Working From Heights Safely – Understanding Aviation Risks and Hazards

Sofema Online (SOL) www.sofemaonline.com considers the key issues to be addressed when working from heights.

Introduction

Working from heights involves significant risks, and understanding these risks is the first step towards mitigating them.

Through diligent risk identification, learning from past accidents, and the implementation of robust preventive measures, it is possible to greatly reduce the incidence of falls and injuries. Continuous effort, education, and adaptation to new safety standards are essential to protect workers effectively.

Understanding Risks and Hazards

Understanding Risks and Hazards is pivotal in cultivating a deep awareness among participants about the potential dangers they face while working at heights.

Working from heights involves performing tasks above the ground level, which inherently includes risks that can lead to falls, injuries, or even fatalities.

Understanding and mitigating these risks is crucial for ensuring the safety of workers.

Consider the following:

• • Falls from Edges: One of the primary risks is falling from the edges of roofs, scaffolds, or open floors.

- Proper edge protection and the use of guardrails can mitigate this risk.

• • Unstable Working Platforms: Working on unstable surfaces such as ladders that are not securely positioned can lead to falls.

- Ensuring stability and using platforms designed for the task can help prevent accidents.

• • Weather Conditions: Adverse weather conditions, such as high winds or wet surfaces, increase the risk of falls.

- Monitoring weather conditions and scheduling work accordingly can reduce risks.

Identifying Risks and Hazards

Identifying risks involves assessing the work environment and the tasks to be performed. This includes:

• • Worksite Inspection: Regularly inspecting the worksite for potential hazards such as unstable surfaces, and unprotected edges.
• • Task Analysis: Analyzing the tasks to identify any actions that may increase the risk of falls, such as carrying heavy loads that might affect balance.

Discussion on Recent Accidents and Lessons Learned – (reference Aviationweek.com)

In 2022, the U.S. aircraft maintenance sector experienced a notable increase in severe injuries among mechanics, with the number of severe cases doubling from the previous years' averages.

• • A total of 30 severe injuries were reported, marking the highest annual figure since such data began being recorded in 2015. This surge in accidents comes as the industry was ramping up its workforce, adding 10,000 mechanics to recover from the pandemic-induced downturn.
• • The majority of these accidents involved falls, vehicle incidents, and injuries from being pinched by objects or equipment, leading to fractures, amputations, and various other injuries. A significant number of these incidents occurred at Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities and airline maintenance shops, with Amentum Services and American Airlines being notably mentioned.
• • The increase in accidents underscores the challenges of integrating new workers and the importance of adherence to safety protocols.
• • incidents serve as a stark reminder of the potential risks in the aircraft maintenance industry and highlight the critical need for ongoing education on safety practices and the importance of regular reviews of safety protocols to mitigate risks.

Pay Attention - Recent accidents often highlight overlooked risks or the failure to adhere to safety protocols. For example, an accident may occur due to the lack of edge protection on a scaffold, teaching the importance of ensuring all safety measures are in place before beginning work.

• • Learning from these incidents is crucial for improving safety standards and practices in the industry.
• • Regularly reviewing accident reports and safety bulletins can help organizations stay informed about potential hazards and the latest safety recommendations.

Preventive Measures

• • Training and Education: Providing comprehensive training to workers on how to safely work from heights, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), is fundamental.

- This includes training on how to properly use harnesses, lanyards, and other fall arrest systems.

• • Use of PPE: Ensuring that workers are equipped with the correct PPE, such as harnesses for fall arrest systems and helmets to protect against head injuries, is crucial.

- Regular checks should be conducted to ensure that PPE is in good condition and properly used.

• • Safety Planning: Develop a safety plan for each project that includes identifying potential hazards, defining the measures to mitigate these risks, and establishing rescue procedures in case of an accident.
• • Regular Maintenance and Inspection: Conduct regular inspections of the equipment used for working at heights, such as ladders, scaffolds, and personal fall protection equipment, to ensure they are in good condition and safe to use.

Challenges

• • Complacency: Over time, workers may become complacent about safety measures, especially if they have not experienced or witnessed an accident.
• • Cost: Small businesses may find the cost of providing the necessary safety equipment and training to be prohibitive.
• • Changing Work Environments: Construction sites and other environments where working from heights is common are constantly changing, which can introduce new hazards.

Next Steps

Sofema Aviation Services (www.sassofia.com) and Sofema Online www.sofemaonline.com provide EASA-compliant regulatory and vocational training - including 145 workplace best practices. Please see the respective websites or email team@sassofia.com