arrives.
• If the patient needs to be moved to hospital a team member must accompany the
ambulance.
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