Published in October 2009 by the Workplace

Safety and Health Council in collaboration with the

Ministry of Manpower.
All rights reserved. This publication may not be
reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
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damage arising from following this publication.
This publication is available on the
Workplace Safety and Health
Council website: www.wshc.sg
Email: [email protected]
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Working Safely at Height
Code of Practice for
Year of Issue: 2009
First revision: 2011
Contents
Section A : General Requirements
Chapter 1 : Introduction
1.1 Title
1.2 Scope
1.3 Purpose
1.4 Terms and Definitions
Chapter 2 : Design for Safety
2.1 Risk Elimination and Reduction at Source
Chapter 3 : Fall Prevention Plan
3.1 Implementing a Fall Prevention Plan
3.2 Components of a Fall Prevention Plan
Chapter 4 : Policy for Fall Prevention
Chapter 5 : Responsibilities
Chapter 6 : Risk Management
6.1 Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
6.2 Hazard Identification
6.3 Risk Assessment
Chapter 7 : Risk Control Measures
7.1 Hierarchy of Control
7.2 Elimination
7.3 Substitution
7.4 Engineering Control
7.5 Administrative Controls
7.6 Safe Work Procedures
7.7 Use of Personal Protective Equipment
7.8 Ensuring Control Measures are Safe and Do Not Introduce New Risks
7.9 Maintaining and Re-evaluation of Controls

Chapter 8 : Inspection and Maintenance
Chapter 9 : Instruction and Training
9.1 Information, Instruction and Training
Chapter 10 : Accident/Incident Investigation
Chapter 11 : Emergency Response
11.1 Emergency Planning
11.2 Rescue Operations - Fall Arrest Systems
Chapter 12 : Supervision

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Section B : Fall Control Measures
Chapter 13 : Access to and Egress from Work Areas
13.1 Access and Egress Risk and Assessment
13.2 Access and Egress Safety Considerations
13.3 Roof Access
13.4 Guarding of Openings
Chapter 14 : Edge Protection
14.1 Perimeter Guard-Railing
Chapter 15 : Fall Prevention Systems
15.1 Scaffolds
15.2 Tower Scaffolds
15.3 Mobile Elevated Work Platforms/Hoists
15.4 Suspended Gondola
15.5 Mast Climbing Work Platforms
Chapter 16 : Individual Fall Prevention Systems
16.1 Industrial Rope Access Systems
16.2 Travel Restraint Systems
Chapter 17 : Fall Arrest Systems
17.1 Individual Fall Arrest Systems (Personal Protective Equipment)
17.2 Fall Arrest System Limitations
17.3 Instruction and Training for Workers Using Individual Fall Arrest Systems
17.4 Hazards of Fall Arrest Systems
17.5 Rescue of Workers Who Use Individual Fall Arrest Systems
17.6 Fall Arrest System Components (Harnesses, Lines and Lanyards)
17.7 Inspection of Fall Arrest Systems
Chapter 18 : Ladders and Step Platforms
18.1 Ladders and Step Platforms
18.2 Portable Ladders
18.3 Step Platforms
18.4 Safety Guidelines for Ladders
Chapter 19 : Hazards of Working at Rooftop
19.1 Fragile/Brittle Roofing
Chapter 20 : Acknowledgements
Chapter 21 : List of References
Chapter 22 : Other Useful Contacts
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Section A: General Requirements
1. Introduction
1.1 Title
1.1.1 The title of this document is called the Code of Practice for Working Safely at Height.
1.2 Scope
1.2.1 This Code of Practice provides practical guidance on the measures and good practices required to
prevent persons from falling while working at height. The recommendations in this Code of Practice are
suitable across all industry sectors.
1.2.2 Working at depth carries similar risks as working at height and as such, this Code of Practice will also be
relevant. However, users of this Code need to be aware that persons working at depth are also exposed
to other signicant hazards such as escaping gases, collapsing sides and falling objects which are not
covered by this Code of Practice.
1.3 Purpose
1.3.1 The objective of this Code of Practice is to enhance the standard of safety in workplaces where there is a
risk of falling from height or into depth. This Code of Practice emphasises the use of the risk management
framework to identify and control the hazards associated with work activities carried out at height.
1.3.2 This Code also describes and illustrates a variety of fall control measures and devices which can be
adopted for use when risk of falling is present. However, users of this code should be aware that new
developments in fall controls are constantly being introduced and it is not the intent of this code to limit
or prohibit the use of new methods or devices in fall prevention.
1.4 Terms and Denitions
1.4.1 Administrative controls means policies and procedures for safe work practices.
1.4.2 Anchorage means a secure point of attachment for lifelines or lanyards.
1.4.3 Competent person, in relation to any work to be carried out, means a person who has sucient
experience and training to perform the work.
1.4.4 Fall arrest system means equipment and/or material that is designed for the purpose of preventing, or
reducing the severity of injury to a person in the event of a fall such as safety harness systems. Restraint
belts are generally used in a travel restraint system and not as a fall arrest system.
1.4.5 Fall prevention plan means a site-specic plan prepared by a competent person for the purpose of
reducing or eliminating the risk of falls by ensuring that all reasonable fall prevention measures and
methods have been implemented, prior to the commencement of work.
1.4.6 Fall prevention system means material and/or equipment that is designed for the purpose of
preventing a person falling from height such as scaolds and mobile elevated work platforms.
1.4.7 Hazard refers to any source or situation with potential to cause injury or harm to the health of a person.
1.4.8 Individual fall arrest system means a system used to arrest the user in a fall. Such a system typically
consists of a body harness and includes a lanyard, lifeline, anchorage or any suitable combinations of
these.
1.4.9 Lanyard means a exible line of rope, wire rope or strap, which generally is used for connecting the
restraint belt or safety harness to a lifeline or anchorage.
1.4.10 Lifeline means an anchored, exible line that is used in conjunction with fall arrest systems to provide
protection from falls.
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1.4.11 Risk means the probability and consequence of injury or illness. Where possible, risk should be
mitigated at source (design for safety), during the design and subsequently in the construction stages.
1.4.12 Toe-board means a low protective barrier that prevents the fall of personnel, materials and equipment
to lower levels.
1.4.13 Travel restraint or work restraint system means methods of preventing a person from reaching
beyond the safe work zone within which he will not be in danger of falling. For example, restraint belt
with lanyard of limited length attached to a suitable lifeline or anchorage.
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2.1 Risk Elimination and Reduction at Source
2.1.1 The purpose of designing for safety is to eliminate or reduce risk at source by taking into consideration
foreseeable risks at the planning and design stage so that these risks can be removed, or mitigated by
designing around the risk.
2.1.2 In identifying the foreseeable risks, the work activities of persons involved in the following areas should
be taken into consideration:
Construction and/or installation
Usage
Maintenance and/or cleaning
Demolition and/or decommission
2.1.3 It is also important to consider risks that are posed to persons not directly involved but aected by the
work such as visitors, customers or members of the public.
2. Design for Safety
Design for Safety
To facilitate the design for safety for buildings and structures, a Design Review Process is recommended. It
is a systematic process where the risks of the design are highlighted, reviewed and recorded.
In a Design Review Process, a safety and health review committee is established and should consist of the
main stakeholders such as client, design engineer, architect, project safety and health coordinator and
contractor.
The outcome of the review process should be a safe design endorsed by all parties and a record of the
resultant hazards or vital safety and health information. A GUIDE process is recommended to assist in the
review process.
G Group together a review team consisting of major stakeholders.
U Understand the full design concept by looking at the drawings and calculations, or have the
designers elaborate on the design.
I Identify the risks that arise as a result of the design or construction method. The risks should
be recorded and analysed to see if they can be eliminated by changing the design.
D Design around the risks identied to eliminate or to mitigate the risks.
E Enter all the information including all vital design change information aecting safety and
health or remaining risks to be mitigated into the safety and health risk register.
More information on design for safety and the GUIDE process can be obtained from the Guidelines on
Design for Safety in Buildings and Structures
1
available at Workplace Safety and Health Council website
(www.wshc.sg).
1
Workplace Safety and Health Council, Guidelines on Design for Safety in Buildings and Structures, Workplace Safety and Health
Council, 2008
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3.1 Implementing a Fall Prevention Plan
3.1.1 A fall prevention plan is a site specic plan that is designed to be integrated into the Safety and Health
Management System. It provides a systematic approach towards eliminating or reducing the risk of
falling from height by ensuring that all reasonable fall prevention and protection measures and methods
have been taken prior to the commencement of the work.
3.1.2 All workplaces engaged in activities that require workers to work at height shall develop and implement
a fall prevention plan to ensure the safety of the workers during their course of work.
