Health & Safety | Working at Height
Construction is an extremely dynamic industry that involves a variety of different specialisations and projects that everyone, from all backgrounds, gets involved in. However, when it comes to working at height in an exciting industry, there are a few challenges that you need to overcome to make it over the finishing line. In today’s article, the team at Construction Helpline will give you a rundown of what working at height entails, and how to get involved in this remarkable area.
What does it mean to work at height?
Working at height remains one of the most challenging yet rewarding areas of construction work. It is not every day that you can say that you helped build a skyscraper in London, or worked on a 30-story apartment block for an entire community to live in. To say the least, it is never a dull moment when you are working at height – even the sights that you will see from up there will be enough for people to dive into this work.
Many specialists are associated with health and safety working at height including builders, labourers, painters, plasterers, cladders, electricians, industrial climbers, riggers, storekeepers, workers in underground viewing devices, in underground utilities, and many others. They are undoubtedly heroes, and thanks to them we can now gaze at the wonderful structures and cities that we live in.
What are the safety guidelines for working at height?
Not everyone can work at heights – this is a fact. Industrial mountaineering (as some people would call it) can only be practiced by those who cannot live without heights and adrenaline. Since construction at a height poses a potential threat to human health, management must instruct workers in advance on safety rules, and the workers themselves must be over 18 and meet the following requirements:
- Medical permits, which are issued upon admission to work and after periodic medical examination’s
- Passing safety training with the issuance of a certificate of assignment to a group (e.g. CSCS cards, Construction NVQ’s, CITB tests, etc.)
- Understanding HSE guidelines
Every tradesman working at height must:
- Perform their duties without interfering with the work of others
- Comply with the rules of procedure prescribed in the contract and requirements
- Inform the authorities about any threat to the health or life of their own or those around them
- Master the techniques of providing primary care during any accidents at work or during a fire
- Do not forget about the regular medical examination
Why is Health and Safety so important while working at height?
Successful work at height depends largely on careful adherence to safety regulations. Due to the risky nature of construction sites, there are many common dangers that are easily avoidable – only if workers undergo the proper health and safety training. Maintenance and repair of tall buildings involve work at a significant height. This is associated with increased danger, so such actions are subject to strict regulations. When workers undergo health and safety training, they become a lot more mindful of hazards in the workplace and more skilled in applying their knowledge to different parts of the project.
Conclusion
Urbanisation of our lives leads to the growth of cities. Urban land is expensive, so cities grow upward. We urge you to never forget about the importance of working at height, as well the enjoyments and challenges that it brings with it. Anyone can get involved, you just have to put your mind to it.