Workplace Hazards

and Risk Control

M. Nachiappan
Learning Outcomes

 Outline common health, welfare and work environment

requirements in the workplace
 Explain the risk factors and appropriate controls for
violence at work
 Explain the effects of substance misuse on health and
safety at work and control measures to reduce such risks
 Explain the hazards and control measures for the safe
movement of people in the workplace.
 Outline the hazards and control measure for safe
construction and demolition work
 Explain the hazard and control measure for safe working
of height and excavation
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Health welfare and work environment
requirements

3
Health Welfare and work environment
requirements
 Health and welfare provisions
• Supply of drinking water
• Washing facilities
• Sanitary convenience
• Accommodation for clothing
• Rest and eating facilities
• Seating
• Ventilation
• Heating and lighting
 Exposure to extreme temperature
• Heat stress
• Cold stress
4
Supply of Drinking Water

 Water shall be readily accessible at

suitable places.
 Shall be conspicuously marked.
 Sufficient number of drinking cups and
drinking vessels shall be available.
 It shall be provided in a refillable
enclosed container. It shall be refilled
daily.
5
Washing facilities

 Provided near every sanitary

convenience, changing rooms.
 Supply of clean hot and clod
or warm water.
 They shall include soap and
towels for cleaning and drying.
 Rooms containing them shall be ventilated and
kept clean.
 Separate facility provided for men and women
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Sanitary convenience
 Rooms containing shall be adequately ventilated and lit.
 Rooms shall be kept clean and in orderly condition.
 Separate rooms provided for men and women, doors are
provided to secure from inside.

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Accommodation for clothing

 Clothing of person which is not worn

during working hours and for special
clothing worn by personnel.
 It ensures privacy of the user, sufficient
capacity with seating facility.
 Separate accommodation for clothing
worn at work and other clothing.
 Facility for drying.
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Rest and eating facilities

 Seating for workers to use during breaks. Place

should be where PPE need not to be worn.
 Rest areas should be with sufficient seats with
backrests and table to number of workers. It shall be
adequate for number of disabled persons at work.
 Eating area at work shall be provided with sufficient
facilities such that the food is not contaminated.
 Work areas can also be counted as eating area
provided they are adequately kept clean.

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Rest and eating facilities

 Canteens or restaurants may be used as

rest facilities provided there is no
obligation to purchase food.
 Rest facilities for pregnant women and
nursing mother shall be provided where
needed and near sanitary facilities.

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Seating

 Seating should be provided to move in

case of any emergency.
 Seating shall be with adequate foot rest
and lower back rest.
 Seating shall be provided based on the
work they do.

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Ventilation
 Fresh clean air should be drawn from outside and
uncontaminated air from flues, chimney or other
process outlet shall not be circulated to work area.
 Remove and dilute warm air which gives sense of
freshness and do not cause draught.
 Areas with heating source, dust, fumes or vapors
requires more fresh air and ventilation provided
adequately.
 Windows or openings provide sufficient ventilation,
mechanical ventilation shall be provided where
required.

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 Heating and lighting
 Temperature in workplace during work hours should
be reasonable. Thermometers shall be provided to
ensure the temperature of workplace.
 Heating or cooling in workplace may result to fumes,
gas or vapor which is injurious or offensive to worker.
 Local lighting provided at workstations especially at
cross points in traffic routes. Lighting shall not create
any hazard.
 Automatic emergency lighting, powered by an
independent source, should be provided to minimize
risks.
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 Exposure to extreme temperature

 Heat stress
 Cold stress

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Heat Stress

 Human body functions best within narrow range of

internal temperature.
 If the body's cooling system is overloaded, the
body is placed under heat stress. To keep the internal
temperature below 38°C it uses two cooling
mechanism,
The heart rate increases to move blood—and heat— from
heart, lungs, and other vital organs to the skin.
Sweating increases to help cool blood and body.
Evaporation of sweat is the most important way the body
gets rid of excess heat.