3.1.3 The fall prevention plan is to be developed by a competent person. Provisions must also be made for
adequate supervision to ensure that the plan is being implemented at the workplace.
3.1.4 The fall prevention plan shall be monitored and reviewed periodically to ensure its relevancy and
eectiveness. It is also required to be properly documented and kept readily available at the workplace.
3.2 Components of a Fall Prevention Plan
3.2.1 The fall prevention plan should be customised to address the unique conditions at individual workplaces.
3.2.2 A comprehensive fall prevention plan should include (but not be limited to) the following components.
a) Policy for fall prevention
b) Responsibilities
c) Hazard identication and risk assessment
d) Control measures/methods
e) Procedures
f ) Personal fall prevention and protection equipment
g) Inspection and maintenance
h) Training
i) Incident investigations
j) Emergency preparedness
3. Fall Prevention Plan
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4. Policy for Fall Prevention
4.1 A policy for fall prevention will set clear and unambiguous terms on the organisations approach and
commitment towards fall prevention.
4.2 Top management with executive or site responsibility shall dene, endorse and document its policy for
fall prevention. The policy for fall prevention shall be appropriate to the needs, nature and scale of the
organisations activities and work at height risks.
4.3 The organisation shall establish a policy which demonstrates its commitments to prevent falls from
height incidents, comply with applicable legal and other requirements.
4.4 It is important that the policy for fall prevention is understood, implemented and maintained at all
levels of the organisation. The policy for fall prevention should be reviewed periodically and amended
as and when necessary.
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5.1 Top management needs to ensure that sucient resources essential to the establishment,
implementation and maintenance of the fall prevention plan are made available so as to achieve its
objectives.
5.2 Competent person(s) shall be appointed to develop, implement, maintain and evaluate the fall
prevention plan. The fall prevention plan must be developed specic to the conditions of the premises,
i.e. on a site by site basis.
5.3 The appointed competent person(s) shall dene, document and communicate the roles, responsibilities
and accountabilities of all levels of sta that may be aected by the fall prevention plan. It shall include
the following:
To evaluate the need to work at height;
To ensure all reasonably practicable measures and methods are taken to eliminate potential falling
from height hazards;
To ensure all workers (inclusive of subcontractor workers) are properly trained in the use,
maintenance and care of personal fall prevention and protection equipment and the recognition of
hazards related to their use;
To ensure all devices/equipment/materials used for fall prevention and protection by workers
(inclusive of subcontractor workers) are maintained at design specications and are inspected/
certied as per manufacturer and/or local regulatory/approved standards;
To implement emergency response procedures and to investigate all falls from height incidents;
and
To ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements and reporting of performance to
top management for review.
5. Responsibilities
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6.1 Hazard Identication and Risk Assessment
6.1.1 Hazard identication and risk assessment is a fundamental tool to identify hazards associated with the
workplace activities, assess its risk levels and determine the suitable control measures to be taken.
6.1.2 Employers, principals (including contractor and sub-contractor) and self-employed persons are
required to discharge their duties in identifying the hazards and conducting risk assessment in relation
to the safety and health risks posed in the workplace, and to take all reasonably practicable measures to
ensure that any person who may be aected by his undertaking is safe in the workplace.
6.1.3 Risk assessment should be conducted by a multi-disciplinary team who have a thorough knowledge
of the work to be undertaken. The team members should include management sta, process or facility
engineers, technical personnel, supervisors, safety personnel and workers whenever appropriate.
6.1.4 Hazard identication and risk assessment should be reviewed periodically to ensure its eectiveness
and validity, particularly when there is any signicant change to the workplace activities; or when there
is an occurrence of any fall from height incident.
6.1.5 Risk management involves identifying hazards, assessing risks, implementing appropriate control
measures, and monitoring and reviewing those measures.
6.2 Hazard Identication
6.2.1 Identifying hazards involves recognising any work process, activity or situation with potential to cause
injury or harm to a person such as when a person works at the edge of a building without proper
barricades.
6.2.2 It is important to plan the process for hazard identication and risk assessment. While the focus of this
Code of Practice is on the hazards of falling when working at heights, it is also important to address
and extend to other workplace safety and health hazards such as manual handling, noise, hazardous
substances, falling objects and slips and trips.
6.2.3 All hazards to which a person (including members of the public) could be exposed to as a result of work
must be identied. The hazards must always be identied prior to work commencement and when
changes to systems of work are planned or occur. Examples of workplace conditions that could have
potential falls from height hazards are given in the list.
6.2.4 There are various ways to identify potential hazards or situations that may result in a fall. Typically,
consideration should be given to the following areas:
Previous injuries, near miss incidents or accidents involving the fall of persons that had occurred at
the workplace or other similar workplaces;
Relevant codes of practice and guidance notes;
Consultation with stakeholders to nd out what risks they may be exposed to when working at
height. These stakeholders should include safety and health personnel, supervisors, engineers and
technical personnel and workers;
Walk-through inspections of the workplace; and
Any other records or statistics which indicate potentially unsafe work practices.
6. Risk Management
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6.2.5 A hazard identication process or procedure may range from a simple checklist for specic equipment,
such as a ladder or fall arrest system, to a more open-ended appraisal of a group of related work
processes. Generally a combination of methods will provide the most eective results.
6.3 Risk Assessment
6.3.1 Assessing risks of working at height involves looking at the likelihood of a fall occurring and the extent
of any potential harm or injury (i.e. the consequences) and consequently, determine a level of risk. In
this manner, hazards that have higher risks need to be given priority.
6.3.2 Risk assessment should provide information on:
Where and how many employees are likely to be at risk of incurring injuries;
The likelihood or the probability that - this is likely to occur, taking into consideration the existing
control measures; and
The potential severity of any injuries. As severity refers to the intrinsic or inherent nature of the
adverse eect(s) that may result from the hazard, the existing control measures must not be taken
into consideration when assessing severity.
6.3.3 When the risks have been assessed, reasonably practicable measures must be taken to reduce or
maintain the risk level at an acceptable level. It is important that no work must be allowed to commence
if the risks are assessed to be high or unacceptable.
6.3.4 The results of the risk assessment must be approved and endorsed by the top management. The control
measures should as far as practicable, be implemented within the shortest timeframe. In determining
the implementation of the control measures, priority must be given to those in higher risk level.
6.3.5 An action plan should be prepared to implement the control measures. The plan should include a
time line of implementation and responsibility of persons implementing the safety and health control
measures. The plan should be monitored regularly until all the measures are implemented.
6.3.6 Organisations may opt to undertake a generic assessment to be used for similar work activities in
dierent workplaces. If such a model is used, it is necessary to ensure that the risk assessment must be
validated to be relevant and applicable for the particular workplace and the work processes.
Work Environments that Pose a Fall from Height Risk
Raised work surfaces such as slopes;
Slippery work surfaces (wet, oily, dusty or glazed);
Uneven work surfaces (for example, broken ground or proled roof sheeting);
Cramped work surfaces;
Work surfaces cluttered with tools, work materials and debris;
Workers working in adverse weather conditions for example in rain, strong or gusty winds, extreme
heat or high humidity, or very cold conditions;
Unprotected edges;
Building materials, large tools, or equipment that need to be manually carried;
Overloading of working platform, which may lead to collapse;
Struck by moving object or equipment e.g. load from lifting operation.
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7. Risk Control Measures
7.1 Hierarchy of Control
7.1.1 If workplace safety and health risks exist, the employer, self employed person or principal shall, as far
as reasonably practicable, put measures in place to control those risks.
7.1.2 The appropriate control measures/methods selected to reduce or maintain the risk of falling from
heights shall be carefully assessed and implemented to ensure its eectiveness.
7.1.3 The approaches below are listed according to a hierarchy of control as shown in Fig 7.1. The approach
to control measures should be attempted from the top of the hierarchy onwards. These controls are
usually not mutually exclusive, for example, engineering controls can be implemented concurrently
with administrative controls.
Figure 7.1: Hierarchy of Control.
7.2 Elimination
7.2.1 Elimination of hazards refers to the total removal of the hazards and hence eectively making all the
identied possible accidents and ill health impossible.
7.2.2 This is a permanent solution and shall be attempted in the rst instance. If the hazard is removed, all
the other controls, such as the use of fall prevention and protection system, workplace monitoring and
surveillance would no longer be required. In eect, the item is removed from the table of hazards.
7.2.3 Examples of elimination include:
Prefabricating wall frames horizontally before standing them up;
Using precast tilt-up concrete construction instead of concrete walls constructed in situ; and
Using paint rollers with extendable handles rather than working on a ladder.
