Safety Training Presentation No1

Protect yourselves and others from falls and falling objects

V5-8 October 2012
Accidents

Over the last 20 years there have been 12 fatal
accidents within the lift and escalator industry
How have the fatal accidents occurred?
Falling from height and falling objects
Crushing/ struck by moving equipment
Electricity
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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
The Risk

Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
The Risk
43 fatalities in 2010 in UK (all industries).
Of these, 5 were from a height of less than 2m.
In the last three years there have been 13 major injuries
and 23 over 3-day injuries attributed to falls from height
and falling objects reported to LEIA.

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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height - Definitions
The following definitions of equipment are used:
Fall Protection equipment any equipment used to stop injury
from a fall; include guardrails, screens, nets, air bags, work restraint
systems and fall-arrest systems.
Fall Prevention equipment any equipment which stops persons
approaching a fall hazard; includes guardrails, screens and work
restraint systems.
Fall Mitigation equipment any equipment which reduces the
harmful effects of a fall ; includes nets, air bags and fall-arrest systems
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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height Definitions
Work at Height any work in any place, including a place at
or below ground level where, if measures were not taken, a
person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury
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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height - Hierarchy of Controls
General principles from the Work at Height Regs:
Avoid the work at height if possible.
If not possible or practicable then:
Prevent falls by collective measures.
Example: vertical screens, horizontal extension of the
car top, provision of guard rails.
Guardrails on the edge of a flat roof.
If collective measures are not practicable then:

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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height - Hierarchy of Controls
Prevent falls by personal measures
Example: by harness and restraint lanyard restricting
access to the fall hazard (Work Restraint)
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Work restraint
Range for work
Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height - Hierarchy of Controls
Prevent falls by personal measures
Example: by harness and restraint lanyard restricting
access to the fall hazard (Work Restraint)
If, after provision of fall prevention equipment, falls are still
possible then:


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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height - Hierarchy of Controls
Mitigate consequences of a fall by collective
measures (ie put measures in place to minimise
the distance and the consequences of a fall
should one occur).
Example: provide catch nets or air cushions.
If not possible or practicable then:

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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height - Hierarchy of Controls
Mitigate consequences of a fall by personal
measures.
Example: provide a harness and fall-arrest lanyard
NOTE: the provision of personal fall-arrest
measures must be seen as a last resort
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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height - Hierarchy of Controls
Collective measures are always to be given
priority over personal measures.

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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height - Hierarchy of Controls
Collective measures are always to be given
priority over personal measures.

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WORKING
PLATFORMS WORK
RESTRAINT
NETS /
AIR BAGS HARNESS/
LANYARDS
LADDERS & HOP-UPS
Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height Voids During Installation or
Modernization
950mm high guardrails, with a vertical gap of no more than
470mm and toe boards, should be fitted where there is a risk of
falling...
Where this is not practicable, safety nets or sheets should be
used...
Where this is not practicable, use a harness and lanyard to stop
the person reaching the fall hazard (work restraint)...
When this is not practicable, fall arrest equipment must be used.
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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height Voids During Installation or
Modernization
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950mm high guardrails, with a vertical
gap of no more than 470mm and toe
boards, should be fitted where there is a
risk of falling
Where this is not practicable, safety
nets or sheets should be used
Where this is not practicable, use a
harness and lanyard to stop the
person reaching the fall hazard
When this is not practicable, fall arrest
equipment must be used
Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height Voids on Lifts in Service
A horizontal opening greater than 300x300mm from the
edge of a platform or car top creates a risk of falling and
must be reduced or protected
Where a space exists in which a person could fall,
precautions shall be taken in the following order:
Vertical Screen
Horizontal extension of the car top
Provision of balustrades on the car top
A Safe System of Work, which might involve the use of appropriate
personal fall protection system, e.g. work restraint.
(BS 7255:2012 Cl 4.17.2)

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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height Voids on Lifts in Service
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A horizontal opening greater than
300x300mm from the edge of a platform or
car top creates a risk of falling and must be
reduced or protected
Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height Voids on Lifts in Service
Many companies have deemed the 700mm guardrail
height currently in the EN81 Standards to be too low and
require other fall protection systems to be used. EN81-20
when it is issued will require 900mm high guardrail.
Do not lean over or through the guardrail if you do not
have a suitable fall protection system.
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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height Voids on Lifts in Service
If wearing Work Restraint or Fall Arrest systems, ensure
you do not attach to the car whilst on the landing
Disconnect from the car before accessing the landing
Operate Stop switch if connecting to the car top
On the car top, do not attach to the shaft unless the unit is
locked off and tagged out
On the car top, do not connect if the car is to be moved
unless it is an observation or partly enclosed car(risk of
snagging)
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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height Voids on Lifts in Service
Accessing the stop button through open landing doors for
pit access Standards say the stop button should be
accessible from the landing. Are you creating a fall
hazard when accessing it and how can you avoid it?

