Objects Falling from Height – Awareness & Prevention CHSG | September 19 th 2012 Tony Horsfall,...

Objects Falling from Height – Awareness & Prevention

CHSG | September 19th 2012

Tony Horsfall, CHSG Director/Trustee

HI-DROPSHarsco Infrastructure - Dropped Object Prevention Scheme

2WE HELP BUILD THE WORLD

Understanding Dropped Objects


Understanding Dropped Objects

What is a Dropped Object? Any item / object that falls from its previous position Has a capability for harm and damage derived from its kinetic energy Any item / object that falls from its previous static position under its

own weight – gravity Any item / object that falls from its previous static position due to

applied force from manual handling, equipment/machinery, vibration, high wind, additional weight or the force of a moving object – like a collision during lifting – now considered a dynamic dropped object


The Law says …

The Work at Height Regulations 2005: Regulations 10 & 11, state

Every employer shall take suitable and sufficient steps to prevent, as far as reasonably practicable, the fall of materials or objects

Where the above cannot be achieved, steps must be taken to ensure that persons cannot be struck by falling objects and materials

Areas presenting danger of fall or being struck by objects must be clearly marked with entry prevented


Objectives

Understanding Dropped Objects What is it and how bad is the problem? What are the consequences?

How to identify and assess potential Dropped Objects

Hazard observation, pre-start Task Risk Assessment, supervisor inspections

How to prevent Dropped Objects Education, awareness and communication Task pre-planning The tools and systems we can employ The improvements we can make


How bad is the problem in UK industry?

HSE Statistics – UK Industry Fatalities 2001 – 2009HSE Statistics – UK Industry Serious Injuries 2001 – 2009


Communication - HI SHEQ Portal


Incident Reporting

www.emex.com - Incident Management System


HI-DROPS Reporting


Average Height (m) & Weight (kg) of Dropped Objects

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

one 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11+0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

one 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11+

Average Weight (kg) Average Height (m)


Has anything changed?

Globally in 2011, Harsco Infrastructure reported 33 near misses and 39 minor injuries as a result of objects falling from height

Vehicles, windows, equipment have been damaged and potentially our reputation

If the circumstances were slightly different, if we hadn’t planned No Go zones, along with a modicum of luck, we could have experienced a number of serious injury incidents

We need to put a stop to this, now. The solution, we could say, “is in our hands’’

But is anything different than before? No. It is because we are focused on improved reporting since 2010 that this concern, which all the industry knows about, jumps out of the page at us


Dropped Object Prevention Scheme

www.dropsonline.org


What are we doing about it?

HI-DROPS is a company-wide initiative focused on preventing objects falling from height

Scope applies to all personnel at all worksites and facilities and is to apply to our customers, contractors and outside agencies

HI-DROPS reflects industry standards and best practice

The HI-DROPS Steering Committee and Working Groups are developing improved methods of handling material at height, implementing training and awareness campaigns and continually monitoring performance


Dropped Objects

Objects that could and do fall from height at a worksite Scaffolding components, boards, clamps, ties (loose, stacked, stored,

handled, unsecured) Ladders, gates, lifting equipment, baskets Hand tools (spanners, hammers, spirit levels, measuring tapes, tool belts) Items from host structure (nuts, bolts, bricks, lights, aerials, slates, rivets,

rubble, windows, brackets) Scaffold structure (design, footings, ties, overload, wind, vibration etc) PPE (hard hat, safety glasses, fall arrest equipment) Debris on the scaffold (loose items, litter, rubble) Bottles, cans, phones, radios, personal items Customer / contractor materials, tools and equipment


Contributory Factors

Incorrect fittings Poor inspection, repair and maintenance Poor housekeeping, no control of items aloft Environmental conditions (wind, rain, snow and ice) Lack of experience, hazards not identified.

Unnecessary distractions whilst undertaking task Not following the plan or procedure Failure to recognize and manage change Lack of experience or knowledge.


Dropped Object incidents

Have you witnessed a dropped object incident?

What happened? Did anyone get hurt? What damage occurred? Why did it happen? Could it have been prevented? Has anything changed as a result?


When PPE Becomes Essential


PPE Saves a Life


Rogues Gallery

TRANSOM (3kg)

BATTEN (6kg)

BOARD (11kg)

WHEEL (7.5kg) COUPLER (1.4kg)


Consequences

FAT =

LTI =

RWC =

FAC / MTC =

IF THE SWIVEL COUPLER FALLS 5 LIFTS AND STRIKES A PERSON ON THE GROUND

WEIGHT: 1.4kg (approx 3lb)

FALLING FROM: 10.7m (35ft)

What is the Potential Consequence?