7.3 Substitution
7.3.1 This involves replacing the hazard by one that presents a lower risk. For example, by using mobile
elevated work platform (MEWP) instead of ladders for reaching high places. The risk level is lowered as
MEWP generally provides a higher level of safety for working at height than ladders.
ELIMINATION
SUBSTITUTION
ENGINEERING CONTROLS
ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS
PERSONAL PROTECTION
EQUIPMENT (PPE)
WSH Hierarchy of Control
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7.4 Engineering Control
7.4.1 Engineering controls are physical means that limit the hazard. These include structural changes to the
work environment or work processes or erecting barriers to prevent the worker from being exposed to
the hazard.
7.4.2 An example of an engineering control includes edge protection such as using guard-rails at open sides
to prevent persons from falling over.
7.5 Administrative Controls
7.5.1 Administrative controls are systems of work or work procedures that help to reduce the exposure of
workers to the risks of falling. It is also a useful means to limit the frequency and duration of exposure
of workers to hazards and the number of persons involved in the task.
7.5.2 Administrative controls may also be used to support or be used in conjunction with other control
measures that are put in place. For example, safe work procedures may be needed to guide workers on
the safe use of temporary work platforms, which in itself is a form of engineering control measure.
7.5.3 The development of administrative controls should also involve people who perform task regularly,
such as contractors and workers as they often have a good understanding of the risks involved.
7.5.4 For eective use of administrative controls, it is necessary to ensure that information is adequately
and eectively communicated to the workers. For example, daily toolbox meetings may be used for
such purposes.
7.6 Safe Work Procedures
7.6.1 Safe Work Procedures (SWPs) are the most common form of administrative controls in workplaces. It is
a set of systematic instructions on how work can be carried out safely. Using information obtained from
risk assessment, a set of SWPs should be developed for various work activites that have a risk of falls
from height.
7.6.2 The SWP generally provides instructions on how jobs are to be performed, persons involved in these
jobs, what safety precautions must be taken and what kind of training and/or certication is necessary
to be able to competently carry out these jobs.
7.6.3 The SWP must be communicated to everyone involved in the job so that each person is aware of his
roles and responsibilities. The SWP must also be communicated to those who will be aected by the job.
7.6.4 It is necessary to provide adequate level of supervision to ensure that the safe work procedures are
being followed. Regular review of the eectiveness of the procedures must be undertaken.
7.6.5 Make sure that the work is well organised so that workers do not increase the risk of a fall for themselves
or others. For example, sequence jobs so that dierent trades are not working above or below each
other at the same time.
Prohibition of Access
Marking out an area can be eective in making sure that people are not exposed to fall hazards. There
should be adequate signages to warn against access to the hazardous area. If possible, a physical barrier
should be erected to prevent unauthorised access.
Employers should provide relevant information to employees on site and adequate supervision to
ensure that no worker enters a No Entry area.
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7.7 Use of Personal Protective Equipment
7.7.1 Personal protective equipment (PPE) should be used only as a last resort, after all other control
measures have been considered, or as a short term contingency during maintenance/repair, or as an
additional protective measure.
7.7.2 The eectiveness of PPE as a control measure is dependent on the correct equipment being chosen,
tted and worn properly at all times when required by users.
7.7.3 PPE should be selected taking into consideration the following factors:
The type of hazard;
Areas of the body that require protection;
The degree of protection required;
Ease of use, comfort and convenience;
Reliability; and
Ease of maintenance.
7.8 Ensuring Control Measures are Safe and Do Not Introduce
New Risks
7.8.1 It is important that the control measures selected do not introduce new hazards or expose workers who
are installing, erecting or removing these control measures (such as scaolding) to a greater risk than
the one it is designed to control.
7.9 Maintaining and Re-evaluation of Controls
7.9.1 The control measures implemented must be regularly monitored and reviewed to ensure that they are
eective and are in good working condition.
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8.1 A thorough visual inspection and checks on equipment usage is important for ensuring that the
equipment is free from observable defects. Equipment that have exceeded their serviceable life span or
passed their expiry date should not be used.
8.2 A maintenance programme should be established and implemented to periodically inspect and
maintain both operational and safety equipment in good working condition.
8.3 The maintenance programme shall include the following components:
An inventory of equipment that require regular maintenance;
Frequency of inspection and maintenance;
Procedures of inspection and maintenance;
Preventive maintenance, such as servicing;
Repair for damaged items;
Replacement for irreparable items; and
Record keeping (such as for damages, aws detected, any preventive maintenance, repairs or
replacements done).
8.4 Maintenance of equipment should only be performed by trained and competent persons.
8. Inspection and Maintenance
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9.1 Information, Instruction and Training
9.1.1 Persons working at height who are exposed to the risk of falling should be provided with sucient
and adequate information, instruction and training so that they have the skill and knowledge to
perform the work safely. It should help them understand:
The nature of fall hazards to which they are exposed;
The risk of injury associated with the task;
The control measures that are needed, including safe work procedures and the use of personal
protective equipment;
The proper usage and maintenance of equipment, such as performing inspection to ensure
equipment are in good condition before use; and
Procedures to follow in the event of an emergency such as rescue, accident, or injury.
9.1.2 The amount of information and type of training depend on several factors such as the risks involved,
the level of operator skill required and the complexity of the tasks and work procedures. Some common
forms of training include:
General induction course for new workers;
In house training programmes; and
Formal training courses oered by accredited training providers.
Information can be disseminated during:
Toolbox brieng; and
On-the-job training.
9.1.3 Information should be provided in a form that can be understood by all workers. This may include
providing information in languages other than English.
9.1.4 If classroom teaching is conducted, it should be complemented by hands-on training to provide
practical experience.
9.1.5 Induction programmes are essential and should be provided for workers taking up new jobs or where
work situations have changed. Records of training should be kept to enable on-going programme
evaluation and review.
9. Instruction and Training
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Key Elements of an Eective Training Programme
In developing and implementing an eective programme, employers should consider the following:
An analysis of training needs, including the identication of the tasks to be performed and any associated
hazards and risks;
Identication of any pre-requisites or entry standards;
Denition of learning objectives and clear identication of the extent/level of competencies to be
achieved;
Selection of appropriate training methods and aids depending on the topic, environment and targeted
trainees;
Adequate assessment to ascertain that the trainees understand and have acquired the knowledge and
skills and demonstrated the necessary level of competency;
Recognition of skills attained where applicable (e.g. accreditation or certication);
Delivery of training by a competent person; and
Evaluation of eectiveness of training.
Training on Individual Fall Arrest Systems
An individual fall arrest system requires moderate level of competency on the part of the user to ensure that
it is used properly. Employees who use these systems should be trained in the correct tting, anchorage,
use and maintenance of the individual fall arrest systems. It is also important for the users to understand
fall hazards and the risks of injury associated with the tasks that they are undertaking. The training should
also include how to respond in an emergency.
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10.1 All accidents or incidents relating to falls from height should be investigated and analysed for the
following objectives:
Determine any underlying deciencies in the existing fall prevention and protection system and
plan, which might have contributed to the occurrence of the incident;
Identify the need for corrective action to be taken to address any such deciencies as identied;
and
Identify the opportunities for preventive actions to be taken to prevent any such incident from
recurring.
10.2 The results from any such incident investigated (inclusive of lesson learnt and the corrective/preventive
actions to be taken) should be promptly communicated to all relevant parties.
10.3 A record of all accidents and incidents and their investigation ndings and outcomes should be properly
documented.
10. Accident/Incident Investigation
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11.1 Emergency Planning
11.1.1 A written emergency response plan must be established.
11.1.2 Emergency response equipment must be kept on site and made readily available and accessible.
11.1.3 As rescue operations are often carried out under extreme pressure, consideration should be given to all
aspects of the rescue process. Elements to consider should include the type of:
Rescue method;
Equipment required;
Procedures to gain access into less accessible areas; and
The training required for rescuers.
11.1.4 Emergency responders or rescuers should be appointed and adequately trained to carry out rescue
operations. Arrangement should be made such that a sucient number of emergency responders are
available at every work shift.
11.1.5 Workers must be provided with information on the emergency plan including:
Who to approach or call in the event of an emergency;
The procedures to follow for emergencies, including those for persons suspended in safety
harnesses during fall arrest. It is recommended that training in self-rescue techniques be provided
for workers using safety harnesses; and
Assembly point (if relevant).
11.1.6 The provision of rst aid treatment and rst aid facilities should be considered. Persons assigned to rst
aid duties must be competently trained.
