WORK AT HEIGHT PRESENTATION DAVE JONES GROUP HSE MANAGER 27/09/18
WORK AT HEIGHT
PRESENTATION
DAVE JONES
GROUP HSE MANAGER
27/09/18
WORK AT HEIGHT
CASE STUDY
APRIL 2018
Upon opening the hatches of a steel vessel berthed at PD Ports, it was recognised by the stevedores
that the stowage of steel box section cargo within the hold presented significant risk of falls from
height.
Despite attempts to gain adequate information about the stowage of the cargo from the shipper and
loading port, the information did not adequately describe the stowage of the cargo removing the
opportunity for PD Ports to adequately plan for the work at height risks before the vessel had
berthed.
The cargo had been loaded into the hold in 5 separate stacks, three of which had voids ranging from
1 metre to 5 metres between adjacent stacks and to a depth of approximately 8 meters.
Owing to the height of a potential fall, it was recognised that soft landing systems would be
ineffective and the use of Fall Arrest harnesses would be impractical whilst maintaining clear access
to the hold by crane for the discharge of the cargo.
3
BACKGROUND
4
STOW PLAN
8M
Through a consultative approach involving the stevedores, PD Ports Management team and
personnel from other PD Ports operations, it was decided that the best approach to control the falls
from height risks was to mitigate the consequences of a fall by installing scaffolding platforms around
the two island stows at the forward end of the hold.
This method would allow the placement of soft landing systems within the manufacturers range for
safely arresting falls.
The discharge of the Cargo was suspended and a specialist Scaffolding firm was contacted to
assess the hold and design a scaffold platform system around the two forward end stacks of steel.
A Scaffolding company was asked to attend the vessel to review the issues.
The scaffolding company discussed with the management team how to safely erect a scaffold to
allow placement of soft landing bags.
The scaffolding provided Risk Assessments and Methods Statements for erecting the scaffold and
were engaged to install the scaffold the following Monday.
6
PREPARATIONS FOR WORK AT HEIGHT
FALL MITIGATION
FALL MITIGATION
Scaffolding Platforms
erected at 2.5m and 5m
Covered with Fall-Pac TS2
1m wide void completely
filled with soft landing
bags
Soft landing bags used to
control slight height
differential
Tween Deck Lids
used as a barrier
FALL MITIGATION
FALL MITIGATION
FALL MITIGATION
INSTALLATION OF SCAFFOLDING
INSTALLATION OF SCAFFOLDING
SEQUENCE OF DISCHARGE
SEQUENCE OF DISCHARGE
SEQUENCE OF DISCHARGE
SEQUENCE OF DISCHARGE
SEQUENCE OF DISCHARGE
The Installation of the scaffolding to provide safe work at height at the forward end stows took 1 full
day to erect.
Dismantling of the Scaffold to allow for discharging lower levels of the stacks did not incur lost time
as stevedores were able to discharge cargo from other areas in the stow.
The total cost for the scaffolding to be erected and dismantled was passed on to the vessel owners
No incidents or Injuries occurred during the discharge of the cargo.
19
CONCLUSION
Preferred Loading
Keep Load
tight up to
bulkheads to
eliminate falls
into gaps
Where height differences
exist, step cargo down to
reduce free fall height
Keep Gaps between stows as small as
possible, Ideally below 1m
Open End can be
protected easily with
Fall-Pac system or
using other vessel
features
Note:
Max Stow
Height for
Fall-Pac is 5m
21
OTHER METHODS USED
A Brookfield Ports Company
22
Work at Height solutions - Nets
• Creates work at height issues of it’s
own in terms of erection and dismantling
requires eye pads to be welded onto
The side of the vessel
• Requires calculation to determine size
And height of fall.
• Lengthy and complicated, requiring
Expert 3rd party assistance
A Brookfield Ports Company
23
Nets being erected
A Brookfield Ports Company
24
Alsamex, Fall-Pac, etc.
Maximum fall height 2m
Must be clipped together
Can be doubled up to keep fall height low
Alsamex : 2100mm x 700mm x 700mm
Fall-Pac : 2400mm x 670mm x 670mm
2M
Max
2M+
670mm
~
700mm
Single Soft Landing Bags
Must Be placed to provide
at least 2 meters of
coverage from fall edges when
working to maximum fall height
A Brookfield Ports Company
25
Maximum fall height 4.8m
Must be clipped together
Cannot be stacked
Use single units to fill gaps
Unit dimensions
(2400mm x 1800mm x 1300mm)
4.8M
Max
4.2M+
1.3M
Fall-Pac TS2 Units
Must Be placed to provide
at least 4.2 meters of
coverage from fall edges when
working to maximum fall height
A Brookfield Ports Company
26
Catchment Area– British Standards
BS 8411 - Applies to Safety Nets
Fall Heights based on rigging requirements for Safety Nets
No British Standard available for soft landing systems use only testing
requirements
Fall Height Fall Distance
1.0M 3.5M
3.0M 4.0M
6.0M 4.5M
A Brookfield Ports Company
27
BS8411 – Catchment Area
1M2M3M4M5M
3.5M
4M
4.5M
1M
2M
3M
4M
5M
6M
Fall Height Fall Distance
1.0M 3.5M
3.0M 4.0M
6.0M 4.5M
A Brookfield Ports Company
28
Avoidance of risk from work at height
➢ Work from ground level
➢ Loading Configurations
➢ Declining work?
Use equipment or organisational method to prevent falls
➢ Loading / unloading sequence
➢ Work Platforms
➢ Filling Gaps
➢ Physical guardrails / barriers
Minimise the distance and Consequences of a Fall
➢ Provide fall arrest equipment
➢ Collective measures have priority of personal
➢ Soft Landing systems
➢ Nets, Airbags, Cushions
➢ Personal Fall Protection equipment
Hierarchy of Control
A Brookfield Ports Company
29
Selecting Work at Height Equipment
Preventing
Falls
Minimising
Consequences
Collective
Protection
Individual
ProtectionWorking Platforms
Guardrails
Work Restraint
Systems
Rope Access
Fall Arrest Harnesses
Nets / Airbags
Soft Landing Systems
High
Low
Priority
A Brookfield Ports Company
30
Automatic pipe clamps