7 November, 2024

Do not take the plunge – Avoid falling down

An aerial work platform is a safe and effective means of access for undertaking temporary work at height, but the machine is only as safe as the person operating it. If powered access equipment is used incorrectly, unsafely or by inexperienced people, accidents and fatalities are more likely to happen.

Types of falls

The most common types of falling from a platform occur by:

Not wearing a safety harness and not attaching a lanyard in boom-type AWPs
Over reaching
Using the guardrails or toe boards to gain extra reach
The AWP being hit by an object or vehicle and the operator and occupants are ejected from the platform
Technical or mechanical failure
Violation/behavioural incidents

What can you do to minimise the risk of a fall occurring? Safety measures to reduce the risk of falling from the platform include:

Planning

First and very importantly: plan thoroughly.

Machine selection

Machine selection is critical: where possible, conduct a professional site survey to ensure you have the correct machine for the job. This survey will include the machine’s working height and outreach required, the weight and size of the machine and its proximity to other equipment and structures.
-Know your machine: operators should be trained on the category of machine and be familiarised on the specific model they are using. Correct machine familiarisation could potentially reduce the risk of a fall from the platform. Familiarisation will cover anchor points, entry and exit to the platform, safe working load, maximum allowable wind speed and other key areas to prevent falls occurring.

Fall protection

If personal fall protection equipment is required, all occupants in the platform must attach their lanyards to the correct anchor point. Ensure occupants’ movement within the platform is possible while their lanyards are attached, and do not move the machine or elevate the platform until, and unless, all occupants’ lanyards are attached. Set-up and manoeuvre the machine/platform effectively.

Safe setup and operation

Operators need to ensure that machines are set up in a safe area and that they operate in a safe manner. Knowing the operational characteristics of the machine is crucial. You need to take into account the machine’s tail swing when working in confined areas and the boom and drive ramp effect when operating. Operators must never extend the platform outside the operational envelope of the machine. The safest place is for your feet to stay on the platform deck.

Stay on the platform

The guardrails of the platform are the primary fall prevention method and define the operational envelope of the machine being used: under normal circumstances, you should never exit the platform at height. Unclip/exit only on completion of work when the machine is safely lowered to the ground. If there is an exceptional case where an AWP must be used to gain access or to work from an area at height, then a robust risk assessment must be carried out clearly demonstrating that it is the safest and most effective means of accessing a particular location.