11.2 Rescue Operations - Fall Arrest Systems
11.2.1 The immediate rescue of a person after an arrested fall can prevent the onset of injuries such as
suspension trauma which can occur when a person is suspended in a harness over a period of time.
11.2.2 Emergency plans and rescue procedures to recover persons suspended in safety harness should
consider the following:
The type of equipment required to carry out a rescue. Such equipment must be suitable for use
in all foreseeable situations in the workplace. Existing equipment such as mobile elevated work
platforms and scissor lifts may be used for conducting rescue if suitable.
The installation of individual fall arrest systems and individual rope access systems should be at
locations where it is possible to assist or rescue a person quickly if required;
Ensure that all workers using fall arrest systems are familiar with devices before the
commencement of work;
Make provision for access to rst aid facilities or services, including trained rst aiders. The rescue
team should include a person or people trained in the provision of rst aid so that it can be
administered to the fall victim in the event of an injury occurring during a fall;
The details of additional support facilities, including the location, contact information and
availability of emergency services, such as Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), ambulance and
hospitals; and
An eective and readily available means of communication.
11. Emergency Response
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Precautions on Suspension Trauma
Suspension trauma may occur when a person has an arrested fall and is suspended in an upright position.
When the legs are dangling in mid-air without support for a period of time, blood is not naturally moved
out of the legs and back into the heart. This could result in fainting, or loss of consciousness within
minutes and may eventually lead to death. Depending on a persons susceptibility, the condition may
be worsened by heat and dehydration. Therefore the quick rescue of a person suspended in a full body
harness as soon as possible is vital.
The rescued victim of fall arrest must not be positioned in or allowed to take up a horizontal position
immediately after reaching a safe resting place. The person must be placed with the legs horizontal and the
torso vertical or steeply inclined. Sucient time must be allowed for the person to recover from suspension
trauma and acquire normal blood circulation and pressure, before allowing the victim to lie down.
20
12.1 A competent person should be appointed to provide proper and adequate supervision for workers to
ensure that they are not exposed to hazards and all reasonable precautions have been taken where
there is a risk of falling.
12.2 Supervision is especially important if the workers are undergoing training, or are new or inexperienced
and unfamiliar with the working environment.
12.3 It is essential that persons performing supervisory roles must be competent and have the skills and
knowledge of the work processes that they are to supervise.
12.4 Persons performing supervision roles must ensure that:
Required safety measures are in place before the commencement of the work;
Workers are adequately supervised, particularly when working in an elevated position; and
Only workers who have received appropriate training and instruction in relation to the tasks they
are to perform are to carry out the work.
12. Supervision
21
Section B: Fall Control Measures
13. Access to and Egress from
Work Areas
13.1 Access and Egress Risk and Assessment
13.1.1 Employers are to provide a safe means for people to get to and move around the work area. The planning
for the provision of suitable access and egress should take into account the tools and equipment that
people will be required to carry.
13.2 Access and Egress Safety Considerations
13.2.1 In providing safe and proper access to, egress from a work area, the following should be considered:
Installation of xed work platforms, walkways and stairways;
Use of temporary work platforms such as scaolds and crawl boards;
Installation of fall arrest systems;
Frequency and number of people who may need access to or egress from the work area.
Supervision and regular inspection should also be considered;
Provision of safe work surfaces;
Method of getting equipment and materials to the work area;
Exposure of access ways to the weather (e.g, rain can make surfaces slippery and strong winds can
cause loss of hand grip);
Provision of adequate natural or articial lighting to all access ways;
The clearance of obstructions so that persons are able to move easily to and from the workplace; and
Location and space required for any equipment or materials used or being temporarily stored.
Housekeeping and Material Storage
The risk of falls due to tripping and slipping can be reduced by proper planning for material storage and
good housekeeping. Such good practices not only result in a cleaner and safer workplace, it can also
improve productivity.
13.3 Roof Access
13.3.1 Employers and occupiers should provide their workers with a safe means of getting to and from the
roof. The access ways need to be in place before commencing work. Access should be located where
the work on the roof is to begin.
For new roof installations or where extensive repair or replacement of existing roofs is planned, it is
recommended that a ladder access tower or a personnel and materials hoist be provided.
13.3.2 After a roof membrane has been installed, special provisions may need to be made if the roof is to
be used as a platform for access, egress, work or storage. If access and egress is required regularly, a
permanent system such as stairs may need to be installed. Stairs should serve each oor of a building or
structure that is being constructed or demolished.
22
13.4 Guarding of Openings
13.4.1 Openings on oors or platforms present signicant hazards. A person may fall through an opening,
which may result in serious injury or death. If the opening that is stepped upon is small, cuts and bruises
may result on the legs or feet. (Fig 13.1, left).
13.4.2 A person may fall through or step into openings such as lift openings and stairwells. A barrier should
be erected around the opening to prevent persons from falling. In addition, the opening should be
guarded with embedded wire mesh and covered with material of adequate strength to prevent entry
by objects or persons. The cover should be secured to prevent it from dislodging.
13.4.3 When a opening is protected by a cover, a suitable signage such as that shown in Fig 13.1 (right) should
be placed nearby or onto the cover itself to warn people of the hazard.
Figure 13.1: Left, unprotected openings are severe hazards and must be covered. Right, a warning sign, it can be placed
near the opening or afxed to the opening cover.
23
Figure 14.1: Perimeter guard-railing.
Figure 14.3: Stairways ftted with handrails.
14.1 Perimeter Guard-Railing
14.1.1 Edge protection (often referred to as a guard-rail) is used to reduce the risk of a person falling from
open sides (Fig 14.1).
14.1.2 Edge protection must be provided to the edge of a scaold, walkway, ramp (Fig 14.2 and Fig 14.3), and
landing or wherever a person is at risk of falling from open sides. The protection must also be able to
withstand the impact of a person falling against it.
14. Edge Protection
Figure 14.2: Unprotected stairways pose a falling hazard.
24
14.1.3 Edge protection must also be provided at any other edge at the workplace where a person could fall.
Such protection must adhere to the set requirements listed below.
Temporary or advance guards must be provided to reduce the risk of a scaold erector falling
from the uppermost, unsecured or exposed scaolding level during the process of erecting or
dismantling scaold;
The guard-rail system must be of sound construction and be able to withstand the weight of a
person applied at any point;
Toprails must be at least 1m above the working surface;
Midrails and toe-boards must be provided. However, wire mesh inll panels incorporating a toe-
board may be used instead of the midrails;
A bottom rail above the toe-board on some roof slopes may be provided for more severe roof
slopes. Both a midrail and inll mesh panel will assist in preventing persons and objects from
sliding o the roof;
If access points are required for equipment (e.g, a hoist), they should be protected adequately with
gates, safety chains or any other means to prevent a person falling. The access points must always
be covered when not in use;
Where guard-rail systems are intended to be used in conjunction with steel structures or tilt-up
construction, designers and builders should plan for the guard-rails and xings to be attached to
the panels prior to the structures being raised from the edge protection that is being used. This is in
order to reduce the risk of a person falling from one level to another; and
Scaold may be used as fall prevention and protection around the edge of the roof by
incorporating guard-railing as edge protection into the scaold.
25
Not more
than 600 mm
Uprights
Uppermost
guard-rail
Intermediate
guard-rail
Toe-board
Work platform
Not more
than 600 mm
Not less than
90 mm
15. Fall Prevention Systems
15.1 Scaolds
15.1.1 Scaolds are any temporary structures:
On and from which a person performs work in any workplace;
Which enable a person to access the location to perform work; or
Which enable materials to be taken to any place at which work is being performed.
15.1.2 All scaolds and its components must meet the requirements of the regulations stipulated in the
Factories (Scaolds) Regulations. See Fig 15.1 for the basic components of a scaold.
15.1.3 If a scaold exceeds 4m, it must be erected by an approved scaold contractor.
15.1.4 The design of a professional engineer is necessary for scaolds with the following conditions:
For construction sites and general factories, construction of any metal scaolds exceeding 30m in
height and/or with cantilever or jib support;
For shipyards, construction of metal scaolds exceeding 15m in height.
15.1.5 In addition, all hanging scaolds, from which a person may fall more than 2m must also be constructed
and installed in accordance with the design and drawings of a professional engineer.
Figure 15.1: Scafold, with components labelled.
STANDARD
Base plate
Sole plate
Supporting
surface
26
15.2 Tower Scaolds
15.2.1 Tower scaolds are a particular form of scaolding that usually consist of fabricated frame units
constructed as single-bay towers. Most available tower systems are aluminium, but steel systems are
also available. A tower scaold that is tted with castor wheels equipped with eective locking devices
is deemed to be a mobile tower scaold (Fig. 15.2).