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 Effects of exposure to high temperature

 Heat rash
 Sunburn
 Heat cramp
 Fainting
 Heat exhaustion
 Heat stroke

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Preventive measures

 Remove or reduce source of heat

 Control of temperature using engineering solution
 Provide mechanical aids
 Regulate the length of exposure to the worker
By providing periodic breaks and shift changeover.
Issuance of permit to work
Allowing workers after time is set.
 Prevent dehydration
 Provide PPE

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 Preventive measures
 Provide training to workers
 Allow workers to acclimatize
 Identify employees who are more
susceptible
 Monitor the health of workers at risk

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Cold Stress & Effects of cold stress

 Working for prolonged periods

in cold environments causes
the body to decrease blood
flow to the skin. The result
can be cold stress.
 Wind Chill involves combined
effect of air temperature and air
movement. wind-chill cooling
rate is defined as heat loss
resulting from the effects of air
temperature and wind velocity
upon exposed skin.
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 Effect of cold stress
 Frostbite
 The freezing of body tissues.
 The fingers, toes, ears and nose are particularly
vulnerable. Skin freezes at about -1 degree
Celsius.
 Frostbite can also be caused by contact with cold
objects.
 This may reduce the blood flow and cause
gangerene.
 Hypothermia
 results when the body mechanisms can no longer
maintain internal temperature above 35 degrees.
 Blood vessel constriction is no longer adequate to
retain heat and shivering becomes the only mechanism
available.

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Preventive measures
 Usage of protective clothing
 Provide periodic breaks and changeover to the
workers. Heated shelter such as trailer should be
available nearby.
 Wind chill factors should be understood by the workers
especially those on bridges and in open to high
buildings.
 Warm drinks and soups should be arranged to maintain
tha caloric intake and fluid volume.
 Personnel working in isolated cold environments,
whether indoors or outdoors should have backup.

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Violence at work

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Violence at work

 Risk factors relating to violence at work

 Control measures

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 Who is at risk?

 Employees whose job requires them to deal

with the public can be at risk from violence.
Persons engaged in
handling money or valuables
providing care, advice, education and training
carrying out inspection or enforcement duties
working with mentally disturbed, drunk or
potentially violent people
working alone
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Risk Factor

R
I
S
K

F
A
C
T
O
R
S

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 Effective Management of violence
Stage1: Finding out if you have a problem
Ask your staff
Keep detailed records
Classify all incidents
Try to predict what might happen
Stage2 : Deciding what action to take
Decide who might be harmed, and how
Evaluate the risk. Factors which you can influence include:
• the level of training and information provided;
• the environment;
• the design of the job.
Record your findings
Review and revise your assessment
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Effective Management of violence

Stage3 : take action

 Policy of dealing violence may be written on
health and safety policy statement.
 This will help the workers to cooperate, follow
procedures and report any further incidents.
Stage4 : check what you have done
 Check on regular basis the arrangements
made and consulting with employees.
 Set up a joint management and safety
representative committees to do this.
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 Control measures to reduce violence at
work
 Control measures related to workplace
Physical security measures. eg. entry systems, screens,
adequate lighting, reception desks, CCTV, alarm systems,
removal of “weapons”
Better seating & décor
Information on delays
 Control measures related to job
Regular removal of cash.
Use of non-cash alternatives.
Sufficient Staff
Opening hours to suit customers
Checking visitor credentials
Accompanying staff when appropriate 28
Control measures to reduce violence at
work
Avoid lone work and or improve communication
Zero tolerance of aggressive behavior
 Control measures related to training and
information
Recognizing unacceptable behavior and early signs of
aggression
Managing difficult situations, confrontation training
Procedures to follow eg. Security record checking for
violent patients, communication.
Reporting and investigation of violent acts
Support systems for victims
 Other control measures
Consultation with police 29
People at high risk

 Women at special risk

 Many studies show that women are at particular risk of
violence, both inside and outside the workplace.
 A young woman with a precarious job in the hotel and
catering industry is likely to be many times more exposed to
the risk of sexual harassment than average.
 Young workers
 Several surveys appear to confirm the vulnerability of
younger workers to violent victimization at the workplace.
 staff aged 18 to 30 have a higher probability of becoming
victims of assault than older staff.