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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height Voids on Lifts in Service
Are you creating a fall hazard
and how can you avoid it?

Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height Observation and Partly-enclosed
Lifts
Due to the unusual working conditions additional
precautions should be taken when working on these
If protection against falling is not incorporated in the
design of the car top, wear a safety harness and lanyard
attached to a suitable anchor point
Care should be taken when the safety harness is worn
when moving the car to avoid possible snagging of the
lanyard, etc.
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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height Observation and Partly-enclosed
Lifts
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If protection against falling is not
incorporated in the design of the car
top, wear a safety harness attached to
a suitable anchor point
Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height Ladders
Work at height from ladders should be avoided wherever
possible, and should be risk assessed before starting
They should be considered as access/ egress equipment
and only used as a workplace for light work of a short
duration
When in use, ladders should be secured in position eg for
access into lift pits
Never over-reach from a ladder; move it to a better position
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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height Ladders
Before climbing, make sure that:
The rungs are clean
Your boots are not wet or oily
You can keep 3 points of contact at all times
Tools will not fall from your pockets or carrying bag
The bottom of the ladder is away from walkways where
people could knock against it
(continued)

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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height Ladders
Before climbing, make sure that the ladder is:
Not overloaded
Not damaged in any way
On a firm level base
At the correct angle (4 vertical to 1 horizontal)
Securely fixed at the top, middle or bottom (or footed
whilst this is being done)
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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height Moving Platforms in Shafts
A moving platform may be a special platform, a false car or
the lift car itself. It is usually suspended in the well from a
manual or power operated tackle or hoist.
Each has safety devices to arrest uncontrolled descent/
movement and methods of operation which it is essential to
follow, as laid down by your employer
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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height Moving Platforms in Shafts
Summary of safety precautions:
Understand exactly how it is to be used
Regularly test any safety devices
Keep the platform clean and in good working order
Report any defects to your employer

(continued)

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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height Moving Platforms in Shafts
Summary of safety precautions:
Never overload it refer to the load plate
Protect against overtravel
Ensure the controls are protected against accidental
operation
Ensure the platform has guardrails on all four sides
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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height Fixed Scaffolding
Common faults in scaffolding:
Scaffolding not erected or altered and dismantled by a
competent person
Scaffolding not inspected by a competent person at least
every week and records kept
Platform not wide enough (min 600mm or three planks)
No toe boards or guardrails on a working platform
Inadequate support for the boards
(continued)
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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height Fixed Scaffolding
Common faults in scaffolding:
Guardrails too low or gap too big (min 950mm high, max
470mm gap)
Defective, missing or unsuitable boards
Obstructed gangways
Overloading
Slippery surfaces
No proper access ladders or stairs
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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height Fixed Scaffolding
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Obstructed gangway
Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height Fixed Scaffolding
Scaffolding in the well:
Keep the working and intermediate platforms fully boarded
Only remove the minimum number of boards for roping etc.
and replace as soon as complete
Ensure no fall hazards are created by your work
Ensure boards are fixed in place to prevent accidental
movement
Ensure toe boards and guardrails are fixed to prevent
people, materials or tools falling
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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height Mobile Scaffolding
Scaffold towers should be erected and inspected by a
competent person before use and records kept
Towers should be inspected every seven days and records
kept
Mobile scaffolding (or scaffold towers) must be of sufficient
strength and stability for the purpose
Working platform should have guardrails and toe boards
(continued)

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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height Mobile Scaffolding
Maximum height to width ratios must be followed
H not greater than 3xW used outdoors
H not greater than 3

x W used indoors
Max height 12m unless 3xW outdoors or 3xW indoors is less than
12m in which case use the smaller height
W measured over the narrowest part of the frame (or outriggers, if
used)
Follow manufacturers guidance and instruction