Figure 15.2: A mobile scafold with access ladder, opening and other features to provide a hazard-free working platform.
Toprail
Access opening
in working
platform (guard
rails or cover
opening not
shown)
Plan brace
under deck
Bearer
(transom)
Plan brace
Post
(standard)
Midrail
Toe-board
Wire
lashing
Runner
(ledger)
Ladder xed to narrower
side of tower
Transverse (ledger) bracing
Insert shaft
Hole for
fastening pin
Locking
assembly
LOCKING CASTERS
15.2.2 A tower scaold should be erected by a competent person.
15.2.3 Edge protection such as guard-rails must be provided at the highest landing.
15.2.4 When a tower scaold is mounted on castors for use as a mobile scaold, the following rules should be
strictly observed:
Tower scaolds should be moved with caution;
Prior to moving, the route must be checked for power lines, overhead obstructions and for holes
and uneven surfaces on the ground;
When it is necessary to deploy tower scaolds on an inclined surface, measures must be taken to
ensure stability, such as the use of outriggers. Otherwise, tower scaolds should not be deployed
on an inclined surface;
Never access the scaold until all its castors are locked to prevent movement;
Never shift or move the scaold while anyone is on it;
Do not cover the scaold with containment sheeting such as shade cloth, unless it has been
specically designed for the purpose and it is only used in an enclosed, wind-protected
environment; and
Tower scaolds must be inspected by a competent person:
- Before its rst use;
- After substantial alteration;
- After any event likely to have aected its stability; or
- Once it has been in place for 7 days.
At intervals not exceeding 7 days, tower scaolds must be inspected and a written report made.
27
15.3 Mobile Elevated Work Platforms/Hoists
15.3.1 A mobile elevated work platform is any telescoping, scissor or articulating equipment used to position
personnel, materials or equipment at height.
Figure 15.3: Examples of mobile elevated work platform; scissor lift (left) boom arm platform (right).
15.3.2 Mobile elevated work platforms consist of a platform surrounded by an edge protection system. The
protected platform is used to position persons at work areas. Mobile elevated work platforms are
available in a wide variety of types and sizes. They include scissor lifts and boom lifts (Fig 15.3).
15.3.3 There are battery powered and internal combustion engine types. Some are designed for hard at
surfaces only, while others are designed for operation on rough terrain.
15.3.4 Mobile elevated work platforms:
Should only be used on a solid level surface. The surface area should be checked to make sure that
there are no penetrations or obstructions that can cause uncontrolled movement or the platform
to overturn;
Should be clearly marked with a safe working load limit or maximum rate capacity notice; and
Should not be used in high wind conditions or where there is risk of lightning.
15.3.5 The following requirements are needed to provide for the safe use of mobile elevated work platforms:
Operators of boom lifts should be properly trained and competent for the job. The level of
training must be such that the operator is competent to carry out a visual inspection as well as
the functional tests of the mobile elevated work platform. The ability to perform an adequate risk
assessment is also vital for operators. They should also be familiarised with the mobile elevated
work platform to understand if the unit requires any specic precautions such as the need to
deploy outriggers.
A risk assessment of the work and the area must be done by the operator before commencing
any work. This is to identify any unsafe conditions of the workplace or the need to implement any
additional control measures.
A pre-operation inspection must be performed by the operator before usage. The inspection must
include functional tests to determine if the mobile elevated work platform is in proper working
condition.
There must be no unauthorised alteration or modication of the mobile elevated work platform or
any of its safety devices or functions.
28
It is recommended that the load pressure at the contact points of the mobile elevated work
platform with the ground be marked near the contact points. This is to help in preventing
accidental positioning of the work platform on surfaces which may not be able to sustain the
weight of the work platform.
The operator must be able to recognise conditions such as hazardous terrain, such as slopes or
trenches. They can result in work platforms tipping or falling over when moving over such terrain,
resulting in the possibility of the operator being thrown o the work platform.
Operators working in boom lifts should wear a suitably anchored safety harness. Anchoring to
nearby poles or equipment outside the work platform is prohibited.
15.3.6 Personnel required to climb out of an elevated boom lift onto an elevated facility structure shall utilise
100 percent tie-o procedures (refer to paragraph 17.2) during the transition from the boom lift cage
to the elevated work location, (i.e. personnel must anchor to a fall rated facility anchorage point prior to
disconnecting their lanyard attached to the aerial boom lift cage).
15.3.7 The use of planks, ladders or any other devices on the work platforms for the purpose of achieving
additional height or reach is strictly prohibited.
15.3.8 Always refer to the operators or service manual for additional fall prevention and protection requirements
for specic lift equipment.
29
15.4.1 A suspended gondola (Fig 15.4) is a power-operated suspended working platform that is xed to a
building structure. It is used for access during building maintenance or window cleaning.
15.4.2 During the planning stage, consideration should be given to the methods by which maintenance,
repairs or cleaning will be undertaken on buildings or structures.
15.4.3 Consideration of future maintenance requirements in the early design stage will avoid the possibility
of unsafe work practices occurring during routine maintenance. Sloping building exteriors and recline
windows require priority consideration to ensure that maintenance can be carried out in a safe manner.
Figure 15.4: A gondola is mainly used for performing work on the sides of buildings.
15.4 Suspended Gondola
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15.5 Mast Climbing Work Platforms
15.5.1 Mast climbing work platforms (Fig 15.5) are hoists that have a working platform used for temporary
purposes to raise personnel and materials to the working position.
15.5.2 Mast climbing platforms are generally not suitable for use where the prole of a structure changes at
dierent elevations, for example where upper oors of a building step back or balconies protrude
from the building.
15.5.3 The erection and rigging of mast climbing work platforms should be carried out or directly supervised
by a competent person.
15.5.4 Items transported inside the mast climbing work platform must not protrude out from the machine,
they may fall out if caught on external objects.
15.5.5 Operators working in mast climbing work platforms should wear an anchored safety harness.
Figure 15.5: A mast climbing work platform is used to raise personnel and materials to the working position.
Wall tie
Motor
Safety gear
Spring stop
Base plate
Guard rail
Work platform
Figure 15.5: A mast climbing work platform is used to raise personnel and materials to the working position.
31
Figure 15.5: A mast climbing work platform is used to raise personnel and materials to the working position.
16. Individual Fall Prevention Systems
16.1 Industrial Rope Access Systems
16.1.1 Industrial rope access systems (Fig 16.1) are used for gaining access to work areas that are hard to reach
by other means, usually through the use of vertically suspended ropes. Rope access systems require
a high level of competency from the users and therefore, other means such as mobile elevated work
platforms and suspended gondolas, which require less skill to operate, should be used if it is reasonably
practicable to do so.
Fall Prevention and Fall Protection Systems
1. Fall prevention systems
(a) Individual/Active:
(i) Work restraint: A fall prevention system which relies on waist belt or body harness and xed
length lanyard connected to a suitable anchor, so as to restrain the person from getting to
the place where they could fall.
(ii) Work positioning: A personal fall prevention system which includes a harness connected
to a reliable anchor point to support the user in tension or suspension in such a way that a
fall is prevented or restricted. All work positioning systems must be provided with a back
up system in case the primary support fails.
(b) Collective/Passive: Guard-rails and other physical barriers with warning signs at the edges of the safe
work zone.
2. Fall arrest systems
Individual/Active: A fall protection system that uses a harness connected to a reliable anchor to arrest
and restricts the fall and prevents the user from hitting the ground. It usually has an energy absorbing
device to limit the impact of gravity forces on the body.
Figure 16.1: Operator using an industrial rope access system, the backup device is to be maintained at a higher elevation
in relation to the operator.
Safety line
Working line
Working line
Chest harness
Work positioning harness
Lanyard assembly
Swing seat (optional)
Rope grab (back-up)
Tool attachment strap
32
16.1.2 Industrial rope access systems are a specialised and job specic form of abseiling. The system is designed
to access areas for work such as window cleaning, sign maintenance on high rise buildings and other
forms of maintenance where it is not reasonably practicable to use other forms of access. Such systems
are usually suited for light or medium work but may be adapted for heavier work, such as derrick erection
in shipyards through the use of lightweight gondolas for rmer footing.
16.1.3 Industrial rope access systems require a high level of competency on the part of the user to ensure
safe use. An industrial rope access system can be extremely dangerous if used by an inexperienced or
untrained user.
16.1.4 The critical items specic to safe usage of industrial rope access systems include the following:
Training Due to the high level of skill and competency required for the safe usage of industrial
rope access systems, operators must be provided with a structured and documented syllabus.