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 Dealing with victims of violence

 debriefing - victims will need to talk through their

experience as soon as possible after the event.
Remember that verbal abuse can be just as upsetting
as a physical attack;
 time off work - individuals will react differently and may
need differing amounts of time to recover. In some
circumstances they might need specialist counseling;
 legal help - in serious cases legal help may be
appropriate;
 other employees - may need guidance and/or training
to help them to react appropriately.
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Substance misuse at work

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Substance misuse at work

 Risk to health and safety from alcohol

and drugs
 Control measures

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Risks to health & safety from
alcohol and drugs at work
slow-down in reaction time;
a deterioration of motor performance result in
clumsy movements and poor coordination;
deterioration in sight result in blurred vision;
mood changes can vary and result in aggressive
behavior and depression;
loss of concentration can affect ability to learn and
remember information;
Deterioration in intellectual performance also
decreases logical thinking
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 Control strategies
 control through good employment practices
Identification of working environment problems
Corporate practices
Job replacement of rehabilitated workers
By restricting on alcohol, legal and illegal
drugs in the workplace
restricting or prohibiting the possession, consumption and in
sale of alcohol at the workplace, including the enterprise's
canteen, cafeteria, and dining area.
withdrawing alcohol as an item for expense and within certain
well-defined limits of quantity of units consumed.
Apply the same restriction to both management and employee
personnel 35
Movement of people

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Movement of people

 Movement of people
• Pedestrian hazards
• Control measures

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Movement of people

• Hazards to pedestrians:
1.slips
2.trips
3.and falls on the same level
4. falls from a height
5. collisions with moving vehicles
6. striking by moving
7. flying or falling objects
8.striking against fixed or stationary objects

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 Hazards to Pedestrians

Collision with Striking by moving Striking against

Fall from Height or falling objects fixed object
moving Vehicles

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 Difference between Slip & Trips
 Slips
• Happen where there is TOO LITTLE FRICTION OR
TRACTION between the footwear and the walking
surface.
 Trips
• Happen when FOOT COLLIDES (STRIKES, HITS)
AN OBJECT causing to lose the
balance and eventually fall.

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Slips

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 Slip Hazards

 Slip hazards are caused by:

1. Wet or dusty floors
1. The spillage of wet or dry substances –
Oil, Water, Flour dust, plastic pellets etc

2. Loose mats on slippery floors

3. Wet and / or icy weather conditions
4. Unsuitable footwear or floor coverings or
sloping floors
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 Trip Hazards
 Trips hazards are caused by
1. Loose boards or carpets
2. Obstructions, low walls, low fixtures on the
floor
3. Cables or trailing leads across walkways or
uneven surfaces. - Leads to portable
electrical hand tools and appliances
4. Rugs & mats – particularly when worn or
placed on a polished surface
5. Poor housekeeping – obstacles left on
walkways, rubbish not removed regularly

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 Fall from Height
 Most common cause of death in the construction
industry. Falls can occur through
1. Staircases
2. Fragile roofs
3. Ladders
4. Floor edges
5. Openings
6. Scaffoldings
7. Vehicles
8. Elevated working platforms
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Collision with Moving Vehicles

 Main causes are

1. No separation between
pedestrians and vehicles are
speeding.
1. Poor lighting
2. Blind corners
3. Lack of warnings signs &
barriers at crossing points
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 Being stuck by moving, falling or falling objects
 Employees may be injured due to:

1. Articles being moved

2. Moving parts of machinery or conveyor belt
systems

3. Flying objects often generated by

disintegration of moving part or failure of
system under pressure

4. Dropping of objects, tools & tackles from top

5. Careless stacking & storage of material in
racks
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 Striking against fixed or
stationery objects

 Injuries may be caused to a

person by
1.colliding with a fixed part of the
building structure a machine
member

2.stationary vehicle or
3.falling against such objects.
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Control Strategies for Pedestrian
Hazards

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Control strategies for pedestrian
hazards

1. Risk assessment
2. Slip resistant surfaces
3. Spillage control and drainage
4. Designated walkways
5. Fencing and guarding
6. Use of signs and personal protective equipment
7. Information, instruction, training and supervision
8. Cleaning and housekeeping requirements,
9. Access and egress
10.Environmental considerations (heating, lighting,
noise and dust)
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1. Risk Assessment

Covered in detail in Element 5 –

IGC 1

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2. Preventing Slip & Trips

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 2. Preventing Slips & Trips

Control measures can be divided into:

 management systems;

 contamination control:
• preventing contamination,
• choose the right cleaning method,
• make sure cleaning does not introduce an
additional slip risk;
 obstacle removal.
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2. Preventing Slip & Trips

Conditions &
Control Strategies
environment
• Clean spills up immediately,
Spillage of wet
• Use cleaning agent if required
and dry
• Use barriers to tell people the floor is wet and
substances
arrange alternative bypass routes.

