JO Work at Height

Frequently Asked Questions

What isWork at Height?

Work performed where there is potential for a person to sustain injury by falling from one surface to another surface that is not at the same level.

Do I have to have a certificate or a permit to Work at Heights?

Yes, at minimum Work at Height requires a General Permit to Work, a JSA, and a completed Work at Height Checklist. A rescue plan should also be in place in the event of an emergency.

What hazards should I look for regarding work at height?

  • Physical capabilities (and competency) of the workers.
  • Likelihood of falling.
  • Risk of injury to a person if a person falls.
  • Risk of falling objects to workers below.
  • Work activity (the proposed work at height).
  • Obtaining access to, or egress from location (for the proposed work at height).
  • Equipment to be used (for example, ladders or MEWPs) and associated hazards.
  • Duration of the work.
  • Location of the work activity (to determine the presence of hazards).
  • Work environment (weather conditions, lighting, space, etc.).
  • Condition and stability of the existing work surfaces.
  • Potential fall path.
  • Proximity to electrical conductors/overhead power lines.
  • Load-bearing capacity of working surface.
  • Hazards introduced by the use of control measures must also be considered
  • Example: Ensure Man lift does not make contact with live process lines
  • Emergency procedure(s) required in the event of an incident.

What if an Anchor point is not available?

Anchorage points for fall-protection devices shall be, where practical, above the head of the worker. The anchorage point must ensure that, in the event of a fall, the path below will be free of obstacles or other hazards, and the worker will neither swing nor touch the ground.

Always evaluate Work at Height by the following measures to address concerns for anchor points:

  • Elimination – for example, performing work at ground level instead of at height.
  • Substitution – for example, using a Man lift instead of a ladder.
  • Engineering controls – for example, installing stairs instead of using vertical ladders, fall arrest blocks with mobile anchor points, or safety railings

Anchorages used for attachment of personal fall-arrest equipment shall be independent of any anchorage being used to support or suspend platforms and capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds (2268 kg) or 22.2 kN (kilonewtons) per attached employee.

When is 100% tie off required?

Personal fall protection (harnesses and lanyards) must be worn by personnel who are exposed to falls. One hundred percent tie off is required. Personnel Working at Height must always be connected (tied off) so that they are protected by their fall-arrest system or work-positioning system while ascending, descending, moving point to point, or conducting work activity.

This requirement extends to:

• Personnel working on scaffolds that are not completely enclosed by guardrails and midrails.

• Workers erecting scaffolds and those who are working outside of handrails and at elevations of six feet (183 cm) or more above a working surface.

*Workers on scaffolding do not have to be tied of if the scaffold is built correctly and adequate fall prevention is in place.

Do portable ladders need to be tied off?

When the ladder is properly positioned, at least three feet should extend above the point ofthe top support to provide a safe handhold for getting on or off the upper end ofthe ladder. To prevent the ladder from slipping, tie off the top with a rope or ladder with a lash. When possible, use a second person to hold the ladder.

What are the harness and lanyard requirements at JO?

JO requires workers at height to use a full body harness and a shock absorbing lanyard. The lanyard and body harness must be inspected before use and be fitted correctly to the user. The equipment used must meet the specifications in the table below.

Personal Fall Arrest Equipment Specifications
Device / Minimum Tensile Strength / Other
Connectors:
D-Rings
Locking-type snap hooks / 5000 lbs. (2268 kg) / Smooth, drop forged, pressed or formed steel, corrosion-resistant
Proof Tested 3600 lbs.(1633 kg)
Anchorage / 5000 lbs. (2268 kg) / Independent of anchorage used to support suspended platforms, etc.
Lanyard/ Lifelines / 5000 lbs. (2268 kg) / Separate lifelines for each worker
Harness / 1800 maximum arresting force
Free fall no more than 6 feet (1.8 meters)

Is a harness required to work on a scaffolds or platforms?

This requirement extends only to personnel working on scaffolds and platforms that are not completely enclosed by guardrails and mid rails provided the scaffold is constructed correctly to manufacture’s specifications.

Does wind speed affect W@H?

Yes, Scaffolds and ladders become unstable with high wind speed. A good guideline is to use the 20 mph restriction JO uses for lifting.

Where do we get wind speed information?

Wind speed can be obtained from the Heavy Equipment Dispatcher in MMD. (Wind speed does vary from location to location)

Working on roofs, where do we have anchor points?

Roof work fall protection systems available to the contractor at JO include:

  • Guardrail Systems
  • Personal Fall Arrest Systems
  • Positioning Device Systems
  • Safety Net Systems

Similar to the work being conducted, fall protection requires planning and design at the beginning of the project. OSHA requirements - 29 Code of Federal Regulations, Subpart M, Fall Protection are good guideline that JO recommends.

Scaffolding tag requirements, how frequent are inspections required?

Scaffolding must be inspected at regular intervals of at least every 7 days by a competent person, or following any modification, or as soon as practical if the scaffold has been subject to overloading, damage or extreme weather conditions.

Where is the anchor point on beams, how do I tie off?

There are a number of portable anchor points available on the market. The anchor point must have a minimum tensile strength of 5,000 (2268 kg or 22.2 kN (kilonewtons). The beam used for the anchor must meet the design requirements and tolerances required by the manufacture of the portable anchor device.

1 of 3Version 2 – 25/07/2010