Construction is still one of the most dangerous sectors of the economy. It is worth noting that workers working on construction sites often work in extreme conditions. Therefore, those involved in the construction (company directors, construction site managers, works managers) should comply with the regulations and try to organize ergonomic and safe workplaces in order to minimize the risks associated with uneliminated hazards. This will significantly reduce accidents during construction works and reduce the physical and mental burden. A fall from a height is the cause of every 6 fatal accidents in the entire national economy and as many as every 3 fatal accidents in construction.

Work at a height is work carried out on a surface at least 1 m above floor or ground level. It does not count as work at the height of work on a surface, regardless of the height at which it is located, if this surface:

• is covered on all sides up to a height of at least 1.5 m by solid walls or walls with glazed windows,

• is equipped with other fixed structures or devices to protect the worker against falling.

Work at height is classified as particularly dangerous work. Every construction entrepreneur (employer) carrying out particularly dangerous work is obliged to establish and update the list of these works occurring in his workplace, in particular:

• ensure direct supervision of this work by designated persons. These may be, for example, managers of construction sites or specific works, authorised to perform independent technical functions in construction;
• guarantee the safety of persons performing particularly dangerous work by other workers who do not directly carry out these works, equip employees with personal protective equipment tailored to the type of work performed and hazards that can be activated (e.g. fall protection equipment) and train employees in the use of these means,
• introduce protective devices, e.g. covers (barriers) of dangerous places, marking of hazardous zones and places (e.g. openings in ceilings, ceilings, window openings without joinery).
• carry out employee briefing, which should primarily take into account the personal division of work, the order in which tasks are performed, health and safety requirements for individual activities.

When planning work at heights, the first step is to use the hierarchy of risk control in order to apply the safest working methods that practical considerations allow. First of all, it is necessary to consider whether a task can be completely eliminated or whether it is possible to reduce work at height to the necessary minimum. If the task cannot be carried out in accordance with these assumptions, then the use of collective protection measures, i.e. safety measures, balustrades, protective scaffoldings, screens, etc., should be considered. The last acceptable solution is the use of personal protective equipment, because – unlike those mentioned – their correct use depends on the employees. Moreover, those measures protect only those who apply them.

It is also worth paying attention to two important elements when planning work at heights. First, the priority of collective protection measures over personal protective equipment (PPE) results from the provisions of Polish law. Secondly, the convenience of working with the use of collective protection measures – popularly known as security devices on construction sites – is much greater than in the case of using only PPE. Therefore, PPE must not be allowed to be the only safety measures applied on the construction site.

Source: https://www.seka.pl/praca-na-wysokosci-sport-ekstremalny/

Supported by Norway through Norway Grants 2014-2021, in the frame of the Programme “Social Dialogue – Decent Work”.