Minimally, workers must be capable of conducting self-rescue. A rope access supervisor must be
a trained and competent rope access operator who has sucient experience in performing work
using rope access and had undergone advanced training and assessment. This is to ensure that the
rope access supervisor has the experience and skills needed to supervise rope access operators and
their abilities to work safely.
Team size The team should have a minimum of 2 operators, one of whom must be a trained
and competent rope access supervisor due to the potential hazards of using industrial rope
access systems, no operator must be allowed to work alone. In addition the supervisors role is
also to oversee and guide the team. The supervisor must also be well-versed and trained in rescue
techniques, able to direct rescue if the necessity arises.
Adequate rest periods The amount of fatigue and productivity of workers is aected by factors
such as weather conditions and the diculty of the position at which work is carried out. A
signicant factor is the altitude; work at high altitude exposes workers to higher wind speeds
and low temperature. Other factors to consider include weather conditions and the type of work
carried out.
Selection of workers Workers engaged in such tasks must have the correct attitude and aptitude
for work at height as they will need to be relied upon to behave in a sensible, responsible manner
during work. Operators should be physically t and free from any disabilities that may prevent
them from working safely.
Selection of equipment The equipment used can be determined through the risk assessment
process, which must be carried out before each job. The equipment must be compatible, i.e. the
safe function of any equipment or component must not aect or interfere with the safe function
of another. Equipment that is safe for use in conventional situations may present risks to operators
using industrial rope access systems. The manufacturer of the equipment should be consulted to
clear any ambiguity or doubt.
Use of tools The greatest danger, in many cases, is that of tools falling onto people below. Hence,
small tools should be secured to the operator by lanyards. Small items can be carried in buckets
or bags fastened to the worker. It is important to note that the combined weight of all the items
carried must be within the safety factor of the system.
Traceability of equipment Equipment that is withdrawn from service must not be used without
the inspection and approval of a competent person. Defective equipment should be cut up or
broken before disposal to prevent unauthorised retrieval and misuse.
Storage of equipment After usage, equipment should be cleaned and dried. Equipment should
be stored unpacked in a cool, dark, dry location that is chemically neutral. Items that may damage
the equipment, such as sharp objects or corrosive substances must not be stored in close proximity
to the equipment. If the equipment has been used in a marine environment, they must be rinsed
thoroughly in clean fresh water, dried and inspected before storage.
33
16.1.5 Where it is necessary for industrial rope access systems to be used:
Workers must be trained and possess a high level of competency;
Workers must be adequately supervised by a trained and competent rope access supervisor;
All workers should wear a sit harness with a separate chest harness and the worker should be
attached at the central waist (ventral) point. The above procedures when combined will provide
fall arrest capabilities. The following British Standards may be consulted for details pertaining to
such equipment:
- Sit harness BS EN 813;
- Chest harness BS EN 12277;
- Combination of sit harness and chest harness BS EN 361.
Supervisors should ensure communication between personnel is sucient for the task;
Procedures should be clearly understood by the worker;
Two independently anchored ropes should be used for each person;
Any person within 2m of an unguarded edge should be adequately secured;
Workers must not work alone in case assistance is required in an emergency;
Barricades and signposts should be placed on all access points to the base and anchorage locations
(for both public and workers);
Industrial rope access systems should only be installed in a location where it is possible to provide
prompt assistance or rescue when necessary; and
An industrial rope access system is NOT designed to stop or sustain falls unless combined with a fall
arrest lanyard.
16.2 Travel Restraint Systems
16.2.2 A travel restraint system is a system that:
Consists of a safety harness or restraint belt, attached to one or more lanyards, each of which is
attached to a static line or anchorage point; and
Is designed to restrict the travelling range of a person wearing the safety harness or belt so that the
person cannot get into a position where the person could fall o an edge of a surface or through a
surface.
Generally, restraint belts are better suited for travel restraint than fall arrest purposes.
16.2.3 A roof anchor may be used as a travel restraint on steel sheeting or tiled roofs during construction of the
roof. It is lightweight, portable and can be installed and removed with minimal time and eort.
16.2.4 Travel restraint systems can be used in conjunction with other fall prevention and protection methods
such as guard-rails.
16.2.5 Where it has been planned to use a travel restraint system, the following conditions should be complied
before the system is used:
The travel restraint system should prevent a person falling from the edge of a roof (Fig 16.2). The
system should not be used on fragile roofs; and
Persons setting up and/or using the system should be able to demonstrate that they have a clear
and thorough understanding of the system and how the work area can be accessed without the
possibility of a fall occurring.
A travel restraint system is not designed to stop or sustain falls.
34
16.2.6 Where access to the corner of the roof is required, workers should be attached to two or more sets of
ropes and anchorages to prevent a fall from either edge of the roof. While accessing the anchorage
points, the users should be restrained so that a fall cannot occur.
16.2.7 The anchorage points must be able to withstand the full weight of the person using it without failure.
Anchorage points should be designed for additional loading should more than one person be using
the system.
16.2.8 If the system consists of ropes that require their eective length to be adjusted to prevent a fall
occurring, the method of adjusting the rope length should be by means of a lockable cam device or
similar; if there is a possibility of the rope grab (or similar) coming o the end of the rope, the rope
should be suitably terminated.
16.2.9 Restraint belts are used only for travel restraint and not for fall arrest purposes. Safety harnesses should
be used if the intention is to provided fall arrest instead of travel restraint.
16.2.10 Travel restraint systems are generally only suitable for work such as the following:
Roof inspection (not on fragile roofs);
Installation and removal of perimeter guard-rail systems;
Minor repair work, including replacement of some isolated parts of the roof;
Painting and cleaning;
Installations of skylights and ventilation xtures;
Pointing up tiles or tting ridge capping metal roofs; and
Installation and removal of television aerials and other similar communication equipment.
Figure 16.2: The travel restraint system prevents the user from reaching the open side.
Restricted travel distance
Anchorage
Lifeline/ lanyard
Restraint belt
35
Figure 16.2: The travel restraint system prevents the user from reaching the open side.
17. Fall Arrest Systems
17.1 Individual Fall Arrest Systems
(Personal Protective Equipment)
17.1.1 Individual fall arrest systems are intended to safely stop a worker from falling an uncontrolled distance
and to reduce the impact of the fall. Individual fall arrest systems are an assembly of interconnected
components consisting of a harness connected to an anchorage point or anchorage system either
directly or by means of a lanyard. They can be used where workers are required to carry out their work
near an unprotected edge such as rigging and dismantling. They may also be used where the working
platform is not stable, for example in suspended scaolds.
17.1.2 When used to arrest falls the following guidelines are to be observed:
The system should be rigged such that if a fall occurs, the distance fallen will be the shortest. This is
to minimise the impact and swing of the arrest;
All fall protection equipment should be visually checked prior to usage (refer to paragraph 17.7);
Once a fall arrest system has been used to arrest a fall, it must be removed from service and not
used again; and
Anchoring of lanyards to guard-rails of scaolding should be avoided where possible, unless
the guard-rail is designed to be able to withstand the force generated by a falling person (about
22.2kN per person attached). If it is absolutely necessary to anchor to the guard-rails, the part to be
anchored to must be properly tightened. The vertical pieces are better suited for anchorage than
the horizontal pieces.
17.2 Fall Arrest System Limitations
17.2.1 Individual fall arrest systems should only be used if it is not reasonably practicable to use other risk
control measures to prevent falls. Individual fall arrest systems require a moderate level of skill to use
safely, and in the event of an arrested fall, it may cause some physical injury to the user.
17.2.2 Height clearance is another limitation of individual fall arrest systems. For a person falling from height,
the combined length of the lanyard, sag in life line and the shock absorber fully extended may be more
than 5m in total. This 5m might be more than the actual height of the fall; and
17.2.3 Therefore, when working in areas where falls over short distances are possible, a short lanyard or
retractable fall arrest block should be considered.
36
Anchorage
A safety harness is able to provide protection from falls only if the harness is attached to a lanyard that is
anchored.
100 Percent Tie-of
The term 100 percent tie-o means that anchorage is maintained at all times. This is done to allow for fall
protection even when transferring between 2 separate anchorage points. A 100 percent tie-o will require
twin-tailed lanyards that allow users to remain anchored to one point of anchorage with one lanyard, while
transferring to another point of anchorage with the second one.
Calculation of the Free Fall Distance
Free Fall Distance
The allowable free fall distance for individual fall arrest systems should be limited to not more than 6 feet
(1.8m).