• Position equipment to avoid cables crossing

pedestrian routes,
Trailing cables
• Use cable covers to securely fix to surfaces,
restrict access.
• Consider use of cordless tools.
Miscellaneous
rubbish, eg plastic • Keep areas clear, remove rubbish and do not
bags allow it to build up.
• Ensure mats are securely fixed and do not have 53
Rugs/mats
curling edges.
2. Preventing Slip & Trips
Conditions &
Control Strategies
environment
• Improve lighting levels and placement of light
Poor lighting fittings to ensure more even lighting of all floor
areas.
• Assess the cause and treat accordingly, for
example always keep them dry if wet causes the
Slippery surfaces
problem.
• If required you may have to treat them chemically
• Try to avoid.
Changes of level • If you cannot, improve lighting, add high visible
tread nosing’s (i.e. white/reflective edge to step).
• Improve visibility, provide handrails and use floor
Slopes
markings.
Unsuitable
footwear
• Ensure workers choose suitable footwear. 54
 2. Slip Resistant Surfaces

 Flooring materials, whether

wood, masonry are reasonably
slip resistant in their original
untreated condition.
 Highly polished marble or
ceramic tile used for ornamental
effect, can be slippery even when
dry.
 When moisture is present, its
slipperiness will be greatly
increased.

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 2. Slip Resistance Surfaces

 Assessing Slip
Resistant Surfaces
• Pendulum
coefficient of friction
(CoF) test
Slip potential classification, based on pendulum test values (PTV)

PTV
High slip potential 0–24
Moderate slip potential 25–35
Low slip potential 36 +

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 3. Spillage control and drainage

 The primary effort should be to prevent the spillage by design

and construction of equipment and its adequate maintenance.
Splash Guards
Drip pans

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 3. Spillage control and drainage

 Workers need to be involved and committed to

reducing risks.
Give people (eg supervisors) responsibilities to ensure that areas
of the workplace are kept safe,

• eg

• getting spillages and objects cleaned up quickly,

• keeping access routes clear
• and ensuring lighting is maintained.
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 4. Designated Walkways
 The most effective way
• Separate routes away from vehicles. E.g.. footbridges and
subways.
 Other methods
1. Protective barriers
2. clearly marked pedestrian and vehicle routes
3. raised kerb.

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 4. Designated Walkways

 Building entrances / exits should have

1. Separate doorways for vehicles and pedestrians,
2. Vision panels on all doors.
3. Barriers or guard rails to prevent pedestrians walking straight
onto roads.
 Where pedestrian and vehicle routes cross, provide:
1. Well-marked and signposted crossing points.
2. Barriers, rails or deterrent paving to direct pedestrians to
designated crossing points.

60
4. Designated Walkways
Designated Walkway for pedestrian

61
4. Designated Walkways

62
5. Fencing & Guarding

63
 6. Personal Protective Equipment

 Personal Protective
Equipment
• High reflective clothing
• for persons working in the
vicinity of heavy traffic.
• Clothing should have retro-
reflective strips which can
glow when light falls on it.
• Footwear
• Footwear with slip-resistant
soles improves the slip
resistance. to certain extent.
64
 7. Use of Signs
Signs, signals & markings

1. Use warning signs to indicate hazards along

the way.
2. Traffic lights, speed sensors and flashing
warning signs can be used to control traffic
flow and speed.
3. Place signs so that people have time to see

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7. Use of Signs

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 8. House Keeping Requirements
 Housekeeping program
including
1. Allocated space for storage
of materials and equipment;
2. Allocated space for storage
& disposal of scarp material
& debris
3. Segregation of waste for
disposal
4. Removal of scrap, waste and
debris at appropriate
intervals.

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8. House Keeping Requirements

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 8. Housekeeping Requirements

1. Daily cleanup program.

2. Disposal of rubbish.
3. Individual cleanup duties for
workers.
4. Materials piled, stacked to
prevent tipping and collapsing.
5. Materials stored away from
overhead power lines.
6. Work and travel areas kept tidy,
well-lit, and ventilated.
7. Lower debris & rubbish from
height by means of a chute.

