What Does Work at Heights Compliance Actually Involve?

Work at heights compliance is not created by one document, one training certificate or one item of equipment.

It depends on a number of controls working together so that the work is properly planned, the fall risks are identified, suitable protection is provided and the people carrying out the work are competent to do so safely.

A compliant work-at-height arrangement may include:

• A suitable fall protection plan
• A site-specific fall-risk assessment
• Appropriate fall-prevention or fall-arrest systems
• Suitable anchor points and anchor lines
• Workers who are trained and medically fit
• Inspection and maintenance of fall-protection equipment
• A practical rescue plan
• Competent supervision
• Suitable access equipment
• Records and documentation that match the actual work being performed

The important point is that all of these elements must work together. A site can have certificates and equipment in place and still have serious gaps in the overall work-at-height system.

Fall Protection Planning for Work at Heights

Before work at height starts, the work must be properly planned and the fall risks must be identified.

The fall protection plan should reflect the actual work being carried out, the site conditions, the access method, the fall hazards and the equipment that will be used.

Important elements include:

• A site-specific fall-risk assessment
• The method used to prevent or control falls
• The equipment and anchorage system to be used
• Training and competence requirements
• Medical fitness requirements
• Inspection, testing and maintenance arrangements
• A practical rescue plan
• Supervision and control of the work

The fall protection plan should not be a generic document that could apply to any site. It should describe how the actual work will be carried out safely.

For more detailed guidance, see our article on CR10 compliance from risk assessment to fall protection plan.

Anchor Points and Anchor Lines for Work at Heights

Where workers rely on personal fall protection, the anchorage system becomes a critical part of the overall work-at-height arrangement.

Suitable anchor points and anchor lines must be selected for the actual work being performed, the number of users, the movement required and the loads that could be imposed on the system.

This may include:

• Single-user anchor points
• Horizontal anchor lines
• Vertical anchor lines
• Roof anchor systems
• Davit systems
• Monorail systems
• Specialised façade-access anchorage

An anchor should never be treated as suitable simply because it looks strong or because workers have used it before.

The anchor device, fixing method and supporting structure all form part of the load path and must be suitable for the intended fall-protection application.

Where existing anchors are already installed, facilities and safety managers should be able to establish what the system is, how it may be used and whether the supporting records and inspection history are available.

For more guidance, see Fall Protection Anchor Points in South Africa and What to Do When Roof Anchor Certification Records Are Missing.

Training, Competence and Medical Fitness for Work at Heights

People working at height need more than a general safety induction.

The training and competence required should match the actual work being performed, the equipment being used and the responsibilities of the person involved.

This may include training for:

• Fall arrest
• Fall arrest rescue
• Fall protection planning
• Temporary Suspended Platform operation
• Temporary Suspended Platform erection
• TSP supervision
• Aluminium access tower erection and use
• Ladder use
• Other specialised work-at-height equipment or systems

A person may hold a valid certificate and still not be competent for every type of work at height.

The key question is whether the person is trained, competent and medically fit for the specific work they are expected to perform.

Medical fitness is also an important part of work-at-height planning. A worker should be medically suitable for exposure to fall-risk positions and the physical demands of the task.

For more guidance, see Is Working at Heights Training Compulsory in South Africa? or view our Work-at-Heights Training programmes.

Rescue Planning for Work at Heights

Fall-arrest equipment can stop a worker from hitting the ground, but it does not rescue them.

Before work starts, there must be a practical plan for what will happen if somebody falls and is left suspended in a harness.

A suitable rescue plan should identify:

• How the casualty will be reached
• Who will carry out the rescue
• What rescue equipment will be used
• Where the casualty will be recovered to
• How the rescue can be started immediately

Rescue arrangements must match the actual work location, access method, fall-protection system and possible position of a fallen worker.

“Call emergency services” is not a complete rescue plan.

A suspended worker can develop suspension trauma or orthostatic intolerance, which is one of the reasons rescue arrangements must be capable of being activated without unnecessary delay.

For more detail, read Work at Heights Rescue Plan: What Must Be in Place Before Work Starts?.

Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Work-at-Height Equipment

Work-at-height equipment must remain suitable and serviceable throughout its use.

This means employers and site managers should know what equipment is being used, what inspections are required, who is competent to carry them out and what records must be kept.

Depending on the system, this may include:

• Harnesses and lanyards
• Connectors and energy absorbers
• Anchor points and anchor lines
• Temporary Suspended Platforms
• Building Maintenance Units
• Aluminium access towers
• Davit and monorail systems
• Other fall-protection and access equipment

Pre-use checks, periodic inspections, testing and maintenance should be carried out in accordance with the applicable requirements, manufacturer instructions and the type of equipment involved.

Equipment that is damaged, modified, unidentified or of uncertain history should not simply remain in service because it has been used before without incident.

Inspection records should also be available so that the person responsible for the site can demonstrate that the equipment has been checked and maintained appropriately.

Managing Contractors Working at Height

Appointing a contractor does not mean site management should simply assume that all work-at-height risks have been dealt with.

Before contractors are allowed to work at height, the person responsible for the site should have confidence that the work has been properly planned and that suitable fall-protection, competence, equipment and rescue arrangements are in place.

This includes understanding:

• What work will be carried out
• Where the fall risks are
• How those risks will be controlled
• Where workers will attach
• Whether the workers are trained and medically fit
• Whether the equipment is suitable and inspected
• Who will supervise the work
• What happens if somebody falls

The contractor may be the specialist, but the site should still have confidence that the proposed work-at-height arrangements are suitable before work starts.

For more guidance, see What Should a Facilities Manager Check Before Contractors Work at Height? and Does Appointing a Contractor Remove Your Work-at-Height Responsibility?.

Access Systems and Suspended Access for Work at Heights

Not every work-at-height task should be approached in the same way.

The access method must suit the building, the work being performed, the duration of the task and the fall risks involved.

Depending on the site, suitable access may include:

• Temporary Suspended Platforms
• Building Maintenance Units
• Davit systems
• Monorail systems
• Aluminium access towers
• Other purpose-designed suspended or elevated access systems

Each of these systems has its own design, inspection, training, operating and maintenance requirements.

The correct solution is not simply the equipment that can reach the work area. It must also provide a safe and suitable method of access for the actual task.

WAHS provides specialist suspended-access and work-at-height solutions for commercial and industrial buildings, including system design, inspection, training and technical support.

For more information, see our Suspended Access Solutions, Static Davit and Socket Systems and Aluminium Access Towers.

Not Sure Whether Your Work-at-Height Arrangements Are Safe and Compliant?

You do not have to become a work-at-height specialist yourself.

WAHS can assess your site and help identify gaps in fall protection, anchor systems, access equipment, training, inspections, rescue arrangements and documentation.

We can then recommend what needs to be corrected so that the work-at-height system is suitable for the work being performed and the people using it.

Request a work-at-heights compliance assessment and get clarity on what is in place, what is missing and what needs attention.