When working at heights, safety should always be the top priority. It is essential to take the necessary precautions to ensure that all workers are safe while they are performing any tasks at a height. These precautions can include having the right equipment, such as full body harnesses and fall arrest systems, properly training workers on how to use the equipment correctly, conducting regular inspections of all equipment and having a plan in place for emergency situations.
Hierarchy of Hazard Controls
As with any works, the hierarchy of hazard controls should be used:
- Eliminate the need to work at height
- Reduce the amount of at height working, or time spent working at height
- Isolate the at height works from other people in the workplace (through barriers and signage)
- Control measures – ensure these are in place
- Personal Protective Equipment – often the ‘last line’ of defence – where no other collective measures can be applied
- Discipline – making sure that those working at height are adequately supervised.
Working at Height safely is particularly important in the events and entertainment industries. For this reason, it is important that employers provide their employees with the proper skills, knowledge and event safety training so they can work safely on stage structures, rigging, catwalks and scaffolding structures. This also includes providing workers with the correct personal protective equipment (PPE), such as fall restraint, harnesses, helmets and appropriate footwear.
It is also important to make sure that proper risk assessments have been conducted before anyone begins working at heights. These assessments should consider factors such as weather conditions and potential hazards that could be present onsite – for example, if a ladder is going to be used then it needs to be secured properly so it does not move when someone is using it – there also needs to be an alternative means of access provided should the ladder become unsafe or unreliable. In addition to this, workers should also receive adequate instruction on how to use any height safety equipment they might need while working at heights – such as harnesses or lanyards – so they know exactly what steps they need to take in order to stay safe while performing their tasks.
The right equipment
Alongside ensuring that workers have the right equipment and instructions for working safely at heights, employers should also train them on how to identify potential hazards that could lead to falls from heights as well as how best to avoid them in the first place. This could include teaching workers about issues such as poor housekeeping procedures or even helping them spot any existing defects around them which may increase their chances of falling from heights. Moreover, employers can even promote certain practices amongst their staff – like taking regular breaks throughout the day so fatigue does not set in which could impair judgement – which can help improve overall health and wellbeing during events involving working at height safety alike.
Finally, for further assurance regarding worker’s safety during events involving working at height safety employers should always consider creating clear policies outlining exactly what measures need to be taken before anyone engages in any activities requiring elevated access – such as checking any relevant permits required by state or local laws – alongside establishing detailed inspection regimes which would make sure all pieces of height safety equipment are regularly tested by trained professionals prior to use in order ensure maximum performance efficiency whenever needed.