A guide to working at height

It is crucial to have the proper knowledge to?work at height. Below we have highlighted some key information and considerations.?

?

Four types of work at height

?

1. Work Restraint

A system whereby a person is prevented from reaching zones that present a fall risk by using personal fall protection equipment?

1.?Limit of user’s movement

2.?Harness attachment point

3.?Anchor

4.?Lanyard

5.?Fall risk area

2. Work Positioning?

A system that enables a person to work supported by PFPE in tension, in such a way that a free fall is prevented. The work positioning device can entirely support the user (full support of weight by the device) or provide partial support.

?

3. Fall Arrest

A fall arrest system physically links the user to the workplace structure by a series of interconnected components which together protect the user, should a fall occur, by applying an arresting force and deceleration through a specified arrest distance.

In the event of a fall, the three objectives of a fall arrest system when used correctly are:

?

• To prevent workers reaching a hazard by arresting the fall.
• Absorb the energy of the fall to reduce impact on the worker. Personal fall protection systems standard, EN 363, requires the impact force on the user to be no more than 6 kN.
• Have a minimum distance of deceleration: this distance will vary depending on the fall arrest system used.

?

4. Rope Access- Work in Suspension?

A form of work positioning, initially developed from techniques used in climbing and caving, which applies practical ropework to allow workers to safely access difficult-to-reach areas. Rope access technicians descend, ascend, and traverse ropes for access and work while suspended by their harness. A work seat may also be used. The support of the rope is intended to eliminate the fall risk, but a fall arrest system should always be used in conjunction as a redundancy system – this can be achieved by using two ropes, a movement line and a safety line.

Work at Height Key Considerations?

?

Minimum Free Space Required

This refers to the free space required beneath someone working at height which, if the operative did fall, would allow the fall to be arrested before the operative contacts a structure, object, or ground level. The user instruction manual supplied with fall arrest products provide information on the minimum free space required, details to consider include:

A?Length of the device under tension.

B?Length of the deployed shock absorber (if in use).

C?Maximum length between the user’s feet and the anchor point on the harness after the fall.

D?Safety clearance recommended.

Fall Factor?

The position of the user’s attachment point to the personal fall protection system relative to the anchor point is important to consider; this helps to

determine the fall factor.

Fall factor is calculated by taking the free fall distance and dividing it by the length of lanyard available to arrest it

For a 2 metre lanyard:

A?Anchor point above user (Preferred option). Free fall distance: 0.5 m (F) Fall factor = 0.5/2 =0.25

B?Anchor point at shoulder level (Non-preferred option). Free fall distance: 2m (F) Fall factor = 2/2 =1

C?Anchor point at foot level (only if there is no other option). Free fall distance: 4m (F) Fall factor = 4/2 =2

Pendulum Effect

Pendulum effect occurs when weight suspended from a pivot can swing freely. When a pendulum is displaced sideways from its resting equilibrium position, it is subject to a restoring force due to gravity that will accelerate it back toward the equilibrium position.

Key

1?Position of user before fall

2?Swing fall trajectory

3?Collision with structure

a?Angle between retractable lanyard and the vertical

How to select the equipment?

To select appropriate height safety equipment, a number of details must be taken into consideration: free space available beneath work area, position of the anchorage point and subsequent fall factor, plus the risk of swinging and subsequent pendulum effect.

To identify a product that can be used for fall arrest, restraint, rope access or work positioning, JSP created simple icons:

Have any more height safety questions? Take a look at our?height safety faq!

?

Find out more about our?range of height safety.?

?

Take a look at our?height safety guide.

?

How can we help?

?

If you have any questions please?contact us?and our team will be happy to help with supply, usage or correct application of our products.