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Fire and Rescue Serv ice ManualVolume 2 Fire Service Operat ion s
SAFE WORK atHEIGHT
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Background
Existing FRS guidance
Fire Service Manual : Rope Working
Guidance and Compliance Framework : RopeWorking
EC Directive 2001/45/ECTemporary Work at
Height
Code of Practice for the Use of Rope Access
Methods for Industrial Purposes(Draft BS)
Various equipment standards (EN)
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Whats Changed?
The Work at Height Regulations 2005
CFOA Interim guidance
Review of existing Manuals
ACWAHT Syllabus
BS8454 2006: Code of practice for thedelivery of training and education for work
at height and rescue
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FRS Manual Scope
All work activities where there is a possibility that a falllikely to result in personal injury could occur
Access to and exit from a place of work.
Includes all work (& training) where there is a risk offalling eg; using a ladder or aerial appliance;
working on the roof of a vehicle;
rope rescue work (eg cliffs, tower cranes etc);
Some confined spaces;
fire fighting and rescues on embankments, docks and quays
offshore fire fighting and rescue;
climbing fixed structures;
working close to an excavation area where someone could fall;
working near a fragile surface;
vehicle and property maintenance
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NOT Work at Height
Slips and trips on the level;
Falls on permanent stairs if there is no
structural work or maintenance beingundertaken;
Work on the upper floors of a building
where there is no risk from falling.
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Regulation 4: Organisation and planning
WAH should be planned, supervised and carried
out in a manner which is, so far as is reasonablypracticable, safe. Planning for emergencies is
included.
WAH should only be carried out when the
weather conditions do not jeopardise the healthor safety of those involved in the work.
(Emergency services act ing in an emergency
are exempt from this restriction)
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Regulation 5: Competence
All people involved in WAH should be competent, or ifbeing trained, be properly supervised by a competentperson.
Guidance: a competent person understands theirresponsibilities under these Regulations and candemonstrate sufficient training, knowledge, actualexperience, and (delegated) authority to enable them to:- carry out their assigned duties at the level of responsibility
allocated to them;
understand any potential hazards related to the work (orequipment) under consideration;
detect any technical defects or omissions in that work (orequipment), recognise any implications for health and safetycaused by those defects or omissions, and be able to specifyremedial actions to mitigate those implications.
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Regulation 6: Avoidance of risks
AVOIDWAH if you can.
PREVENTthe risk of a fall, including Selection of an existing work place that does not
require additional measures to prevent a fall andwhere this is not possible
Selection of the most suitable work equipment toprevent a fall occurring
MINIMISEthe distance and consequences ofany fall.
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Regulation 8: Requirements for work equipment
Guard rails, toe boards, barrier or similar collective means(Schedule 2)
Working platforms, including aerial appliances (Schedule 3.
part 1) Collective Safeguards (Schedule 4)
Personal fall protection systems (Schedule 5, part 1)
Work restraint (Schedule 5, part 5)
Work positioning (Schedule 5, parts 2 and 3)
Fall arrest systems (Schedule 5, part 4) Ladders (Schedule 6)
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Regulation 9: Fragile surfaces
Requirement to prevent people falling through
fragile surfaces. No person at work should pass across, or work on
or from, a fragile surface where it is reasonablypracticable to carry out this work safely by some
other means. Fragile surfaces must be indicated by warning
notices (Emergency services act ing in anemergencyare exempt from this restriction)
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Regulation 10: Falling objects
Take suitable and sufficient steps to prevent the fall ofany material or object.
Where it is not reasonably practicable to comply with the
requirements of paragraph (1), take steps to prevent anyperson being struck by any falling object which is liableto cause injury
Ensure that no material or object is thrown or tipped fromheight.
Ensure that materials and objects are stored in such away as to prevent risk to any person arising from thecollapse, overturning or unintended movement of suchmaterials or objects.
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Regulation 11: Danger areas
Where a workplace contains an area inwhich, owing to the nature of the work,
there is a risk of any person at work: falling a distance; or
being struck by a falling object,
which is liable to cause personal injury
Unauthorised persons are prevented fromentering Danger Areas
Danger Areas are clearly indicated.
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Corporate Considerations
IRMP will inform activities and priorities
Decisions relating to work at height will need to: Take account of all relevant statutory provisions.
Establish policies, set priorities and define safe systems of work. Ensure the provision of appropriate equipment, information,
training and supervision.
Review policies and procedures and revise as appropriate.