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9. Access & Egress

70
10. Lighting

 Illumination level
• Light values at floor level
should be uniform with no
glare or shadows.

• There should be no sharp

contrasts in light levels

• E.g. from bright sunlight

outside the entrance to a
dimly lit lounge or
restaurant.
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11. Env. Considerations - Others

1.Noise
2.Heating
3.Dust

• Well within the prescribed exposure limits.

• Covered in detail in IGC2 - 7

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Construction hazards &control

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Construction hazards & control

 Scope of construction
 Stacking & storage of materials
 Access and site security
 Contractor evaluation, selection and control
 Monitoring system
 Reward and reprimand scheme
 Demolition
 Roof work

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Scope of construction

 Building works
 Infrastructure Projects
 The erection and dismantling of
prefabricated buildings and structures

75
 Stacking & storage of materials
 Materials in bags, containers, bundles or stored in tiers shall
be stacked and limited in height.
 Materials shall not be stacked above 6m unless there is any
safety precautions taken
 Storage should be neat and orderly to eliminate hazards and
limit space
 All the exits and aisles shall be kept clear at all times, labeled
and stacked size wise
 Bins and racks shall be used to facilitate storage and reduce
hazards.
 Racks shall be secured to floors and walls.

76
 Flammable materials
 Provision of separate shelter
 Storage shall be in accordance with relevant
regulations and rules to ensure safety
 Handling, storage and issuance of flammable liquids
shall be under the supervision of qualified and
experienced persons.
 Guarding of contaminated clothing against any
flammable fluids
 Compressed gases and petroleum products shall not
be stored in same building or close to each other.

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Flammable materials

 Provision of secondary containment wherever

flammable liquids being stored to retain leaks
from primary containers.
 This containment shall significantly reduce the
risk of pollution of land, surface water,
groundwater, sewers and drains due to spills
and leaks.
 Also allow the recovery of any spilled material
and prevent the spread of burning liquids.

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Access and site security

 Preventing entry by the use of fencing

 Warn against danger by the means of
signs
 Monitoring by security patrols

79
Contractor evaluation, selection and
control
 Evaluation and selection procedure
• Establishment of a system to evaluate contractor’s
safety performance
• Pre approval of contractors
• Consideration of basic safety performance indicators
such as contractor’s safety policy, safety management
system, safety track records, competency and
qualification of contractor’s personnel, safety training
records and safe work procedures.
 Written contract after selecting a contractor
 Orientation
 Control measures 80
 Monitoring systems
 Leading Indicators
• Quality of safety meetings
• Quality of tool box meetings
• Quality of Job Safety Analysis Process
• Barricade performance
• Number of safety observations
• Number of management
• walkthroughs
• Level of JSA participation
• Housekeeping
• Near miss reports shared
• Safety training
• Safety communications 81
Monitoring systems

• Number of management led safety initiatives

• % participation by foremen in safety
walkthrough
 Trailing Indicators
• Total Recordable Injury Rate
• First Aid cases
• Near Miss Incidents

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Reward and reprimand scheme

 Adopted to encourage the subcontractors,

engineers & workmen towards working safely.
 Safe contractor, engineers are identified
periodically and rewarded based on
assessments conducted.
 A penalty scheme can be implemented for
repeated violations, injuries and low
performance in leading & trailing indicators.

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Demolition

84
Hazards in demolition

1. Un-intentional collapse - Building, adjoining structure

2. Fire, Explosion
3. Electrocution
4. Debris falling from heights
5. Plant collapsing or falling in to basements
6. Health hazards from chemicals, asbestos, lead,
coatings, biological contamination
7. Person falling from height
8. Dust
9. Use of Explosives
10. Noise
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Precautions

1. Obtain information on building, structure, services,

hazardous materials
2. Suitable method of demolition chosen
3. Detailed method statement to be prepared
4. Competent supervisor shall be appointed
5. Asbestos removal by licensed asbestos removal
contractors
6. Provide protection against exposure to harmful
chemicals such as lead from paint in the building
7. Scaffolds, temporary supports, safety nets etc must be
regularly checked
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Roof work