1.4kg

10.7m

FATALITY


Prevention - Procedural Controls

Company Policy

Industry Standards

Equipment Maintenance and Certification

Site Inspections

Safe Working Practices

Permits

Toolbox Talks

Customer Programmes


Preventive and Mitigating Controls

Preventive Controls

• Effective Planning

• Risk Assessment

• Primary Fixings / Secondary Retention

• Site Inspections, Maintenance

• Tools and Equipment Aloft Registers and Log Books

• Management of Distractions

• Observation (STOP), Individual Awareness and Vigilance

• HI-DROP Training

Mitigating Controls

• Safety Securing Systems

• Effective Use of Barriers

• Restricted Access Areas (Red Zones / No Go Zones)

• Tools at Height Kits

• PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

• Communications, Standby Persons and PA Warnings

PREVENTING AN INCIDENT BY REDUCING THE LIKELIHOOD THAT AN

INCIDENT WILL OCCUR

REDUCING THE CONSEQUENCES OF AN INCIDENT IF PREVENTIVE CONTROLS

FAIL OR ARE NOT EFFECTIVE


Prevention - Incident Reporting/Learnings

UNSAFE ACT OR CONDITION

DROPPED OBJECT

INCIDENT

INJURY OR DAMAGE?

YESREPORT AND SUBSEQUENT

INVESTIGATION

BENEFITS OF REPORTING

=

Recommendations and Corrective Actions identified and implemented

Opportunities for Learning

Greater Awareness of Hazards

Improved Tools and Equipment

Improved Procedures and Working Practices

Shared Best Practice

Industry Safety Alerts

DANGEROUS OCCURENCE?

YES

NO

REPORT AND SUBSEQUENT

INVESTIGATION=

OBSERVATION & SUBSEQUENT

ACTIONS=

Quality of reporting is critical in understanding dropped object incidents so we can focus on elimination and prevention strategies


Prevention - Training in the Basic Rules

Set up an exclusion zone wherever possible

Tether tools when working at height

Wear the correct gloves to provide improved grip of the materials being handled at height (ATG – Maxitherm)

Be cautious and exercise proper technique when handling heavy materials and awkward to carry objects, especially when working at height

Strap hard hat on properly, do up the chin strap and ensure all PPE being used fits securely

Keep the working area tidy to prevent any debris falling or being kicked from the scaffold/platform

Use hands free lifting methods to take objects to height eg hoists

Use same methods to bring objects down to ground - NEVER ‘bomb’ objects

Cost of Accidents: In the Real World


Prevention - Site Inspections


Prevention - Securing Methods

Nets

Lanyards

Securing Wires

IS THE METHOD SUITABLE?

ARE NEW RISKS INTRODUCED?

DOES IT CONFORM TO BEST PRACTICE?

IS IT CERTIFIED / RATED?

IS IT CORRECTLY INSTALLED?

HOW IS IT TESTED AND MAINTAINED?

HAS IT BEEN RECORDED IN THE EQUIPMENT ALOFT REGISTERS?

IF IT IS REMOVED, IS IT REINSTATED CORRECTLY?

MITIGATING CONTROLS

HI-DROPS safe handling of tools at height Best Practice in development

www.stopdroptooling.com


Prevention - Planning for safe material storage

At the design stage (before work commences), it is imperative to plan for the safe storage of material during scaffold erection, methods of stopping objects falling and creating an exclusion zone during scaffold erection (and when other services are using the scaffold platform)


Safe Zone Design for materials on a work platform

Strengthened platforms to be included in the scaffold design and scaffold plan

The strengthened platforms to be highlighted on the design drawing


Storage of materials in fixed pallets

Material Storage Zone on Working Platform


Caution: during dismantling, the risk of overloading the work platform increases if dismantling speed exceeds transport speed ie removing the material from the work platform and site

Material safe zones on a work platform


Go Home Safe, Tools at Height

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5u6a_DY9J8w


Summary

What are you going to do about preventing Dropped Objects in your workplace

Communicate, raise awareness, intervene where appropriate Reliable Securing – recognise its role List inherent hazards so others may learn Plan for the prevention of dropped objects

Dropped Objects occur everywhere, be vigilant

Thank you for your time and interest - Any Questions?


All rights, including copyright and trademarks, are expressly reserved and no part of these materials may be reproduced or distributed outside of the customer's organization in any form without our (Harsco Infrastructure Services Limited) prior written consent.

0844 335 8860harsco-i.co.uk

[email protected]

Date post:	01-Apr-2015
Category:	Documents
Upload:	ezequiel-maltman
View:	213 times
Download:	0 times

Objects Falling from Height – Awareness & Prevention CHSG | September 19 th 2012 Tony Horsfall,...

Documents