Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Policy Title
Document No.
25
Date Approved
22 February 2007
ELGC Approval
2 April 2007
Version
Review Date
February 2010
1.
POLICY STATEMENT
All worksites within the Catholic Church Exempt Licence, wherever possible, should
avoid working at heights. Any work at heights including the working in the vicinity of an
opening, through which a person might fall MUST be managed by planning and
UNDERTAKING a risk assessment prior to the commencement of the works.
To manage the prevention of falls the site MUST:
2.
All identified hazards must be controlled according to the hierarchy of control by:
o
PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to prevent falls that may cause injuries due to the distance
fallen.
3.
SCOPE
This policy applies to all situations where personnel are required to either perform work
or gain access to or from a workstation where they may fall to a lower level.
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4.
DEFINITIONS
4.1
Physical Barriers
Physical barriers are the preferred method of preventing a person from falling from
height and include:
4.2
Work Platforms:
Fall arrest systems are designed to reduce the free fall distance as far as possible.
Correctly installed fall arrest equipment will only safely arrest a fall if there are no
obstructions in the fall path.
Individual fall arrest systems are classified as personal protective equipment, which
means these systems should be used only after other controls such as elimination,
isolation, and substitution have been considered.
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4.3
Anchorage Points
Anchorage points must have a force capacity of 15 kN.
Refer to AS 1891.4 Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices Selection, use and
maintenance for the selection of an appropriate fall-arrest system
4.4
Fragile Roofing
Fragile roofing refers to plastic building sheets for walls and roofs and all plastic roofing
systems eg skylights.
5.
RESPONSIBILITIES
5.1
Manager
Executive Management and Management are responsible to ensure:
A safe system of work is established for the prevention of falls from height,
including:
o
The method selected for the protection of employees will generally be determined by
individual job factors including the nature of the work, the size of the job and equipment
availability, interaction with the contractors or volunteers. Methods of protection include:
5.2
Fall arrest.
Employee
Whilst undertaking any activity which involves working at heights or around open holes,
an employee must do so in line with safe systems of work, and in a manner which does
not adversely affect their own health and safety, or that of others.
6.
PROCEDURE
6.1
Where any fragile roofing has been identified in the above process refer to 6.3.
A risk assessment must include an emergency procedure for all work at heights.
The risk assessment must include a site specific comprehensive rescue plan for all
fall arrest systems.
Any person conducting working at heights must be properly trained and supervised
in the use of any equipment.
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6.2
Controls
Any hazard identified through the risk assessment process must be eliminated or
minimised by the implementation of the hierarchy of controls.
The procedures should take into account the need for:
6.3
Ensuring workers are trained in emergency procedures and are familiar with fall
arrest systems and devices;
The availability or access to first aid facilities or services, including trained first
aiders;
All persons working at heights must be trained in the use and maintenance of all
equipment, and must be in possession of competency in operating plant required
to complete the task.
Fragile Roofing
A risk assessment (Document 14a) specific to each area of fragile roofing MUST
be conducted in conjunction with the Occupational Health Safety & Welfare
Regulations 1985 (OHS Regulations) and AS 2424.
NB:
The load test to determine integrity of material is difficult to conduct, therefore Catholic
Church Endowment Society has adopted:
6.4
6.5
Working in Isolation
Any person undertaking work in an area remote/isolated from the assistance of others
because of time, location or the nature of the work (may include but is not limited to roof,
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roof space or in an area/activity that is dangerous for the employee to perform alone)
must follow the isolated procedure Document No. 17 and documentation of same
recorded.
6.6
the user should never push or pull unless the ladder is properly secured;
the ladder should not be relocated whilst anyone is positioned on the ladder;
users should not walk the ladder to reposition it but instead should descend and
relocate the ladder;
in the workplace the ladder must be industrial grade (not domestic) and designed
in accordance with Australian Standards. In the case where an industrial grade
ladder may create a manual handling hazard a risk assessment is to be performed
to identify the appropriate ladder for the task and a safe operating procedure to be
developed for the ladder which may include a maximum total load capacity.
