Competence is key
February 1st 2006 When it comes to fall protection systems, installer competence is key to saving lives.
However, as Simon Luke of Uniline Safety Systems explains, lack of skills certification for installers poses serious problems
When preparing to work at height, for construction, maintenance and repair works, what are your primary considerations for fall protection and prevention? The cost of the fall protection system? The speed at which you will be able to have the job completed? Or are you more concerned with the health and safety of your workers? Unfortunately, cost is normally the overriding factor, taking precedence over employee welfare.
According to the Health and Safety Executive, 67 people died and almost 4000 suffered a serious injury as a result of a fall from height in the workplace in 2003/2004. Falls from height are the most common cause of fatal injury and second most common cause of major injury to employees, accounting for around 15% of all such injuries.
Competence is key
A major factor, which underpins the health and safety of work at height, is the competence and skills of the installers of the fall protection safety systems. Under current industry accreditation rules, construction workers must carry a 'Construction Related Occupation' (CRO) card.
This card requires employers to certify their employees' competence and the employee to take the CITB Construction Skills Health and Safety test. However, this minimum certification is inadequate for construction workers installing engineered fall protection systems, as essentially any 'man in a van' can become a fall protection system installer.
Without proper installation, fall arrest and restraint systems are as much use as a chocolate fireguard at ensuring the safety of the user. There is currently no standard in place, which ensures installation is carried out by someone specifically trained to do so. Site managers therefore cannot be sure that their installers have an understanding of structural tolerance, orientation and security unless supplied with proof of the relevant training. In my experience, systems are frequently misfitted, particularly on modern roofs. There appears to be a general lack of understanding in both the fall protection and construction industries about the effect a fall on a cable based fall protection system will have on the roof structure. As a result of this, installer organisations are not always designing and installing systems appropriately for the given structure, as factors such as structural tolerance, working environment, exposure and clearance datum are not adequately considered. This lack of skills certification for installers is a real problem in the industry. From a health and safety point of view it is paramount that the correct and appropriate level of training is given and can be proven.
Skilled installers need a means to communicate their expertise and experience giving site managers peace of mind for the safety of contractors working at height.
Defining best practice
In reality there are three main areas where installers must demonstrate competence. Firstly the installer must ensure his own safety while installing the fall protection system at height. He must also have a good understanding of the structure and its tolerances and capabilities in order to recommend and install the correct system. Finally, installers must be trained in and understand the implications of positioning the system in relation to the fall hazard.
To ensure installers meet and demonstrate this criteria, Uniline Safety Systems requires its installers to carry a full competence 'Passport' which acts as a record of specific details of training taken in each of the key areas. With this Passport installers can prove that they have the necessary skills and confidence to select and install fall protection systems effectively and safely. The Uniline Passport covers general safety, system specification and design, system components installation and structural fixing and anchorage installation for installers working with Uniline's safety systems.
Wake up call
The issue of installer competence affects not only site managers and contractors but users of the fall protection system. As an industry does it not make sense to work together to define best practice and push for new regulations to guarantee and prove competence of the installer community? I would urge installers to take the initiative in improving their skill set and to document these competencies. To those responsible for health and safety on site, demand the highest safety standards from your installers.
It could save lives.
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