Scaffolding Operations: Lone Working Awareness

Preparation: Location? Distractions? Visual Aids?

Problem: Assessing the risk of Lone Working, Separation and Isolation.

Purpose: To raise awareness among the work force of Lone Working, Separation and Isolation.

Overview: This short training session covers duty of care, associated risks, Legislation and safe working practices.

Duration: 30 minutes.

Applicable Regulations

The Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974 (HASAW ACT) sets out the employer's duty to ensure, so far as is reasonable practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees.

Under this act, employers have a duty to:

• identify health and safety risk;

• put reasonably practicable measures in place to ensure safe working conditions; and

• equip employees with information and training to fulfil their responsibilities for their own safety under the law.

Management of Health and Safety at work Regulations 1999

Under this regulation, employers have a duty to:

• conduct lone working risk assessments in consultation with employees;

• keep a record of lone working risk assessment if the company employs more than five people;

• make arrangements to implement the necessary measures to mitigate the risks identified;

• enable procedures and effective channel of communication such as lone working alarms, that can remotely monitor lone workers;

• determine how much supervision is required of a lone worker to identify and handle health and safety issues they encounter;

• appoint competent people for each task;

• ensure their lone workers receive appropriate information and training to fulfil their duties safely; and

• ensure their lone workers have no medical conditions that make them unsuitable for working alone and consult for professional medical advise when necessary.

Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007

Under the Act, the senior management of an organisation is responsible for:

• ensuring the company is compliant with the HASAWA and Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999;

• conducting regular training for lone workers and those who manage, supervise, or monitor lone workers on their responsibilities to fulfil their duty;

• staying abreast with the latest solutions and technologies that can improve the assessment and mitigation of risks lone workers face and implementing suitable ones as necessary; and

• staying informed on emerging research of carcinogens, mutagens or biological agents their lone workers are exposed to that can cause long-term health issues leading to a fatality and updating their safety measures to mitigate these risks accordingly.

Health and Safety Offences Act 2008

Since this Act amends the maximum penalties that can be made against defendants under the Health and Safety at Work , etc. Act 1974, the employer's responsibilities under this Act is to comply with lone worker regulations outlined under:

• HASAWA 1974; AND

• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, which further reinforces the Health and Safety Act 1974.

A Lone Worker's Responsibilities under UK Lone Working Policies

Across these four UK laws, lone worker of organisations are required to:

• take reasonable care of their health and safety and the safety of anyone affected by their work;

• disclose any disability or medical condition that may make them unsuitable to work alone;

• attend any health and safety training as provided by the employer;

• cooperate with those in charge of conducting lone working risk assessments and providing the information they require to fulfil their duty;

• reporting any potential safety hazards to their supervisor or manager promptly;

• comply with lone working policies set by their company, including proper usage of any equipment and lone working alarms.

Lone Working Policy

Lone Working

The Health and Safety Executive defines lone workers as those who work by themselves without close or direct supervision. Typical scaffolding operations identify the following lone working situations.

• Scaffolding Operations

• Depot/Yard Operations

• Scaffold Inspections

• Surveying

• Site Meetings

Risk assessments are required of these lone working activities and control measurements implemented to mitigate risk;

• Mobile and Vehicle communication Systems

• Mobile Telephone reporting mechanisms

• Office records of the whereabouts of lone workers

• Regular contact with Supervisors

• Emergency Procedures

• Out of Hours Registration

As a general rule scaffolding companies do NOT permit lone working. Working alone is not in itself against the law but the law does require very careful consideration of any health and safety risks for people working alone. Work at height in itself is high risk, this risk is amplified significantly if alone.

In the event of Lone Working

Be aware of the additional risks involved when lone workers carry out their duties and will implement such safe working procedure to ensure that they do not incur more risk than other employees.

To identify the significant risks involved in lone working, responsible managers will carry out a Risk assessment using the below factors as a minimum;

• Does the workplace present significant risks to the lone worker?

