GHD EPCM Standard operating procedure Working at height May 2013 v1

GHD

EPCM Standard operating procedure

Working at height

Table of contents

2. Scope 3. Duty of care

4. Lifesaving rules; An overview 5. Roles and responsibilities

• 4.1 Operating centre manager (OCM) • 4.2 Project director (PD) • 4.3 Job manager (JM) • 4.4 Staff 6. Procedures 7. References 8. Definitions

1.

Purpose

The purpose of this document is to set out the minimum requirements for GHD staff, visitors and contractors engaged on behalf of GHD to safely assess and manage works at height. Consideration must be given to existing client measures for controlling work at height when visiting any site which is controlled by another party.

2.

Scope

This procedure applies to all GHD employees, contractors and visitors for the purpose of carrying out work activities sanctioned by the practice management group where GHD is engaged in the role of engineering, procurement and construction management. GHD has a duty to provide a safe work place and protect life and property to all staff requiring access to or entering a GHD controlled site or office.

3.

Duty of care

GHD has a duty of care to control any risks associated with work at height under the Model work health and safety Act: 2011. As such, GHD shall aim to eliminate risks from work at height wherever possible. Where this is not possible, GHD shall aim to minimise risks so far as is reasonably practicable.

4.

Lifesaving Rules; An overview

The aim of this procedure is to control the risks associated with hot work in the

workplace. It aims to identify controls which can assist to identify, eliminate, control and otherwise minimise risks to people, premises and the environment which may arise from hot works.

1. Avoid hot works as the first option

2. Anyone undertaking or supervising hot works must be trained to do so 3. An emergency response plan must be in place

4. A safety plan must detail controls for the works being undertaken

5. The environment will be checked before work and monitored during work 6. No works shall take place where oxygen levels are outside of 19.6%- 22.8% in

the atmosphere.

7. The smallest possible quantities of hazardous substances shall be used to perform the task

8. Fire resistant barriers shall be in place 9. Permit to work must be implemented

10. Where isolation of services or equipment is needed, a lock out/tag out system shall be implemented

11. All affected parties shall attend a pre start meeting

12. The GHD job manager shall act as coordinator of activities 13. Barriers and signage must be in place

14. Health monitoring shall be in place where there is any risk of exposure 15. PPE shall be provided relevant to identified risks

Access equipment required? Does the proposed job involve:

Works which present the risk of a fall between levels, or objects falling between levels

Yes

No

No – Not work at height

Yes – Permit to work required

Does the contractors’ safety plan meet the requirements of all SOP minimum standards?

Are barriers in place?

Fixed scaffold verified as safe by a licensed contractor? OR

Access equipment fit for purpose and in place?

Issue work at height permit alongside other permits required

Pre start meeting – all site made aware of no go zone

Go to work

Changed condition – STOP WORK and surrender permit Works complete – Make safe and surrender permit

No – Contractor to review and resubmit safety plan

Yes – implement pre work controls

Work at height permit process

5.

Roles and responsibilities

Ensure funds and preliminary information is gathered with support of the client.

• Implementation of the HSE project systems.

• Ensure that staff are trained and competent for their roles

Job manager •

Development of permit to work system, • Review of contractors Safe systems of work • Implement Lock out/ Tag out system

• Inducting new staff, visitors and contractors to project hazards • Act as liaison to all trades affected by hot works

• Pre start briefings • Issue of permit to work

Contractor •

Undertake pre work assessment of hot work risks • Implement emergency procedures

• Submission of documentation to GHD.

• Ability to prove the use of only competent staff.

• Select smallest quantities of hazardous substances needed to complete the task

• Monitor exposure levels in the workplace • Arrange for health monitoring

• Supply of PPE

• Incorporation into the GHD permit to work system

Staff •

Be inducted project • Attend pre start meetings • Assist in creation of safety plans

• Only operate in areas where they are trained HSE function •

Creation of the permit to work and lock out / tag out system • Review safe systems of work as required

• Attend pre start meetings as required

6.

Procedures

This standard operating procedure draws guidance from

http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/SWA/about/Publications/Documents/632/Mana ging_the_Risk_of_Falls_at_Workplaces.pdf .

When operating on a GHD site, the Job manager shall first establish if the need for work at height can be eliminated. GHD shall aim to eliminate work at height wherever

reasonably practicable.

When any work at height is being conducted on a GHD managed or operated site, the GHD Job manager shall first consider the hierarchy of controls when assessing any contractor safety plan. Where it is deemed that any work at height must take place which involves the use of equipment or plant to reach the working height, or where there is a risk of falls to a hazardous area, a permit to work shall be issued.

