231 CALL 132 100 OR SHOP 24/7 AT RSEA.COM.AU CLICK&COLLECT FREE Pick-up from our Stores WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FALLS FROM HEIGHT PREVENTION, PROTECTION & RESCUE 1 Always consider the hierarchy of control when working at height Avoidance - avoid all unnecessary work at height. Permanent Access - use walkways and gantries where possible. Temporary Working Platforms - the use of scaffolding, cradles and mobile platforms. Collective Measures are Preferable to Personal Measures - handrails, safety netting, airbags or landing mats Personal measures can be split into three categories: 1. Restraint Technique 2. Work Position / Restrained Fall 3. Fall Arrest 2 If a fall can occur you must be protected • Never work alone. • Check that you have safe clearance below. • Always have a rescue plan. PPE for arresting falls must include: • Anchorages (refer to AS/NZS 1891.4 & AS 5532 for guidance). • A Full Body Harness correctly fitted. • A Fall Arrest Device that will: - Ensure shock loads do not exceed 6kN. - Arrest the fall in a known distance. - Arrest the fall and prevent the user colliding with obstacles. • Connectors - suitable for linking the system. 3 The effects a fall will have on you • Even if you use suitable fall arrest equipment a fall will still be a traumatic experience. • You may collide with obstacles during the fall. • You may be unconscious or in shock. • Suspension in a harness if left unchecked can cause serious medical complications. 4 Suspension in a harness can lead to suspension trauma • If you are suspended after a fall you may experience pressure points from the harness that can cause pain and restrict your circulation. If this is left unchecked it can lead to tingling sensations in your limbs, dizziness and eventually a loss of consciousness. • If you can move you may be able to relieve the effects, but you need to be rescued. A temporary aid may also help reduce the effects. • If during the fall you are knocked unconscious then you will be unaware of these effects. They will still occur, but you will not be able to ease them and you need to be rescued. • The effects can begin within a few minutes. Rescue should be carried out as quickly and as safely as possible. Ideally rescue should take no longer than 5 minutes. • When the pressure is released from the harness you must also take care as blood and toxins will be released back into your system. You need to help prevent this happening too fast. It is better to sit or stand, not to exert yourself and seek medical advice. Tell them what happened and how long you were suspended for. PPE - HEIGHT SAFETY WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FALLS FROM HEIGHT See next page for points 5, 6 & 7.
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