 Hazards in roof work

 Flat roof
 Sloping roof
 Fragile roof

87
Hazards in roof work

 Fall from roof edge - may arise when people are

working near unprotected edges, when laying
roof sheets and insecure or poor condition of
roof ladders and the lack of edge protection.
 Fall through fragile material - arise when roofs
are not covered with crawling boards, when
translucent plastic roof lights are not covered
and when workers walk on the roof bolts above
the purlin.
 Fall through openings in the roof
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 Flat roof
 Flat roofs include those with
a pitch of up to 10degree.
 Possible fall of more than
2 meter should be protected
with suitable guard-rails and toe
boards.
 Provide a substantial cover
which will bear the weight of
a person, and which cannot
be inadvertently moved. 89
Sloped Roof
 Sloping roofs
Edge protection is necessary for all
sloping roofs

• that is of more than 10

degree pitch, or
• which have a slippery
surface and
• where there is the
possibility of a fall of
more than 2 meter from
the edge

91
 Where work is extensive,
barriers shall be provided
at the edge of the sloping
roof or work done from a
working platform.
 Falls of materials should
be prevented.

92
 Crawling Boards
 Crawling boards to be provided for work on sloped
roofs and these to be securely supported and fixed

•For ascending / egress on the sloped roofs.

•With Edge protection.
•Shall not carry tools while in travel.

93
Safety while working
On
Fragile Roof
What is fragile roof

 Roof made of fragile material such as

• wired glass,
• corrugated plastic sheeting for roof lights,
• rusted corrugated iron sheeting and
• un-reinforced insulating slabs.
The precautions to be followed in case of fragile roof
Fragile Roofs
are:
 Work must be done from suitably supported
crawling boards, ladders etc.
 Where workmen need to approach fragile
material then covers or guardrails need to be
provided.
 Prominent warning notices must be displayed at
the approaches to fragile material.
 On fragile materials two roof ladders or crawling
boards are needed.

96
Work at height

97
Activities involving the risk of falling from
height
 Access to work area
 Erection of structure
 Finishing works
 All roof works
 Lifting operations

98
Significance of injuries due to fall from
height
 Falls are the largest cause of accidental
death in the construction industry.
 They account for 50% of all fatalities.
There is no distinction between low and
high falls.
 This means that for any work at height,
precautions are required to prevent or
minimize the risk of injury from a fall
99
Hazards & factors affecting risk
 Vertical distance
 Un protected edges
 Storage of unsecured material in edges
 Floor openings
 Not using the right access equipment
 Unstable/poorly maintained scaffold, ladders & access
equipment
 Weather conditions
 Working on Roofs and roof edges
 Fragile roofs
 Deterioration of materials
 Proximity to other works or public
100
Control measures for work at height

 Avoid working at Height

 Proper Planning & Supervision
 Prevent falls by using an existing safe place of work
 Prevent falls using guards & barriers
 Prevent falls using safe access equipment
 Prevent falls using work restraint systems
 Avoiding working in adverse conditions
 Ensure Competency & training of working team
 Mitigate falls by reducing distance & consequences of fall.
 Mitigate falls using fall arrest system.
 Head protection for protecting fall of materials over individuals
 Emergency Rescue arrangements
101
Avoid work at height

 Avoid working at height unless it is essential

 Erect guard rails on steelwork at ground level and then
lift the steel and the guard rails into position
 Provide cast in mesh across riser ducts at the position
of services, fix nets using extending poles.

102
Planning & Supervision of work at height

 No work to be done at height and

reasonably practicable other than at
height.
 Work shall be properly planned,
appropriately supervised and carried out
in a safe way.
 Plan for emergencies and rescue
 take account of the control measures
identified through risk assessment
103
Prevent falls by using an existing safe
place of work

 Prevent falls by using

an existing safe place
of work that does not
require the use or
addition of work
equipment to prevent
a fall
 eg a flat roof with
permanent edge
protection
104
Prevent falls using guards & barriers

 Provide edge protection in floors under

construction
 Guarding floor openings

105
Prevent falls using safe access
equipment

 Use of access equipment that protects

all those at risk
 eg :access equipment fitted with guard
rails, such as independent scaffolds,
tower scaffolds, mobile elevating work
platforms (MEWPs) and mast climbing
work platforms (MCWPs).

106
Prevent falls using work restraint
systems
 Prevent falls by using work equipment that protects the
individual
 (eg a harness with a short lanyard which makes it
impossible for a person to get to a fall position (this is
called work restraint) or use a podium.

