Opening And Edges

www.safetygoodwe.com 

SAFETY TALK 

OPENINGS AND EDGES

Every year at construction industry numbers of people are killed or injured when they fall from an unprotected area or are struck by materials or tools falling from above.

The LAW requires that if you work where it is possible for you to fall 1.8 meters or more, then protection must be provided.

The following list gives an idea of the required protection:-

1. Scaffolds : 
• Guardrails, toe-boards, and brick guards as assessed must be provided to all working levels, also secured ladders are required
2. Floors : 
• Protection must be provided to all floor edges, holes, openings, stairways, and duct openings. Record of Weekly Inspection of Temporary Covers will be completed for all covers. If you require the covers to be removed, make sure you get permission from concern approver, and an agreed method of work is in place.
3. Roofs : 
• Edge protection must be in position at all edges around the perimeter of the roof.
•  If the roof is of a fragile material, crawling boards or ladders must be used. Where openings or fragile skylights occur in the roof, these must be guarded or securely covered 
4. Excavations : 
• All excavations require warning barriers or guardrails. Where the sides are sloping, barriers may be sufficient but if sides are vertical than more than adequate guarding is needed. 
5. Working Alongside Water : 
• Guardrails and lifebelts are required where work is carried out alongside rivers, docks, etc. the provision of life jackets, buoyancy aids, rescue boats etc. may be required as assessed.
6. Manholes, Road gullies etc.
• Strong secured covers are required here as vehicles damage covers and leave traps. At time protection will need to be moved to allow work to progress but this must be done in a controlled manner so that protection is re-fixed once the work is done.
•  Several serious accidents have occurred on contracts where covers have been removed from openings in floors or guarding has been removed from service ducts etc.
•  If you remove protection under instruction make sure it is replaced.
•  Where edge protection is not practical, your method of work must be agreed with organization safety procedures.

IF YOU ARE WORKING ALONGSIDE AN UNGUARDED EDGE OR OPENING TELL YOUR SUPERVISOR / FOREMAN NOW