NOTE:
Metal ladders should not be used for electrical work where there is the possibility of the
ladder making contact with live electrical parts.
Makeshift ladders, tables, boxes, and chairs must not be used as a substitute for a
ladder.
Rungs of ladders must not be used to support a plank from which a person is required
to work.
Weather conditions must be taken into consideration when using ladders.
6.7
Step Ladders
Step ladders must be purchased with an integrated hand rail attached. Training will
include an understanding and application of Safe Operating Procedure 25(a) Use of
Portable Step Ladder.
6.8
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7.
TRAINING
All employees will be briefed/trained in the requirements of this Policy during induction
and when implemented or amended.
Employees will be trained (where applicable) in any risk assessments and/or safe
operating procedure developed as a result of this Policy.
8.
9.
REFERENCES
Occupational Health Safety & Welfare Act 1986 (as amended)
Occupational Health Safety & Welfare Regulations 1985
AS Standard 1892.5:2000
AS Standard 1891
Worksafe SA
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Hazards:
Assessment of Risk
Weather conditions which may cause loss of balance shall be included in risk
assessment
Metal ladders should not be used for electrical work where there is the possibility
of the ladder making contact with live electrical points.
The ladder should extend 900mm above the last surface where a person can gain
access
Operation
Whilst climbing the ladder 3 point contact must be made (two feet - one hand, two
hands one foot)
Items must not be carried by hand up and down a ladder. Attach items to the waist
or pulled up on a line or in a bucket
When performing minor tasks on the ladder do not over reach (person belt buckle
should be inside the stiles of the ladder)
Do not stand any higher than the 3rd step from the top plate
Do not use on working platforms to gain height above the protected edge
Do not place the ladder above an opening door or access area without sealing
them off
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Hazards
Falling from Heights
Weather conditions
Safe Procedures
Place ladder on a firm level,
non-slip surface
Use in a fully opened
position
3 point contact whilst
climbing the ladder
Perform all work facing the
ladder
Do not over reach
Do not stand any higher
than the 3rd step from the
top plate
Do not walk ladder
Do not work above another
person
Do not leave ladder
unattended
Do not place ladder within
proximity of an opening
door or access area,
Seal off area prior to use
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Ladder
Location
Date
of
Purchase
Load
Rating
INSTRUCTIONS/SOP:
Readable
HOOKS/GRIPS/LASHES:
Check condition for proper operation
ROPE/PULLEY:
Check for damaged rope and/or pulley
LADDER FEET:
Check feet are attached and in good
condition:
WELDS:
Check welds for cracks and/or damage
NUTS/BOLTS:
Check to insure nuts and bolts are intact
and are not stripped
RIVETS:
Check integrity of all heads and crimps
METAL COMPONENTS:
Check for excessive rust and corrosion
HARDWARE ITEMS:
Check top irons, hinges, etc. for
functionality
GUIDES:
Check guides for functionality
LOCKS:
Check locks and spreaders for
functionality
STEP/RUNG BRACES:
Check for bends, splits, cracks, or other
defects Free mud/oil
TOP:
Check for bends, splits, cracks, or other
defects Free mud/oil
STEPS/RUNGS:
Check for bends, splits, cracks, or other
defects Free mud/oil
RAILS:
Check for bends, splits, cracks, or other
defects Free mud/oil
Needs
Repair
Transferred
to Action
Plan
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ACTION PLAN
IDENTIFIED
HAZARD
CURRENT
CONTROL(S)
CURRENT
RISK
RATING
RESPONSIBLE
PERSON
IDENTIFIED
FURTHER ACTION
Date:
TARGET
COMPLETION
(Priority) DATE
DATE
COMPLETED
NEW
RISK
RATING
____________________________________
Page 2
SA Catholic Church Safety Manual
SOCIAL SERVICES SECTOR
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