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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height Mobile Scaffolding
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H not greater than
3xW used outdoors or
3 x W used indoors
W measured over the
frame (or outriggers if
used)
H
W
Over outriggers
W
Over frame
Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height Mobile Scaffolding
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Maximum height shall
be 12m using
outriggers
unless
3xW outdoors or
3 x W indoors is less
than 12m
in which case use the
smaller height
Max 12m or
3xW outdoors or
3 xW indoors
Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height Mobile Scaffolding
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Poor Example:
Scaffold tower too narrow,
insufficient diagonal bracing,
no guardrails or toe boards on
working platform and no
access ladder
Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height Mobile Scaffolding
Examine parts before use and reject any faulty parts
When moving the tower ensure it is level, the wheels are
supported on a suitable surface, and are locked before use
Never move the tower with people, tools or materials on it
Position the tower to prevent over-reaching
Climb to the working platform using the integral ladder
inside the frame
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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height Access Routes across Roofs
In many lift installations, access to machine rooms is gained
by crossing roofs. This access should not present a risk to
the safety of people who use it
Safe access and egress should be by permanently installed
equipment that adequately controls any risk of a fall
If not, then action is required to install these facilities or to
provide them whenever the work requires. This may
include sufficient lighting to be able to see the hazards in
the first place
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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height Access Routes across Roofs
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Unprotected
edge with trip
hazard and no
external lighting
Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falls from Height Access Routes across Roofs
Check to ensure that any surface or material adjacent to
where you are working or accessing supports your weight
and anything you may be carrying avoiding fragile roofs and
skylights
Ideally, a safe access route should be indicated so that the
route does not go within 2 metres of any fragile material or
any unprotected edge
Duckboards should be at least 600mm wide with handrails
to prevent falls onto vulnerable materials
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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falling Objects
Under the Work at Height Regulations steps must be taken
to prevent the fall of any material or object that may injure
people
Where it is not reasonably practicable to take suitable steps
to prevent the fall of material or objects, then action must
be taken to prevent people being struck by the falling
material or object

(continued)
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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falling Objects
When working in the shaft, it is not considered safe practice
for one person to be directly above another unless it is
absolutely essential for the work to take place e.g. hoisting
and fixing guide rails
In this case, protection e.g. netting/ scaffold boards/ rope
upstands should be in place so that any fall of material or
equipment does not injure the person working below
Lockable gates will restrict access when not required

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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falling Objects

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Lockable gates will restrict
access when not required.
A hoarding may also be used

Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falling Objects
Where lifts share a common shaft and no full height division
screens are fitted, then any work on lift cars in adjoining
shafts should be conducted with the cars positioned at the
same level so that objects cannot fall onto adjoining lifts
Alternatively, the cars could be positioned at top and
bottom of shaft and LOTO whilst work is undertaken on the
lower car
(continued)
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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Falling Objects
Consider work in a machine room rope hole voids may
need protection to stop small tools and equipment falling
through into the shaft.
When assessing the potential for falling objects, also
consider small objects which may fall through gaps in the
platforms or through mesh decking (e.g. coins falling from
pockets)

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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Case Study
Engineer undertaking work on top of shaft equipment using
a ladder on the top of the car

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Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects

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Ladder
300mm Gap
Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Case Study
Engineer fell from ladder through the 300mm gap

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with fatal consequences
Protect yourselves and others from falls and
falling objects
Supervision
HSE advise that supervision arrangements must be
appropriate and proportionate to the risk work on or
near to open voids, inexperienced staff etc
Personnel under training need to be supervised
Auditing arrangements for peripatetic workers
Ideally a formal inspection when manager goes on site to review
and record evidence of safe working procedure.
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LEIA Safety Charter
Protect yourselves and others from falls and falling objects.
Use and verify Stop and other devices when accessing,
egressing and working on car tops and in lift and escalator
pits to ensure total control of the equipment.
Electrically isolate and lock off when power is not required
and when working close to unguarded machinery.

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LEIA Safety Charter

Now being incorporated into the new edition of the LEIA
Site Safety Handbook.

We ask you to sign in this handbook, to commit to the three
elements of the Safety Charter
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Thank You for attending
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