Work at Heights

The risks arising from working at heights, including persons or objects falling, are to be identified, assessed and controlled in the Project Risk Register, in accordance with the hierarchy of controls

All access and fall risks associated with Work at Heights MUST be identified, recorded in Project Risk Register and provided to subcontractors

Subcontractors to be informed that Baseline Projects only allow platform ladders to be used on site in general circumstances. Use of other types of ladders must only occur following a risk assessment and approval from the Site Manager

Emergency procedures specific to scope of works, e.g. crane rescue, are to be developed by the project team and understood at the planning stages

All contractors must identify any High Risk activity within their scope of work, evidence of experience carrying out this activity, provision for full time supervision, relevant licenses and competencies of supervisor and workers

All contractors are required to develop and submit, a specific safe system of work, e.g. SWMS, for this High Risk activity to the Baseline site representative for approval (7days) prior to commencing works

This MUST include an Emergency Procedure / Rescue Plan, evidence that supervisors and workers are trained in the procedure

The Baseline expectation is that our contractors will follow all safety requirements listed within our standards

Note: Rope access contractors MUST hold IRATA / SPRAT qualification with *L3 supervisor on site at all times

Note: All roofing workers MUST hold a WAH ticket to work on Baseline projects, this may form part of TAFE training

Proposed methodology to be reviewed by Project Team and assess for need to conduct activity specific High Risk Workshop.

(If required) High Risk Workshop to be conducted with contractor undertaking activity and Baseline Project Team.

Methodology, competencies and timing MUST be confirmed and agreed with all stakeholders

Emergency rescue procedure MUST be agreed by all stakeholders

Prior to commencing activity a Work at Heights / Rope Access Permit MUST be submitted by the subcontractor supervisor and approved by the Baseline site manager / supervisor

For complex work at height tasks a High Risk Workshop MUST be conducted and include all stakeholders involved in the activity and emergency rescue procedure

The outcome of the High Risk Workshop MUST be communicated to the workers involved in the form of a TBT and emergency rescue plan agreed

Note: Competencies required to be confirmed / All Rope access work requires a L3 supervisor to be on site at all times

Baseline site manager / supervisor MUST periodically monitor the WAH / Rope Access activity until the work activity has been completed.

A Task Observation required to be conducted by a Baseline Project Team member to record the works being carried out as per approved SWMS, amendments should be made to SWMS if observation identifies improvements

Rope Access - L3 Supervisor MUST be present at all times to ensure work is carried out safely and requirement of Permit/COP

At the end of the activity the subcontractor supervisor MUST confirm the work has been completed and all workers have vacated the WAH area and request permit closure of

The Baseline site manager / supervisor MUST confirm the workers have left the area, area has been made safe and close out the WAH / Rope Access permit

Where possible works are to be conducted from ground level, e.g. fabricating items on the ground prior to installation at heights. Where possible, installing guardrails to perimeter structural members before erection.

Anchorage points, fall prevention and/or fall protection equipment are to be destroyed if the load-bearing capacity is impaired, there are signs of excessive wear, or following a fall.

When considering work at heights, preference shall be given to the nature of the work in the order of:

Where practicable to do so, fall prevention devices (i.e. temporary work platforms, scaffold or temporary edge protection) shall be utilised where fall from height hazards/risks are present

Plant safety devices are to be verified as operational during Plant Inductions and daily pre-start inspections

Persons working at heights are to be appropriately trained and / or qualified for the works. Persons operating Mobile Elevating Work Platforms are to be appropriately trained and / or qualified for the specific item of plant to be operated

Non-slip footwear shall be worn when working at heights.

Harnesses are to be worn and tethered to designated anchor points at all times when exposed to a fall from height risk, when working in Boom EWPs or where deemed required for Scissor Lift EWP as per risk assessment / plant risk assessment / permit conditions.