Any site or project controlled and operated by GHD shall relay all known hazardous conditions to any sub-contractor prior to any work at height taking place. The project manager shall provide this information through induction to the project. This shall include

high risk areas which have previously been identified from site establishment and are deemed ‘No go’ areas.

From this, a safe system of work (or safe work method statement for high risk works as described in the Model WHS act) shall be established to complete the task by the person responsible for undertaking the works and their supervisor. In the case of a GHD

undertaking works on a GHD site, the safe system of work shall be developed by the employee undertaking. Safe systems of work shall be in the form of a task specific risk assessment.

Any safe system of work involving work at height shall list controls for; • Safe access (This shall include selection of access equipment)

• Competency required for operators (Licensed scaffolder MANDATORY FOR SCAFFOLDS OF 4M AND OVER, plant operator)

• Monitoring of work conditions (Scaffold checks pre work, after changes and periodic, equipment checks)

• Isolation of other parties from height risks (See ‘barriers’) • Emergency planning (In line with site ‘emergency plans’) • Safe egress from the area

• Communication methods

Any safety plans shall also list controls relating specifically to the task to be performed, including measures to protect workers and all other parties from associated risks. Any operative involved in work at height activities must have specific training and licensing to their role.

The GHD job manager shall consult all effected workers through a pre start meeting. This shall highlight the hazards associated with the task, and the controls in place. As a minimum standard, when any work at height is to be undertaken, the area below shall have a barrier in place to restrict access by non-essential workers.

When undertaking work at height to complete an associated high risk activity, a separate permit shall be issued in line with the relevant SOP. Any work at height which also involves hot work as a minimum standard must take place from a fixed stationary platform.

Review of contractors risk assessment

Before any works may begin, or any permit to work issued, the GHD job manager shall review the contractors proposed methodology. When work at height is involved, the following controls shall be implemented as a minimum standard.

• Where work can be performed at ground level, this shall be the first option. • If part of the task can be performed at ground level to minimise work at height,

this shall be implemented.

• A fixed platform shall be the first consideration as a working platform. • Any fixed platform shall be erected and maintained by a licensed scaffolder. • Forms of access to be considered as preferable shall be, Elevated work

platforms, mobile tower scaffolds, enclosed work baskets.

• Ladders shall be used as a means of access and egress only and must be secured.

• Any work platform shall be enclosed by a fixed top and middle rail with a toe board in line with local standards.

• The use of fall restraint systems shall be used for any works involving a risk of falling of 3 metres or below, and only when other options have been deemed reasonably impracticable.

• Fall arrest systems shall be used only as a final resort and must have a provision of rescue in the event of falls in the contractor safety plan.

• Any fall rescue plan must provide trained and competent people to perform the task.

Where plant is to be brought onto site, it must conform to the requirements set in the

‘Contractor, plant and equipment selection’ SOP alongside any requirements of the

‘Environment’ SOP.

Any anchor points or lifting equipment (Including harnesses, lanyards and anchor points must meet the criteria stated in the SOP ‘Lifting equipment’.

When working in an area where work at height is being undertaken, all workers shall wear a safety helmet and safety capped boots as a minimum requirement.

Where there is a risk to existing plant, equipment or facilities resulting from objects falling from height, all tools and equipment shall be secured to an anchor point capable of supporting them in the event of them falling from the work platform. This may be secured to a worker in the case of hand tools, on the provision that it would not impact upon the restraint system in place.

In the event of any incident or injury to a field operative, GHD incident reporting procedures will be followed.

7.

References

Model work health and safety Act: 2011

http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/SWA/about/Publications/Documents/634/Confi ned_Spaces.pdf

Model Code of Practice – Managing the risks of falls at workplaces

http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/SWA/about/Publications/Documents/632/Mana ging_the_Risk_of_Falls_at_Workplaces.pdf

GHD documents and forms:

Standard operating procedure Emergency plans

Standard operating procedure Contractors, plant and equipment selection Standard operating procedure Environment

8.

Definitions

Works which present the risk of a fall between levels, or objects falling between levels Emergency plan:

Arrangements for assistance in the event of an emergency, in this case, recovery of a person and arrangements for treatment following injury or exposure.

Lock out/ Tag out;

A system of isolating services of equipment which prevents accidental re activation Permit to work;

A system which imposes controls and conditions for completion of a task, specifically related to high risk works.