Falling from height is a leading cause of workplace fatalities and injuries. International freight transport is warning of this danger in the transport, port and logistics industries, environments in which, unfortunately elevated working locations are often unavoidable
Establishing a safety culture that fully addresses the processes to be followed where working at height is necessary is of utmost importance in preventing accidents. In the article, to reduce risk, ensure the safety of your workforce when working at height, avoid exposure to injury claims and safety prosecutions, and reputational damage.
What are the risks?
Credit: TT Club
How can you mitigate these risks?
While the starting point should always be a risk assessment to identify whether working at height could be avoided, below are various measures that can help reduce the risk of injury where it is unavoidable.
Cargo stowage
- Plan stowage in advance that reduces or avoids working at height
- Stow cargoes in a way that they may be safely unloaded at destination
- Single trip slings should be positioned so they are easily accessed at receiving facility
Technology & operational aids
- Consider using equipment that can help remove the need to work at height:
- drones for equipment inspection or stocktaking
- automatic and semi-automatic twist-locks for container lashing
- fall prevention platforms
- Consider available technology and aids were working at height is necessary
- Fall arrest equipment
- PPE
Infrastructure
- Consider the position of fixed equipment (eg. air conditioning units) to reduce the risk of falls
- Design the building and rainwater systems to reduce the maintenance burden and the need to access the roof
- Provide fixed walkways and guardrails for inspection and routine maintenance on cranes or large plant
- Consider long service life lighting, with the capability to lower the lighting heads for maintenance
Training & culture
- Establish and promote a strong safety culture to empower workforce to prioritise safe operations over all else
- Incorporate thorough safety design and planning into your operations
- Encourage reporting of near misses to promote a culture of prevention through learning from mistakes
- Ensure that you adapt all processes and procedures to your specific operation including suitable risk assessments, safe systems of work and permits to work – there is no one-size-fits-all approach
Remember
- Conduct thorough risk assessments to remove the working at height risk at planning stage
- Where working at height cannot be avoided, ensure suitable access equipment or fall restraint systems are in place
- Develop a safe system of work from your risk assessment, which should also include a permit to work procedure.