Company Policy Requires All Employees to Work Safely at Heights
July 16, 2019
At CoolSys, safety is always a top concern. That’s why when it comes to heights, we want you to stay safe from falls. In fact, federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards require fall protection when working at heights over six feet with an exposed edge. Working on a scaffold or in a scissor lift is considered a safe work platform due to the railing and does not require fall protection. However, some scissor lift manufacturers or customers may require additional fall protection beyond OSHA regulations.
Unfortunately, we’ve had recent injuries from workers falling off of cases. These incidents occurred while workers were walking on the cases and either tripped over an object or stepped backward over the unprotected edge. Working on cases presents a difficult fall protection problem due to lack of anchorage points and the ability to restrain working too close to the unprotected edge.
Based on consensus with the Safety Department and the Operations Leadership, we have developed a best practice for working on top of cases.
The first method is to work from a scissor lift or on a ladder using them as a work platform.
If it is necessary to leave the work platform and work on top of the case, then the following steps must be followed to minimize fall potential:
- Stage all necessary tools and equipment close to work location to minimize travel on top of the case.
- After transitioning from a ladder or scissor lift to the top of the case, maintain three points of contact with the top of the case. You will no longer be walking on the cases standing upright. You will need to be on your hands and knees to avoid trip hazards and accidentally stepping off of the top of the case.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out to the EHS team at 844-772-7233 or ehs@coolsys.com. Stay safe up there!