Confined Space Access - Fall From Height Risk
LOCATION:
AGGREGATE DREDGER
ACTIVITY:
ACCESS & EGRESS & WORKING AT HEIGHT
TITLE
Confined Space Access - Fall From Height Risk
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
WHAT HAPPENED
Civil and Marine Purfleet were conducting a confined space task within the classifier. The local H&S Advisor was on site and reviewed the procedures, most off which were suitable for CS access. However, during the review, it was explained how the staff gained access to the lower reaches of the classifier.
As the photos show, they climbed through he access hatch, then free climbed down to the bottom.
THEY COULD HAVE LOST THEIR GRIP AND FALLEN AT ANY TIME DUE TO THE SLIPPERY NATURE OF THE POLISHED METAL. IF THEY HAD FALLEN, THERE WAS THE POTENTIAL TO BREAK THEIR NECK, BACK OR RECEIVE ANY NUMBER OF INJURIES!
ACCIDENT / INCIDENT IMAGES
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
LEARNING POINTS / ACTIONS TAKEN
The risk assessment and SWP have now been changed and the staff now wear a harness attached to a hoist and climb down a ladder under control of the hoist operator to get to the lower reaches of the classifier.
They remain attached and this now acts as part of the emergency rescue plan.
This re-enforces the need to fully assess the risks associated with confined spaces, with access and egress being equally as important as controlling the specified hazards!
LEARNING POINTS / ACTIONS IMAGES
LOCATION:
AGGREGATE DREDGER
ACTIVITY:
ACCESS & EGRESS & WORKING AT HEIGHT
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