107
 Avoiding working in adverse
conditions

 Ensure that the work is postponed while

weather conditions endanger health or
safety

108
Training

 Ensure everyone involved in the work is

competent.
 This includes involvement in
organization, planning, supervision, and
the supply and maintenance of
equipment.
 Train those who work at height to avoid
falling
109
Mitigate falls by reducing distance &
consequences of fall

 Mitigate falls by using work equipment to minimize the

distance and consequences of a fall and protect all
those at risk.
 eg nets or soft landing systems positioned close under
the work surface.

110
 Mitigate falls using fall arrest
system
 Mitigate falls by using work equipment to minimise the
distance and consequences of a fall and protect the
individual
 (eg a personal fall arrest system with the anchorage point
sited above the head, or a rope access system).

111
Requirements for Head Protection

 Safety Helmets
• Protect from falling objects
• Worn by all persons all time
 Covered Walkways
 Prevent from falling of materials
 Objective is to prevent fall of materials
and could strike someone.

112
Requirements for emergency rescue

 Medical emergencies
 Fire & explosion

 Collapse of structure or equipment

 Person hanging on an anchorage line

Factors to be considered for emergency are,

• Communication system
• Equipment for retrieving workmen from height
• Refuge areas to take shelter at height during emergencies
• Alternate routes of access to safer areas
• Availability of fire lifts for use in case of emergency
• Availability of rescue cages which can be used to evacuate
persons using crane or other equipment
• Individual rescue kits 113
Safe working practices for common
forms of access equipment

114
Types of access

 Ladders
 Step Ladders
 Independent Tied Scaffold
 Mobile Tower Scaffold
 Mobile Elevated Working Platforms

115
Ladders

 Types of ladders

• Stock Ladders - Overall length shall not exceed 10

meter.
• Extension Ladders - The overall length of the
extension ladder shall not exceed 18m. The sliding Extension Ladder
section shall not exceed two in number. Stock Ladder

• Step Ladders - The overall height of shall not exceed

6m. Ladders shall be provided with an automatic
locking device or spreader to hold it in an open
position.
116
Usage of Ladders
1

 Ladder shall exceed one meter

above the landing platform
 Ladders are placed on firm ground
3
 Three point contact while ascending
or descending. 3 Point Contact

 Steel ladders shall not be in the

1m
vicinity of overhead electric lines
 Defective ladders shall be replaced
 Hand tools shall not be carried
4
in hand while climbing
 Ladders shall not be spliced to increase the height.
1
117
Limitations

 Only one person should climb or descend

 Only one person should work
 If not lashed on top requires two workers for
use
 Restricts movement
 Has to be safely situated and secured
 Has a limitation on heights at which it can be
used.
 One hand free climb or climbing with tools shall
be restricted.
118
Independent tied scaffold
Before Erecting Scaffold

 Involving competent people for erection, design and

dismantling
 Capable of supporting loads
 Provision of guard rails, toe boards and other barriers
 Avoid erection or dismantling over busy platforms
 Ensure the scaffold is based on a firm, level foundation.
 It should be braced or tied to a permanent structure
 Proprietary system scaffolds should be erected and
tied according to the manufacturers’ instructions.

120
Before using any scaffold

 Platform shall be fully boarded and wide

enough
 No excessive overhanging
 Safe access to work platform
 Ensure for suitability of task to be
performed and checks made for
sustainability after any adverse effect.

121
Scaffolding Tag Procedure

 Red Scaffold tag - erection or

dismantling or has not been inspected or
is not safe for use
 Green tag - complete & it has been
inspected by competent person and is
safe for use.
 The inspection and certification shall be
done by a competent engineer.
122
Scaffold Tag System

123
MOBILE SCAFFOLD

Wheels > 125mm dia.with brakes

Ht. = 4: 1

Max.ht. Recom. – 9.60mts.

12 mts extended if tied.

MOBILE SCAFFOLD

Mobile Scaffold Construction

The first precaution - stability.

the height to base width ratio – 4: 1.

shall be plumb, level, square and be horizontally and vertically braced

(in both directions) by diagonal braces.

Decking boards or planks shall be securely fixed in position.

Casters shall be securely fixed to the base of scaffold posts or screw

jacks by locking pins.

