Minimising Risks with Fall Prevention Systems from 3M Safety

Working to the Height of Safety
How to Minimise Risk with Fall Prevention Systems

Introduction
Working from height is a core element of the construction industry, and it is also an area that carries a significant amount of risk.

Fully compliant fall prevention systems must be installed on both commercial and residential sites to protect workers from the myriad of dangers associated with working in such environments, and although the manufacturing of such systems within Australia is heavily regulated, the installation process is not.

A number of standards have been developed to ensure a high degree of compliance regarding work safety at height, however as the industry is largely self-regulated¹, serious issues regarding the correct installation of these life-saving systems can be compromised.

At present, there are no specific training requirements for installers of fall prevention equipment, other than the general need for 'competence', nor are there any formal training courses available².

In an industry prone to risk, the need for the highest standard of safety equipment that has been correctly installed by extensively trained professionals is paramount. Safety is not an area that the industry can afford to compromise on.

Statistics on Safety
According to Safe Work Australia, over the five years from 2007-08 to 2011-12, 211 construction workers died from work-related injuries, a quarter of which were falls from height³. Of these falls, 18 involved falls from buildings, 15 from ladders and 8 from scaffolding.

Over the same period, 13,735 successful workers compensation claims for serious injury or illness were claimed, 26 percent of which related to falls, trips and slips and almost all of these claims involved either falls from height, or falls on same level⁴.

The data, however, does not specify which proportion of the accidents were related to, or caused by fall prevention equipment, design or installation failures.

In September 2013, Peak industry body for fall protection, the Working at Height Association (WAHA) released a report highlighting the urgent need for regulatory intervention due to the alarmingly high level of unsafe installations of height safety equipment.

The report listed the findings of a three-month audit of commercial and industrial workplaces, which found widespread systematic failure of installations relating to anchors and static lines, guard railing and fixed ladders.

The industry body's findings necessitate the urgency in which the situation must be addressed. A lack of comprehensive training in relation to height safety installations can truly be the difference between life and death for an employee.

Practical Compliance
The consequences of poorly installed or designed fall prevention systems can lead anywhere from workplace injury, downtime and financial liability, to the compromising of a businesses' reputation.

Failure to provide a safe workplace environment can also potentially lead to costly lawsuits and jail time if negligence is proven.

The quality of the componentry used, together with the workmanship of the systems themselves are both critically important factors to achieving a safe and productive workplace. However the equipment also needs to be designed so that workers can complete their job without too many physical restrictions caused by the fall prevention systems themselves - they must enable freedom of movement.

Restrictive systems can result in reduced productivity, leading to higher costs, and the compromising of the project itself due to the sheer inability for a worker to physically complete a job safely.

In addition, the challenging nature of some residential and commercial structures, also mean that fall prevention systems need to be designed to ensure the safety and structural integrity of both old and new buildings. This is where energy absorbing capability is paramount. Energy absorbing dissipation systems enable application to weak and lightweight structures while ensuring maximum safety for employees.

Another point to note is that adequate fall prevention equipment applies to all construction sites whether commercial or residential. Safety measures are required wherever there is a risk of injury, irrespective of fall height. The risk of any fall must be actively managed by respective state laws⁵.

The Solution
A number of key elements must be adhered to when selecting fall prevention systems; high quality componentry, maximum safety, freedom of movement and high energy absorbing capabilities. However these systems will only be effective if they are installed by a highly trained and qualified professional.

3M Safety design and manufacture a comprehensive range of fully compliant, fully customisable, ISO 9001-2000 certified, fall arrest and fall protection systems for commercial and residential roof applications. They also provide industry leading installation and training services throughout the lifetime of their equipment to ensure the safest possible environment for your employees.

Designed to meet the requirements of both the Australian and New Zealand construction industries, 3M Safety's fall prevention systems significantly minimise risk, while maximising safety, productivity and peace of mind.

REFERENCES
[1] HWSA 2013, Fall Crisis - an urgent call to action OHS policy makers and regulators, pg 2. Viewed 6 June 2014; http://www.waha.org.au/fall-crisis
[2] ibid.
[3] Safe Work Australia 2013, Construction Fact Sheet, pg 1. Viewed 6 June 2014; http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/SWA/about/Publications/Documents/430/Construction-Fact-Sheet-2011-12.pdf
[4] Ibid.
[5] Coleman, Quentin. Safe to Work, September 2012. Viewed 7 June 2014; http://www.safetowork.com.au/news/worksafe-queensland-reminds-workers-that-falling-c