ARE YOU READY FOR NEW REGULATIONS WORKING AT HEIGHTS?
Safe Work Australia – How to Prevent Falls at Workplaces –
Code of Practice – Due 2012!
1.1 – Who has Health and Safety Duties in relation to falls?
A person conducting a business or undertaking has the primary duty
under the WHS Act to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, that
workers and other persons are not exposed to health and safety risks
arising from the business they are undertaking.
- A person conducting a business or undertaking must:
– Ensure as far as reasonably practicable, that any work involving
the risk of a fall is carried out on the ground, or on a Solid Construction.
– Provide safe means of access to and exit from the workplace, and
minimise the risk of falls so far as is reasonably practicable by
providing a fall prevention device, work positioning system or a fall
arrest system.
1.2 –The meaning of Key Terms
- Fall means a fall by a person from one level to another.
- NB no longer a fixed Height is specified, a fall can be from any height!
4.1 – Temporary work platforms
Include scaffolds, elevating work platforms, mast climbers, building maintenance
units, portable or mobile fabricated platforms, or any other platform that provides a
working area and is designed to prevent a fall.
7.1 – Ladders
- Ladders are primarily a means of access and egress!
- Many falls occur when people are working from ladders!
- Ladders should have a load rating of AT LEAST 120kg and be manufactured for Industrial use.
- Materials or tools are not to be carried while climbing a ladder – use a tool belt or side pouch.
- When using ladders, it is not safe to use metal or metal reinforced ladders when working on live electrical installations.
