There has been much confusion about standards for working from heights within industries for many years. This is especially true when the work is on top of trucks, railcars and ISO containers, which are considered the rolling stock.
Many times there is very limited fall prevention for operators. When it is not possible to eliminate a hazard, you should control the hazard using the following methods (in order):
- Elimination engineered controls (passive fall protection)
- Fall restraint -- Restricts or prevents workers from reaching a hazard
- Fall arrest -- Protects the operator if they should fall
- Administrative controls
It takes most people about one third of a second to become aware of a fall. It takes another third of a second for the body to react. A person can fall up to 7 feet in two thirds of a second. Many times fall arrest systems are used without fully understanding what is compliant. Companies continue to be cited for failing to provide adequate fall protection. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported fatal work injuries involving falls increased 5 percent in 2006 after a sharp decrease in 2005. The 809 fatal falls in 2006 were the third-highest total since 1992, when the fatality census began.
Being attentive to available advancements is part of your required awareness. You must start by understanding what and where the hazards exist within the tasks and applications being performed.
Why is it important to create written standards for working from heights, especially when accessing the tops of trucks, railcars and ISO containers? Operator protection, reduction of near-miss incidents and recordable injuries, compliance with regulations and standards, standardization of solutions and best practices throughout the organization, upgrades and efficiency improvements.
For more information, visit www. benkoproducts.com, email info@benkoproducts.com or call (440) 934-2180.
