PROFESSIONAL SAFETY FIGURES FOR WORK AT HEIGHT (ANSI Z359)
In the world of industrial safety, it is common that faced with the need to cover different areas jointly, support is required with consultants, trainers, etc. Unfortunately, we do not always end up implementing the good solution after which we work hard and in some other cases, we even end up with the most confused ideas. Of course this is not the most desirable and when it does not depend on fortuitous situations, with very high degrees of complication, then it may be that the wrong consultant or trainer has been chosen.
Based on this assumption, it then becomes interesting to give a reading and interpretation focused on the ANSI Z359 Technical Standard which, although in a generic way (like any standard), actually explains everything and very well, based on its basic terminologies that They are used to determine the different professional figures, their hierarchy and, above all, what is required to achieve and cover them in a truly professional manner:
1. Authorized Person: is the technician or worker who performs the work and that simple, must have the training (training when at heights) to use personal protection equipment, follow the procedures and instructions of the supervisor, in addition to reporting unsafe conditions.
2. Competent Person: is the supervisor and crew leader who, in addition to the previous training, must have more advanced knowledge to be able to detect unsafe acts or conditions, solve them or report them in a timely manner. In addition, his work extends to the development and review of plans and procedures that involve risk management. This figure, related to vertical work (rope access) is the one with level 3 (IRATA, SPRAT, IWR Seal, etc.).
3. Competent Person Trainer: is the professional who, in addition to training and knowledge, also has experience. Having the task of training supervisors, goes hand in hand that this term "broad" should be understood in a scheme of several years of experience (also as work in supervision and management), although of course it cannot be objective because it will always depend of the case. The training itself should cover several areas of knowledge, but also different visions acquired through different institutions, models or levels. All those people who are dedicated to the training of the highest technical levels (supervisors and managers) fall into this category and from here on continuous training (better if annual) is not only recommended, but extremely necessary.
4. Qualified Person: upon reaching this level, the degree of experience increases at the same time, as well as the panorama of knowledge that is required, since ANSI Z359 places particular emphasis on the design and calculation of anchoring systems (while the qualified person can only inspect them) as well as knowledge of mathematics, applied physics, etc. The same standard also underlines the need for these professional figures to have all the normative and operational knowledge of the different jobs at heights, for which they should cover all the points that correspond to the previous figures. Specialists such as calculation engineers, preventionists, champions, consultants, auditors, etc. fall into this category. that have specific training, knowledge and experience in heights (preferably all operational models, including rope access).
5. Qualified Person Instructor: it is the last step and the difference is once again provided by experience (all of the above for years), training (several international certifications) and knowledge that basically materializes in academic, professorial and scientific activity (researchers). In a few words, it is a question of a not so frequent figure and that is comparable to a postgraduate university professor since his students are not just any person, but experts in the same subject. (Those from point 4).
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Of course, the aforementioned standard does not indicate the years of experience, the number of certificates, the institutions that issue them, etc. and it is a fact that the general level will be different in each country, although the auspicious thing will be to constantly promote an increasingly higher professionalism since professional figures save lives and improve the quality of many of them, being experts in security matters. For this reason, correctly selecting the courses and consultancies based on the prestige and/or solidity of the institution and the speaker will always be the most important thing to avoid falling into those options that are not very consistent, which in fact are still very fashionable due to the attractiveness of low cost or limited duration. Without ruling out the importance of economic management for any person or company, it is always good to remember that poor training does not provide good final results and therefore fails to promote the expected savings for the expenses generated after an accident or a breach that falls on sanctions. Also, if we want to grow in our professional sphere with good investments, it will always be a better option to find a significant training program, as opposed to several of low quality.
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Author: Franco Grasso
Director of the IWR Academy and Ronin Lift Mexico
Head of the Birta Moles Vertical Rescue Area
Director of the National School of Mountaineering and Alpine Rescue ItalianTREK
CTS-AIOLaF - STPS - CE - OSHA - SPRAT - IRATA - ISA - GWO - ARIM-CONACYT - RENEC-CONOCER
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