• Is access and egress suitable for the lone worker. including provision of temporary access equipment?

• Can plant, substances and materials be handled by one person?

• Are there personal risks such as violence?

• Is the lone worker medically fit and suitable for work?

• Is additional training required for the lone worker?

• How will the person be supervised?

• What communication procedures are in place for emergencies such as the worker becoming ill or having an accident?

Ensure that lone workers should not be subjected to high-risk activities due to their vulnerability and lack of assistance in the event of emergencies.

The following circumstances should not involve lone workers:

• High level works where provisions must be in place to protect persons from falling;

• Heavy or awkward manual handling operations;

• Hazardous substances which could asphyxiate persons;

• Confined spaces where access and egress is limited and there is the potential of an environment becoming hazardous, i.e., manholes and tanks;

• Any Permit to Work where special safety controls are required;

• Working in high-risk areas where attacks on persons frequently occur;

• Road works or pedestrian areas.

Additional Considerations

In addition to a Lone Working Policy, site specific risk assessments, site specific method statements, safe systems of work and Lone Working guidance; a scaffolding operative could be considered as a lone worker is he/she becomes separated/isolated with lone working.

It is common practice for scaffolding teams to comprise of 2, 3, 4 or more team members. Leaving one team member working alone for a short period of time raises additional hazards associated with lone working.

If you cannot see or verbally communicate with another team member, he/she could be considered a lone worker, "Out of Sight - Out of Mind".

It is imperative that all scaffold operatives are fully aware of the risks associated with inadvertently becoming isolated/separated during operations and the importance of looking out for each-other, making sure no-one is isolated.

A Scaffolding Lone Working Policy prohibits Lone Working when working at height where there is a risk of a fall but becoming isolated or separated will carry the same risks as Lone Working.

It is considered that an elapsed time exceeding 15 minutes would be considered lone working. Therefore, becoming isolated or separated for a similar amount of time is to be avoided at all times.

Your Health, Safety and Welfare is the responsibility of your employer but also your Own and that of Others.

Work environments, work areas and type of work being carried out can increase the level of risk we are exposed to on a daily basis. The risk of becoming or being separated/isolated can also increase.

For instance: the risk of becoming separated/isolated whilst working on a construction site is greater than that of a street job due to the nature of the work. Being asked by Construction Managers, Construction Supervisors and Foreman to come and do this and that for them will increase the risk of becoming separated/isolated.

Working in voids, lift-shafts, risers and similar restricted space environments will increase the risk if an operative was to become isolated and /or separated.

Planning for Lone Working

Properly planning, supervising and Managing work will ensure a suitable and sufficient risk assessment is carried out and Lone Working is prohibited in the aforementioned areas of work. Planning, supervising and managing work will also ensure the risk of becoming separated and /or isolated is considered and implementation of control measures made.

Planning for Lone Working, Separation and Isolation could include consideration of the following, this list is not exhaustive;

• Medical Fitness, age, gender, experience

• Supervision

• Management of Operations

• Training and Competency

• Security

• Access, Lighting, Emergency Escape Routes

• First Aid

• Welfare Facilities

• Slips, Trips, and Falls

• Electrical Equipment

• Manual Handling

• Location

• Process of Work

• Work Activity

• Work Equipment

• Communication

• Language Barriers

• Weather

• Telephone Signal

• Social Environment

• Violence

• Scheduled time of Work

• Emergency Procedures

The hazards of Lone Working, Separation and Isolation will be specific to the task/job in hand taking into account the scope, extent and complexity of the work.

We do hope this short training session has at least raised some awareness to the risks of becoming separated or isolated during operations that is akin to Lone Working.

SHORT TRAINING SESSION ATTENDANCE SHEET

Session Title: Scaffolding Operatives Lone Working Awareness Session No.	Date
Location	Start Time
Duration (Minutes)	End Time
Presenter's Name	Presenter's Signature

Candidate's Name	Name of Candidate's Employer	Candidate's Signature

No. Attended	Duration	Total Time	Employer Reference