Fall Clearance Distance
This is also known as free space, it is the total distance below a worker who is using an individual fall arrest
system to safely arrest his fall without striking an obstruction or the ground. Below are the formulae for two
commonly used congurations.

For a harness, lanyard with energy absorber assembly (Fig 17.1):
Clearance Height = Length of Lanyard + Length of Energy Absorber Extension + Height of Worker +
Safety Distance (usually taken as 3ft/1m)
For a Self Retracting Lifeline (SRL)/Retractable Fall Arresters:
Clearance Height = Deceleration Distance + Height of Worker + Safety Distance
(usually taken as 3ft/1m)
If the individual fall arrest system (fall arrest lanyard or SRL) is attached to a horizontal life line (HLL), the
deection of the HLL needs to be included.
37

Length of lanyard
Energy absorber extension
Height of worker
Safety distance
17.3 Instruction and Training for Workers Using Individual Fall
Arrest Systems
17.3.1 Workers required to use individual fall arrest systems should be trained and instructed in:
The correct tting and attachment of safety harnesses;
The dangers of using incompatible hardware;
The inspection, maintenance and storage of equipment;
The correct anchorage, installation and use of the system; and
Emergency rescue procedures.
17.3.2 Upon completion of the training programme, workers should be assessed for their competency in the
safe use of the equipment.
17.3.3 The individual fall arrest system is designed to arrest only one fall. In the event of a fall, even if the shock
absorber has not been extended, all the components of the fall arrest system should be inspected and
approved by a competent person or the manufacturer before it is put to use again. Otherwise, they are
to be removed from service.
17.4 Hazards of Fall Arrest Systems
17.4.1 There are some hazards when using the individual fall arrest systems. One such hazard is swing back
and swing down. It is caused by the pendulum eect of a person falling o the edge.
17.4.2 Swing back In a fall, particularly from a perpendicular edge, the worker will swing back into the
building structure and collide with any obstructions in the path of the swing (Fig 17.2, left). If there is a
risk of a swing back occurring, the use of an individual fall arrest system should be reassessed.
17.4.3 Swing down In a swing down, the arrest line extends diagonally from the anchor point, following the
perimeter edge of the roof. If the worker falls, the fall arrest line will slide back along the perimeter until
it is at a right angle with the edge of the roof. If the arrest line is too long, the worker will drop and hit
the ground (Fig 17.2, right) or the arrest line may break when contacting the edge of the roof and result
in the worker hitting the ground.
17.5 Rescue of Workers Who are Using Individual Fall Arrest Systems
17.5.1 In the event of a fall, the worker must be rescued as soon as possible. This is necessary to prevent further
injury (Refer to paragraph 11.2).
Figure 17.1: A graphical representation of the formula for calculating clearance height.
38
17.5.2 There should be written rescue procedures that must ensure that persons who fall can be rescued as
soon as reasonably practicable (if possible, in less than 10mins). The rescue procedures should include
plans for:
Preventing prolonged suspension;
Identifying symptoms of suspension trauma (light headedness, nausea, paleness of skin, hot
ushes, breathlessness); and
Performing rescue and treatment as quickly as possible.
17.5.3 A person should not use a fall arrest system unless there is at least one other person present on site who
is trained to conduct rescue operations in the event of a fall.
17.5.4 It is recommended to prepare specialised rescue equipment that is designed and certied to cope
with the additional load during rescue instead of improvising a rescue plan using existing equipment.
It must be noted that during rescue, the loads placed on some items of equipment during a rescue
may be higher than they have been originally designed for. If equipment is used for rescue either
individually or in systems, the supplier should verify that it has suitable performance and loading
characteristics in that specic conguration. This applies to all parts of the system, in particular the
anchors. The anticipated loads during the rescue situation should be within the loadings specied in
the manufacturers user instructions.
17.5.5 Certain situations may require at least two persons to safely rescue the fallen worker. The rescue
procedure must not put the rescuers at risk. If a mobile elevated work platform is to be used for a rescue,
it should be readily available at all times should a person be using an individual fall arrest system.
Figure 17.2: Swing back (left) and swing down (right) hazards.
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17.6 Fall Arrest System Components (Harnesses, Lines and Lanyards)
17.6.1 A fall arrest harness (Fig 17.3) is an assembly of interconnected shoulder and leg straps with or without
a body belt designed to spread the load over the body and to prevent the wearer from falling out of
the assembly.
17.6.2 A lanyard is a line used, usually as part of a lanyard assembly, to connect a fall arrest harness to an
anchorage point or static line. A lanyard assembly should be as short as reasonably practicable.
17.6.3 A fall arrest static line is a horizontal or vertical line of a fall arrest system. The line is connected to a xed
anchorage point at each end, to which a lanyard can be attached. The line can be made of metal tube,
metal rod, steel wire rope, synthetic webbing or synthetic rope.
17.6.4 A personal energy absorber is used in conjunction with a fall arrest harness and lanyard to reduce the
deceleration force imposed by a suddenly arrested fall and correspondingly reduces loading on the
anchorage. The energy absorber may be a separate item or manufactured into the lanyard.
17.6.5 Further information for standards of fall arrest systems can be obtained from the following standards
issued by SPRING Singapore:
Singapore Standard SS 528 1 : 2006 Personal Fall Arrest Systems. - Full-body harnesses
Singapore Standard SS 528 2 : 2006 Personal Fall Arrest Systems. - Lanyards and energy
absorbers
Singapore Standard SS 528 3 : 2006 Personal Fall Arrest Systems. - Self-retracting lifelines
Singapore Standard SS 528 4 : 2006 Personal Fall Arrest Systems. - Vertical rails and vertical
lifelines incorporating a sliding-type fall arrester
Singapore Standard SS 528 5 : 2006 Personal Fall Arrest Systems. - Connectors with self-
closing and self-locking gates
Singapore Standard SS 528 6 : 2006 Personal Fall Arrest Systems. - System performance tests
Figure 17.3: Components of a fall arrest harness.
Shoulder straps
FRONT VIEW BACK VIEW
Shoulder straps
restrainer
Fall arrest
attachment
Sub-pelvic strap
Buckles
Thigh straps
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17.7 Inspection of Fall Arrest Systems
17.7.1 The inspection of fall arrest systems by a competent person should be conducted periodically and
include the following:
The rope or webbing including the anchorage lines (e.g. inspecting for any defects or damage and
checking the anchorage);
The fall arrest system harness body (e.g. inspecting for any damage to the mounting ring or the
body, checking the activation of the fall arrest indicator and that the labels are present);
The locking mechanisms and rope guides (e.g. inspecting the visible rope guides for excessive wear
and checking that the rope runs freely through the anchorage and that the locking mechanism
works properly); and
The hardware (e.g. checking that the snaphooks or links work properly).
That the PPE or its components have not exceeded the manufacturers recommended usage life.
Marking or Labelling of Textile Components on PPE
Solvents present in markers may damage or weaken textiles and may result in the protection provided
by the PPE to be compromised. As a general rule, textile products must not be marked unless it has been
ascertained that the marking agent will not cause damage to the textile.
17.7.2 When doing pre-use checks for lanyards and exible anchorage lines (textile based equipment), the
competent person performing the inspection should pay particular attention to the following:
Cuts and frays;
Excessive wear;
Abrasion (furriness) , particularly to load bearing parts;
Stitching (unauthorised repair);
Discoloration (sign of chemical or UV damage);
Powdery surface (damage by chemicals);
Hardening/stiness;
Heat glazing/burns (damage by heat);
Dirt, oil, grease;
Age;
Flattening/thinning; and
Lumps.
17.7.3 When doing pre-use checks for harnesses, the competent person should pay attention to the following:
Inside and outside any textile attachment point loops for all the features listed under the checking
procedure for textile based equipment above;
Fastening and adjustment buckles as well as any other safety critical metal and plastic parts for:
- Correct assembly;
- Correct functioning;
- Excessive wear;
- Corrosion; and
- Cracks.
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17.7.5 When doing pre-use checks for shock absorbers, the competent person should take note of any:
Signs of activation; and
Wear and tear of point of attachment.
Figure 17.4: A diagram of a self-locking connector or snaphook (left) and a carabiner (right).
Hook nose
Hook
body
Lock
Hinge
Eye
Gate
Spring
(inside gate)
Carabiner
nose
Lock
Gate
Hinge
Spring
(inside
gate)
Carabiner
body
17.7.4 When doing pre-use checks for connectors (Fig 17.4), such as snaphooks, the competent person
performing the inspection should take note of:
Obvious damage or deformations (bent, twisted, corroded, worn, cracks, etc.),
especially at contact points;
Rust/corrosion;
Contamination by chemicals (pitting or aking);
Build up of foreign matter (grit, grease or paint);
Cuts/serrations/burring, heavy marking or scoring;
Hinge pin (ensure it is in good condition);
Catch pin (ensure it is not bent); and
Functionality of moving parts such as locking mechanisms.
