FALL PROTECTION

1.0 DISTRIBUTION
All Departments.

2.0 APPLICABILITY
This document applies to the Xxx Xxx Plant only.

3.0 APPICABLE DOCUMENTS
INM-03-012 Personal Protective Equipments

4.0 APPICABLE FORMS
Nil

5.0 RESPONSIBILITY DEPARTMENT
QA Department
Production Department
Engineering Department

6.0 RESPONSIBILITY
EHS Coordinator

7.0 PURPOSE
To provide guideline to employees and contractors regarding fall protection requirements.

8.0 PROCEDURE
8.1 Access to Workplace
Stairways, ramps or runways shall be provided as the means of access to working levels above or below ground; except where the nature or progress of the work prevents their installation, in which case, ladders or other safe means shall be used. Handrails or cages are will be part of the access fixture.

8.2 Equipment Use, Selection Training
Equipment use, selection and training go hand-in-hand. The end users are responsible to choose the appropriate equipment for the type of job and provide the necessary training to their employees.

8.3 Ladders & Step Ladders
Ladders should be positioned in a stable manner. The recommended base to height ratio is 1:4. Two people should be involved where a person may fall more than 3 meters (measured from base of the ladder to the person’s waist level) when ladder is used.
One doing the climbing while the other person must hold the ladder to make sure it is stable.
Ladders or stepladders are available in various sizes and irrespective of which type is selected; employee using a stepladder or stool should first check the following points:

8.3.1 Clean & Structurally Sound

8.3.2 Splits, loose rivets, bolts, hinges must not be present.

8.3.3 Should be fitted with non-slip steps

8.3.4 Step ladders need to have handrails

8.3.5 All ladders must be inspected (with validity) and tagged to ensure safety.

8.3.6 All ladders used in place of belts shall be especially reserved for that work and shall hooks fitted or tied up properly in suitable position that they rest on shaft.
Note: Metal ladders are never used when doing electrical work.

8.4 Tower Scaffold

8.4.1 The tower scaffolding is used for light work of short duration. The height of the tower scaffold shall not exceed 8 times the smallest base width.

8.4.2 Tower scaffold shall be tied to the building or structure unless the height of the scaffold excluding the handrails and their supports does not exceed three times the smallest base width.

8.4.3 Means of access must be provided.

8.5 Mobile Scaffold

8.5.1 It is mounted on wheels to permit it to be moved from one work place to another. Only casters that have been specially designed to support scaffolding shall be used on any mobile scaffold.

8.5.2 A scaffold caster wheel shall comply with the following requirements:

8.5.3 It must be marked with its safe working-load that shall not be exceeded.

8.5.4 It shall be fitted with a positive locking device to prevent any movement of the scaffold while it is in use.

8.5.5. It shall be fitted with an effective wheel lock to prevent rotation of the wheel.

8.5.6 Access facilities shall be constructed on mobile scaffold.

8.5.7 Prior to moving a mobile scaffold, no person or equipment or material shall be on the working platform or elsewhere on the structure whilst it is in motion.

8.5.8 The height of a mobile scaffold shall not exceed three times the smallest base width, unless it is tied to the building structure. Nevertheless the height shall not exceed 8 times the lesser base dimension.

8.6 Protective Apparel
Anyone who is required to pass or work within areas where there is danger of being struck by falling objects or materials must ensure they put on an approved safety helmet.

8.7 Safety Harness / Life Lines
The person in the performance of his work shall use every safety harness made available or supplied to a person for his personal protection. It shall be of adequate strength, tested and approved. Also the supervisor prior to use by an employee shall inspect it. The person has to ensure he has a safety harness and uses it in a situation where there is a free fall hazard (typically working at heights of 3 meters or more above the ground).

8.8 For accessing high areas at any times, use a man-lift but not forklift.

8.9 Man-Lift
8.9.1. When man-lift is used to access high places, the guardrail in the standing platform must be fully closed. The base of the man-lift must be fully open and locked to an unmovable part of the forklift to ensure that it does not move and is stable.

8.9.2. Only trained personnel are allowed to use it. (Training is provided by the Facilities Department).

8.10 Safety Belts

8.10.1 Any person working at a height of more than 06 ft., shall be provided with a safety belt the other end of which will be tied with a suitable fixture.
8.10.2 The belts and related equipments shall be thoroughly examined prior to each use by the employee. Defective equipment is to be taken out of service immediately and destroyed.

9.0 REFRENCE
The Factory Act, 1948