A fall from height is among the most common causes of serious and fatal accidents at work. This lesson explains when work counts as work at height and what the regulations say about especially dangerous work.
Work at height
Under the general occupational health and safety regulations, work at height is work on a surface that is at least 1 m above the floor or ground and is not permanently protected against falls. This covers roofs, scaffolding, ladders, platforms, landings and edges.
An employee doing such work should have:
- a medical certificate stating that there are no contraindications to work at height,
- training in safe working methods,
- working equipment that protects against falls.
Order of protection
- Collective protection: guardrails, nets, scaffolding with handrails and platforms. It protects everyone and requires nothing from the worker.
- Personal protection: a safety harness with a rope and a shock absorber, attached to a sound anchor point.
A harness protects only if it is fitted, inspected and attached to a point that will bear the load. After a fall, the equipment is withdrawn from use for inspection.
Ladders and scaffolding
- Use a ladder in good condition, placed on stable, level ground.
- When climbing up and down, hold on to the rungs and face the ladder. Keep three points of contact with the ladder at all times.
- Do not stretch or lean beyond the outline of the ladder. Move it instead.
- Use scaffolding only when it has been inspected and accepted and marked as safe. Do not remove handrails and boards.
Rules at height
- Do not throw tools or materials down from above. Hand them over or secure them against falling.
- Fence off the area below the work, so that nobody walks underneath.
- Stop work in strong wind, storms, icing and poor visibility.
- Do not work at height after alcohol or when you feel unwell.
- Report a damaged guardrail, net or handrail and do not use it.
Especially dangerous work
Especially dangerous work is work where the risk of an accident is higher than usual. The employer draws up and updates a list of such work at their workplace. It includes, for example:
- work at height,
- work in tanks, sewers and other confined spaces,
- work using hazardous materials,
- construction, renovation and assembly work carried out without stopping the plant's operations.
Rules for such work (§ 80–81 of the regulation on general BHP provisions):
- the employer provides direct supervision by a designated person and suitable protective measures,
- employees receive instruction that covers, among other things, the assignment of tasks by name, the order of work and the BHP requirements for particular activities,
- when work is done inside a tank, at least one person must stand by outside to provide safety cover (§ 89(1)),
- periodic training takes place at least once a year, not once every 3 years.
Confined spaces
Tanks, manholes and sewers may have too little oxygen or accumulate gases. Do not enter without permission, measurements, ventilation, safety cover and a person keeping watch outside.
Key points
- Work at height begins at 1 m. Collective protection first, then a harness.
- Especially dangerous work: supervision and instruction, and training at least once a year.
- In tanks and sewers, do not enter without permission and safety cover.