Stay Safe when Working at Height
The focus for this month’s Health and Safety Authority (HSA) farm safety inspection campaign is safe working at height. The HSA will carry out approximately 500 inspections focused on this area this month.
After recent storms, and with the winter months ahead, there is concern that more deaths or serious injuries could occur, particularly when carrying out repairs on farm buildings. A particular danger is falling through fragile roofs or from ladders.
Of the 21 people killed due to farm accidents to date in 2017, three of them were as the result of falls from height or falling objects.
Throughout the month, inspectors from the HSA will be encouraging farmers to ensure they have the right equipment and knowledge to work at height safely.
Some tips to stay safe when working at height
- Assess any job involving work at height, use suitable equipment such as a dedicated machine and only do work you are competent to
carry out. - Make sure all equipment is suitable, stable and strong enough for the job and checked regularly.
- ALWAYS maintain 3 points of contact with a ladder to ensure stability.
- Make sure you don’t overload or overreach when working at height.