The working area of any platform shall not extend outside the scaffold
base dimensions. Cantilevered working areas are not permitted for
mobile scaffolds.
125
MOBILE SCAFFOLD

Mobile scaffold operation

A mobile scaffold shall only be used and moved
on surfaces sufficiently firm and level to ensure
stability.
A mobile scaffold shall be moved only by
manually pushing or pulling at the base.
No men, equipment, or materials shall be on the
working platform or elsewhere on the scaffold
while it is in motion.
Casters shall be locked at all times except during
scaffold movement

126
Mobile elevating work platforms
(MEWPs)

 Types of MEWPs
• Scissor lift (which gives a vertical lift only);
• Telescopic boom (which gives vertical lift and outreach and
is generally known as a ‘cherry picker’);
• Articulating and telescopic boom (which are usually vehicle
mounted and used for specialist activities such as bridge
repair).

127
When using MEWPs

 do not operate MEWPs close to overhead

cables or other dangerous machinery
 do not allow people to climb out of the carrier
to reach their work position
 do not allow a knuckle, or elbow, of the arm
to protrude into a traffic route when working
near vehicles
 do not move the equipment with the platform
in the raised position unless the equipment is
designed to allow this to be done safely
128
129
Excavation Hazards
1. Buried services
2. Fall of persons/ equipment/ material
3. Collapse of sides
4. Collapse of adjacent structures
5. Water ingress
6. Contaminated ground

130
Control Measures for Risks related to
Excavation

 Supporting excavation sides (shoring, sloping etc)

 Means of access
 Barriers, Lighting and signs
 Safe storage of spoil
 Checks for buried services
 Positioning & routing of vehicles
 Plant & equipment
 Control Measures for hazardous atmosphere
 Controlling Ingress of Water
 Personal protective equipment

131
Supporting excavation sides

 Sloping
 Step Cutting and Berms
 Provide Shoring, Timbering

132
Means of access

 Be placed within the area protected by the shoring or

trench box
 Be securely tied off at the top
 Extend above the shoring or box by at least 1 meter
 Be placed as close as possible to the area

133
Barriers, Lighting & Signs

 Guarding of excavations
 Adequate lighting and safety signage
 Prevent from public approach

134
Safe Storage of Spoil

 Excavated earth should be stored away

from pit
 It should be half the distance of the
depth of pit

135
 Checks for buried services

 The location of sewer, telephone, fuel,

electric, and water lines as well as
any other underground installations
shall be marked prior to excavation
 Permit to work system to be adopted
 Utilities left in place must be protected
by barricades, shoring, suspension, or other
means.

136
 Positioning & routing of vehicles

 Positioning & routing of vehicles

shall be such that they do not act
as a surcharge of to the sides of the
excavation
 Stop logs must be installed
if there is a danger of vehicles
falling into the trench

137
Control Measures related to Plant &
Equipment

 Mark off areas around the swing radius of

digging equipment and move the barriers with
the progress of the work
 Back-up alarms and other warning devices
need to be effectively used
 No one should have any part of their body
under any portion of a suspended load
 Hand or mechanical signals must be used as
required

138
Control measures related to hazardous
atmosphere

 Atmospheric testing conducted in excavations

where hazardous atmospheres could
reasonably be expected to exist (e.g. landfill
areas, near hazardous substance storage, gas
pipelines).
 Precautions taken to prevent employee
exposure to atmospheres containing less than
19.5 percent oxygen or other hazardous
atmospheres.

139
Control measures to prevent damage to
adjacent structure

 Support systems to be used to assure

the stability of structures and protection
of employees
 Excavation below the level of the base or
footing of any foundation or retaining
wall which could pose hazard to
employees shall not be permitted

140
Inspection
Inspected by competent person
 Daily and before the start of each shift;
 After every rainstorm;
 After other events that could increase hazards,
e.g. snowstorm, windstorm, thaw, earthquake,
etc.;
 When fissures, tension cracks, sloughing,
undercutting, water seepage, bulging at the
bottom, or other similar conditions occur;
 When there is a change in the size, location, or
placement of the spoil pile;
141
Inspection

 When there is any indication of change or

movement in adjacent structures.
 Where the competent person finds evidence of
a situation that could result in a possible cave-
in, failure of protective systems, hazardous
atmosphere, or other hazardous conditions,
exposed employees shall be removed from the
hazardous area until precautions have been
taken to assure their safety.

142