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18. Ladders and Step Platforms
18.1 Ladders and Step Platforms
18.1.1 Ladders leaning against a supporting structure should be set up on a level area on rm footing and the
base should be located a distance from the wall approximately a quarter of the vertical height of the
ladder (Fig 18.1).
Figure 18.1: The ratio of the height to the base for a correctly positioned ladder is 4:1.
18.1.2 Where a ladder is used as a means of access or as a working place, adequate handholds should be
provided to a height of at least one meter above the place of landing of the highest rung to be reached
by the feet of any person working on the ladder.
18.1.3 Persons on ladders should maintain three points of contact at all times, for example, two feet and one
hand or two hands and one foot (Fig. 18.2).
1 Out
4 Up
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Figure 18.2: Three points of contact with the ladder should be maintained at all times, Tools and materials should not be
carried by hand and should be in a tool belt or side pouch.
18.1.4 Fall prevention measures may be necessary in association with the use of ladders if a risk assessment
shows that additional protection is necessary. For example, permanent ladders are tted with protective
back guards. In addition, pole straps may be necessary while working from ladders.
18.1.5 If the ladder is more than 3m in length, it should be securely xed (e.g. ladder lashing). If it is
impracticable to do so, a person should be stationed at the base of the ladder to prevent the ladder
from slipping or falling.
18.2 Portable Ladders
18.2.1 Ladders should be used as a means of access to or egress from a work area and not as a work platform.
18.2.2 Step and trestle ladders should only be used when they are in the fully open position. A step ladder may
be used in the closed position by leaning it against a support. However, care should be taken to ensure
that only the front stiles carry the load. Only trestle ladders are to be used to support work platform
upon which a person has to work.
18.2.3 Standing on top of a step ladder (Fig 18.3, left) is highly unsafe and should never be done. If it is necessary
to work from a step ladder, work a few steps below the top rung, so that a handhold can be maintained.
Do not overreach and keep both feet on the same step throughout the task.
3 points of contacts at all times
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18.3 Step Platforms
18.3.1 A step platform (Fig 18.4) is a safer alternative to a step ladder especially when the task involves extended
periods working at height or with restricted movement and vision (e.g. welding). A step platform is
more stable and provides a much larger work surface than a step ladder.
Figure 18.3: If it is necessary to work on a step ladder, work a few steps below the top rung, so that a handhold can be
maintained.
Figure 18.4: A step platform can provide a more stable work surface.
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18.4 Safety Guidelines for Ladders
18.4.1 Observe the following safety guidelines when using ladders:
Use a 2-person team to transport ladders that are greater than 2m in height, carry the ladder close
to the body at elbow height;
Perform a check on the ladder before using it, refer to paragraph 18.4.3 for details;
Do not paint or coat ladders such that aws are unable to be spotted by users;
Do not handle or use ladders where the workers or the ladder may make contact with power lines,
or use metal or reinforced metal ladders in the vicinity of live electrical equipment;
Do not set up ladders in passageways, doorways, driveways or other places where a person, vehicle
or crane lifted load can hit it (if the use of ladder is unavoidable, erect a barrier or lock the door shut
or as a last resort, a person standing at the base);
Do not use the step ladder near the edge of an open oor or on scaolding to gain extra height; if
the ladder topples, the worker could fall over the edge;
Do not carry materials and tools by hand when ascending or descending the ladder. Materials or
tools which cannot be safely secured on the workers belt should be independently transferred or
hoisted to the work station;
Do not work on the ladder continuously for extended periods of time (recommended work time:
10-15 mins);
Do not use a ladder for heavy or strenuous work;
Do not overreach when working on the ladder;
Do not do work that will impose a side loading on a ladder unless the ladder is secured;
Do not work directly over other workers work areas;
Do not allow anyone else to be on the ladder at the same time;
Do not use ladders during strong wind or wet conditions; and
Do not use the ladder unless slip resistant footwear is being worn.
18.4.2 When securing a ladder:
Ensure that the ladder is on rm ground or
spread the load (e.g. place a board at the
bottom of the ladder);
For A-frame ladders, ensure that both
spreaders are straightened and rmly
attached before use. They must be locked
rmly in the open position.
Tie the ladder to a suitable point making sure
that both stiles are tied (Fig 18.5).
If this is not possible, then securely wedge the
ladder e.g. against a wall;
If none of the above can be achieved, foot the
ladder (Fig 18.6) (footing is the last resort and
should be avoided if other means of access
can be used).
18.4.3 Do not use ladders with any of the following faults:
Timber stiles that are warped, splintered,
cracked or bruised;
Metal stiles which are corroded, twisted,
bent, kinked, crushed, or with crack welds or
damaged feet;
Rungs; steps, treads or top plates which are
missing, worn or loose;
Tie rods missing, broken or loose;
Ropes, braces or brackets which are missing,
broken or worn; and
Timber members which are covered with
opaque paint or other treatment that could
disguise faults in the timber.
Figure 18.6: Footing the ladder.
Figure 18.5: A ladder with both stiles secure.
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18.4.4 Ladders can be checked for serviceability by;
Taking each end of the ladder in turn and trying to push the stiles apart and then together. Any
movement indicates insecure rungs or loose tie rods;
Laying the ladder at, raising one end and attempting to push one stile while pulling the other. If
the stiles move relative to each other, the rungs are loose; and
Tapping timber rungs with a mallet. A dull sound is an indication of a defective rung.
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19. Hazards of Working at Rooftop
19.1 Fragile/Brittle Roong
19.1.1 Persons standing on fragile and brittle roofs are at risk if the roofs break and give way under the
loading of the persons weight. These roofs typically include those that are constructed from moulded
or fabricated materials such as cellulose cement roof sheets; glass; berglass; acrylic or other similar
synthetic materials.
19.1.2 If a person is required to work on or from a roof that is fragile and can break easily, it is important to
ensure that:
Before the roong work is carried out, the
brittle or fragile areas are identied and the
stability of the structure and soundness
of the roof is assessed as part of the risk
management process;
The worker is informed that it is a fragile or
brittle roong;
Safe access to the work area is provided to
enable workers to step directly onto a safe
platform or area;
Work is carried out from a working platform
that is located and constructed to allow work
to be performed safely (Fig 19.1);
An adequate fall arrest system is installed and
used;
There is another person present at all times
when work is being performed on a brittle
roof in case there is an emergency;
Training and instruction has been provided to
workers on precautions to be taken;
Training in rescue techniques has been
provided and rescue equipment is readily
available for use at the workplace;
Warning signs are displayed at access points
to any work area where fragile material is
present (Fig 19.2);
Warning signs are xed securely in a position
where they will be clearly visible to persons
accessing the working area.
Figure 19.1: Crawl boards, gangways and perimeter
guard-rails can enhance safety for work on fragile or
brittle roofs.
Warning:
Fragile Roof
Figure 19.2: Danger signs to be fxed at points of access to
the roof.
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20. Acknowledgements
The Workplace Safety and Health Council would like to thank all who had commented and contributed in any
way to the improvement of this Code of Practice.
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21. List of References
1. Australian Government NOHSC - National Code of Practice For The Prevention Of Falls From Heights In
Construction Work 2004
2. Government Of Western Australia Commission For Occupational Safety And Health - Code of Practice
Prevention Of Falls At Work Places 2004
3. Worksafe Victoria Code of Practice No.29 Prevention Of Falls In Housing Construction 2004
4. Worksafe BC OHS Regulations Guidelines Part 11 Fall Protection
5. Royal Gazette Of The Province Of Nova Scotia (Canada) Fall Protection And Scaolding Regulations
Made Under Section 82 Of The OHS Act S.N.S 1996,C.7 O.I.C. 96-14 (January 3, 1996), N.S. Reg 2/96
6. OSHA Regulations (Standards 29 Cfr) Sample Fall Protection Plan Non Mandatory Guidelines For
Complying With 1926.502(K) 1926 Subpart M App E
7. HSE Safe Use Of Ladders And Step Ladders An Employers Guide
8. HSE The Work At Height Regulations 2005 A Brief Guide
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22. Other Useful Contacts
To report unsafe practices at the workplace. please call the MOM hotline at 6317 1111.
To report accidents, dangerous occurences and occupational diseases, visit www.mom.gov.sg/ireport.
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