Ensure suitable and sufficient resources are available to provide
safe systems of work
Nominate one individual to take overall managementresponsibility for work at height
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HazardsRisks From the
Hazards
Measures to Control
the Risk
Working at height
Access and egress to
the work areaDuration of the work
activityCasualty/victim
handlingPhysiological effectsPsychological effectsWorking with other
agenciesMembers of the public
Falls or impact from
falling objectsFatigueEntrapment and
crushingVertigo, motion sicknessStrains, sprains and
other manual handling
injuriesMedical contamination by
blood or other fluids
Fatigue, cold,
hypothermia, heat
stress, dehydrationUnpredictable reaction to
exposurePotential for
confusion/conflict
Selection of personnel
with physical fitness
and mental aptitudefor the task.Training
Provision of suitable
and sufficient
informationEffective supervisionSelection and use of
suitable PPE,
including clothing.Use of work restraint,
fall arrest or work
positioning equipmentSecondary safety
system
Work area
management, including
provision of hazard
zonesUse of ladders and
aerial appliancesMinimum numbers of
personnel committedAppropriate first aid
training
Adequate welfare
arrangementsPre-planning andliaison
Key Hazards& Risks:
The Nature of
the Work
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Collective Protection
Barriers
Air bags, bean bags, mats etc
Nets
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Individual Protection
Work restraint
Fall arrest
Work positioning
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Access Techniques
Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWPs)
Working platforms
Ladders
Ropes, harnesses and
associated equipment
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Systems of work
Falling objects and Hazard zones
Anchors and anchor systems
Securing equipment and other items
Lifting, lowering and hauling (LOLER)
Securing Casualties and PerformingRescues from Height
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Continuity of Means of Protection
Removing guardrails, fencing and other
means of protection for short periods is
permissible, with the following provisos: removal is only for the time and extent
necessary for the job, then the barrier is
replaced; and the work is not done unless there is some
other safeguard e.g. a safety net or work
restraint system
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Ladders
Is the activity urgent? Is there an imperative to save human life or control a
deteriorating situation?
Would waiting for an alternative means of access compromise
the outcome? Are there alternative means of access and egress that
avoid the need to use ladders?
Do the working and environmental conditions increasethe risk of using a ladder?
Do the weather conditions increase the risk of using aladder?
What is the expected duration of use? Is the laddergoing to be used as a work platform or solely as ameans of access and egress?
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Ladders
Does the nature and duration of work mean thatstaff will need relieving?
Is the ladder selected appropriate for the task? Can equipment needed at height be safelycarried leaving both hands free for climbing theladder or does it need to be hauled aloft?
Is the construction of a sloping roof on which aroof ladder is placed or the construction againstwhich the head of an extension ladder restsstrong enough to support the intended load?
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Lifting, Lowering and Hauling
Secure Anchors
Secure method of attaching the load
Controlledhauling / lowering system
Back-up system should be considered
(and always used for a human load)
Manual handling considerations
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Rescue From Height
Safe route
or existing means of egress
Specifically provide
rescue provision
Assist or
carry down
Limited
Time
No Time
Constraints
Urgent Rescue
Required Potential
Increased
Risk
Minimum
RiskRescue not Urgent
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Suspension Trauma (Orthostatic Shock)
Associated with prolonged suspension of an immobileperson in a harness or from a rope system.
Similar in nature to crush injuries
A prolonged period of suspension can result in serioustrauma in less than 30 minutes whether or not a harness isworn.
Unconscious, immobile and injured casualties - suspensiontrauma has been known to be fatal in as little as 2 to 3
minutes. Factors that may affect casualties in suspension and lead toorthostatic shock include: Exhaustion
Dehydration
Hypothermia
Shock
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Suspension Trauma (Orthostatic Shock)
The degree of inclination of the body
Head trauma
Time delay in casualty access Rapid evacuation from the suspended
position to immediate medical treatment is
the preferred option. The possibility of suspension trauma must
always be considered with any suspendedcasualty.
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Existing Places of Work
An existing place of work at height is a place of work,with permanent fall prevention measures such as guard
rails or a parapet and no need for any additionalequipment to remove the risk of a fall.
Parts of buildings or permanent structures (including themeans of access and egress) that fall into this categoryshould be used for work at height in preference to anyplace provided by temporary work equipment.
An existing (safe) place of work can change, due tochanging conditions, for example: The structure may become unstable due to fire spread etc,
Unprotected openings are created by damage
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Training
Specific training programmes must be provided forpersonnel expected to work at height.
Each FRS will need to determine the boundary between
general or core skills applicable to all personnel and themore technical skill required of staff who undertakespecialist duties.
Specific good practice guidance on training for work atHeight is provided by: The Health and Safety Executive, through their Work at Height
Syllabus prepared by the Advisory Committee on Work at HeightTraining (www.acwaht.org.uk)
BS 8454:2006: Code of practice for the delivery of training andeducation for work at height and rescue
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Model training aims and objectives
Knowledge skills and understanding required by
all firefighters.
Training for specialist rope operator supportduties.
Training for specialist rope operator duties.
Rope work supervisor training.
Rope work instructor training.
Continuation and refresher training.
Ongoing assessment
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Training Instructors
Brigades that undertake specialist rope work activitiesshould appoint a senior rope work instructor who will beresponsible for: Validating the technical aspects of rope working and the suitability of
equipment. Assessing the knowledge, skills and understanding of other
instructors.
Supervising the conduct and assessment of specialist rope operatorcourses.
Brigades must ensure that rope work instructors arecompetent and have appropriate experience.
When this is not available within the brigade considerationshould be given to: The use of competent instructors from other brigades.
Provision of training by external training providers.
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Live Casualties
Training at height must be avoided unless essential to theoutcomes required. (e.g. the technique of packaging acasualty on to a stretcher could be realistically practiced afew feet of the ground, with collective fall protection bagsimmediately below.)
Any exposure to risk is essential to achieve clear andestablished learning outcomes.
The risk is not disproportionate to the benefits.
The risk to the casualty should not be greater than that tothe rescuer.
Live casualties are used when casualty care is the primeobjective of the training session.
Live casualties are provided with appropriate PPE, including
a separate safety system as appropriate.
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SUMMARY
AVOID(Work at Height)
PREVENT(A fall from height)
MITIGATE(Minimisethe distance andconsequences of any fall)
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