How to avoid falling objects when working at heights
October 28, 2019
Tools
Safety
Accessories
Expert Corner
Best practices and tips to help preventing tool drops at your workplace
You may have great fall protection measures in place to keep employees safe when working at height, but what about their co-workers below? Dropped tools and other falling objects are a major hazard – and one that isn’t always fully addressed.
The following notes will give a clear summary of best practice in securing tools, avoiding tool drops and increasing safety in your workplace.
The problem:
What the law says:
There is a conflict between traditional practice and legal requirements. It’s quite common to see an area closed off by barriers so people can’t walk beneath their workmates and be struck by falling items. The law’s primary objective, by contrast, is that measures should be taken to stop those drops from happening in the first place.
When working at height, do not consider that sealing off the area below is enough protection. Your priority should be to prevent tools from falling.
Tool drop solutions
Top tips for operators working at height
- Ask for specialized training – your employer is obliged to give it to you
- Place items in securely closed buckets or bags for lifting – and attach those containers to an anchoring point at the top. Use hoists and cranes to lift equipment, rather than carrying it. Don’t climb ladders or other structures with tools loose in your pockets:
- We recommend that light items, weighing under 5 lbs (2.25 kg), are attached to you via your tool belt or harness – using clips, lanyards or other tethering aids – or carried in a secure holster
- We advise that equipment over 5 lbs (2.25 kg) is similarly tethered to a suitable anchoring point on a stable structure – not to yourself!
- Treat phones, radios, tablet and laptop computers, tape measures and all other devices in the same way
- Make sure you have the right choice of tools, accessories and accessory changing equipment for the application – see our advice on impact driver sockets, for example. If required, accessories and consumables, should be changed before you go up – not at height
And in general:
- Always use all recommended safety equipment, including fall protection devices, helmets, gloves and other PPE
- Follow best practice on tool usage for environmental safety and prevention of injury – see our advice on grinding and on tools suitable for explosive atmospheres
Top tips for employers to prevent tool drops
- Above all, train your operators to follow your agreed safety procedures
- Include falling objects as a topic within your fall protection training program
- Consider falling objects within your workplace safety risk assessments
- Take action to eliminate any risk identified
- Provide operators with all aids specified in the previous list, including attachment devices and anchor points, lifting mechanisms and safety equipment
- Put a safety net under the workers at height or seal the area off with barricades
- Stay up to date with new safety equipment developments from manufacturers
Fall protection training needs to cover falling objects as well as falling workers.
Read on
The links below will take you to some useful information relevant to tool drops. You should also do your own online searches to make sure you’re up to date on local rules and regulations.
- US regulation on temporary workers
- UK work at height regulations
- Risk of injuries from falling objects
Advice on other main risks in the workplace can be found in our articles on:
- Tool vibration – including hand-held tool issues, the importance of balance and understanding the risks.
- Unsuitable tool or solution choice for applications – including explosive atmospheres and impact wrench socket issues.
- Air line installation failures – including hose whiplash, poor performance and incorrect installation.
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