Learn the importance of height access equipment, the different kinds that can be used in specific circumstances, and the various safety measures when working at height.
Height access equipment refers to any equipment that allows workers to reach an elevated area and accomplish a specific task in that space efficiently and, more importantly, safely.
Most people see this used in construction sites, where laborers are required to build several levels of a structure. But the demand for this is increasing in several other sectors, including manufacturing, facility management, and maintenance services. Basically, when working at height is called for, height access equipment is an indispensable requirement.
There are different kinds of work at height access equipment. Aside from knowing what each type is specifically designed for, workers must understand the hazards each equipment poses so they can accomplish their job with little to no harm.
Possibly the most straightforward of all types of access equipment for working at height, this is composed of repeated horizontal bars between two vertical poles and is used to climb up or down something.
There are different kinds of ladders depending on the following:
Material used – wood, aluminum, fiberglass
Maximum height it can reach – from 4 ft to 20 ft (~1.22 m to 6.07 m)
Weight it can support – from 90 kg to 170 kg (~198.42 lbs to 347.77 lbs)
Possible Hazards:
Defective equipment
Uneven ground or base because of stepping too close to the top bars
Overreaching
This is used in lieu of ladders especially when two or more workers need to work at a height of up to 2 m (approximately 6 ft). Often used by decorators, trestles are composed of two or more standing bases and a staging board on top.
Possible Hazards:
Lack of edge protection
Instability (too thin platforms, mismatched bases, not enough bases)
Overloading
Used mostly in engineering and maintenance, this independent scaffold can be erected and then dismantled for temporary work. It has four vertical poles fixed with several horizontal and transverse bars creating a frame and a platform where workers can stand. The maximum height of the tower should be 12 m (39 ft).
Possible Hazards:
Faulty erection or dismantling
Faulty or missing parts
Lack of guard rails
Overloading
Bad weather conditions (e.g., too windy, rainy)
Wrong ingress and egress on the scaffold
Like the tower type, this also has vertical, horizontal, and transverse poles connected to each other to create a frame. The difference is that this is tied to a bigger structure like a building and used for large construction projects.
Possible Hazards:
Poor design
Faulty erection or dismantling
Faulty and/or missing parts
Lack of guard rails
Poor maintenance and lack of inspection
Overloading
Bad weather conditions
Wrong ingress and egress on the scaffold
What makes access equipment for working at height extra special is the inclusion of a motorized vehicle, which allows it to be driven on different kinds of terrain. There are two main types of MEWPs:
Vertical MEWPs (a.k.a. scissor lifts) – The platform can only go in a vertical direction.
Boom MEWPs (a.k.a. cherry pickers) – The platform can be extended horizontally or diagonally, used in areas where vertical lifting is not possible.
Possible Hazards:
Unstable ground
Catapult-type falls – where workers can be thrown from the platform during the lifting or extension
Overloading
Bad weather conditions
Considering that there are numerous kinds of working at height access equipment, it is crucial to choose the most appropriate one for a specific task to ensure not just safety but also efficiency. A ladder, for example, may be a better option for changing a lightbulb at your workplace, but a boom lift is the better equipment for changing a lightbulb in a tree-lined street.
Below are some factors that must be considered before work starts:
Height of the work site
Number of people who will be working
Type of work to be done (short-term vs. long-term work)
Kind of tools that need to be brought up to the work site
Ground condition
Obstruction in the surrounding area of the work site
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), falls are one of the most common causes of work-related injuries. With over 350 fatal falls in 2020, OSHA reports that this is now the leading cause of death in the construction industry.
Because of these troubling statistics, the first rule of thumb set by health and safety regulators all over the world, like the OSHA and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), is to avoid working at height altogether. If that is completely impossible, fall protection measures must be put in place.
Listed below are OSHA’s requirements in terms of fall protection:
General industry – 4 ft
Shipyards – 5 ft
Construction – 6 ft
Longshoring operations – 8 ft
Employers are also mandated to ensure safe working conditions and provide protective equipment like guard rails, toe boards, safety nets, and safety harnesses, among others. Training employees regarding job hazards is also a must.
The good news is that falls are completely preventable. Whether one is using a simple stepladder or getting strapped to scaffolding, there are numerous ways to ensure safety and prevent accidents from happening.
Plan ahead – Know how the job will be done so that the safety precautions can be adequately put in place.
Always use the right equipment for the job.
Conduct a thorough inspection of the work at height access equipment.
Never multitask (e.g., do not carry tools with your hand while climbing up a ladder).
Always be on the lookout for unstable or fragile surfaces.
Take the weather into consideration before starting work.
Keep the surroundings clean and dry.
Having adequate training on equipment use is a must!
Working at heights using various height access equipment can be made safer and more efficient for your employees by using the numerous tools that Mitti (by SafetyCulture) has formulated:
Use checklists to help your managers and safety officers plan for tasks that require lifting.
Conduct thorough inspections of all height access equipment and accessories before and after use.
Properly schedule all equipment inspections and routine maintenance.
Do toolbox meetings with the team to ensure that the job can be accomplished as planned.
Check weather conditions that may affect your worker’s safety when working at height.
Ensure that everyone in the team is properly trained for the task ahead through Training.
