CS ENERGY PROCEDURE FOR LADDERS CS-OHS-52 Respnsible Officer: Respnsible Executive: Grup Manager Health and Safety Executive General Manager Crprate DOCUMENT HISTORY Key Changes Prepared By Checked By Apprved By Date Original Dcument fr Implementatin DClarke ABrwn ABrwn 16/04/2012 Page 1
CONTENTS DOCUMENT HISTORY... 1 1 PURPOSE... 3 2 SCOPE... 3 3 RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES... 3 3.1 Site Manager... 3 3.2 Emplyees and Cntractrs... 3 4 SAFE USE OF LADDERS... 3 4.1 General Use... 3 4.2 Selectin f a Ladder... 5 4.3 Maximum Ladder Lengths... 6 4.4 Ladder Psitining Key Pints... 6 5 INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE... 7 6 STORING LADDERS... 7 7 TRAINING AND COMPETENCY... 7 8 PROCEDURE REVIEW... 8 9 DEFINITIONS... 8 10 REFERENCES... 8 Page 2
1 PURPOSE The purpse f this prcedure is t ensure that all emplyees have basic knwledge n the selectin and safe use f ladders in the wrkplace. Prtable ladders used n site shall cmply with the requirements f the AS1892 series f Australian Standards and Managing the Risk f Falls at Wrkplaces Cde f Practice 2011. Ladders are t be used as a means f getting t (access) and frm (egress) a wrk area rather than being used as a wrk platfrm. If using a ladder is the nly practical means f perfrming the task, then it shall be used in a safe manner and shall be crrectly secured befre use. A secnd persn may be required t assist in securing the ladder. The types f tasks which can be perfrmed safely frm a ladder are limited. A secnd system f cntrl, (such as using a harness attached t a suitable anchr pint), shall be used if there is any ptential fr verbalancing leading t a fall. 2 SCOPE This prcedure shall apply t all CS Energy emplyees, visitrs, cntractrs and their emplyees. 3 RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES 3.1 Site Manager Site Manager is respnsible fr ensuring that: Systems are in place t ensure apprpriate ladders are readily available fr wrkers; and Systems are in place t ensure ladders are kept in a gd state f repair. 3.2 Emplyees and Cntractrs Emplyees and cntractrs shall: Ensure that all ladders used are nt defective; Ntifying their manager / supervisr in the event defects are identified and tag the ladder indicating that the ladder ut f service. Raise a Ntificatin in SAP fr repairs t be cmpleted r ensure the ladder is withdrawn frm use permanently. 4 SAFE USE OF LADDERS 4.1 General Use The fllwing guidelines apply t the general use f ladders at CS Energy sites. Persns using ladders must have at least 2 hands and 1 ft r 2 feet and 1 hand n the ladder at all times. This is knwn as the 3 pint rule. Ladders must nly be used fr gaining access rather than as a temprary wrk platfrm, except when undertaking authrised wrk, where authrised (i.e. apprved JSEA) wrk cnducted n a ladder with: Equipment being handled n the ladder will nt cause the persn t lse balance; Page 3
The persn s trunk is ver the centre f the ladder and nt t the side leaning ut; r Any equipment being used by the persn can be perated by ne hand. If a persn is carrying ut authrised (i.e. apprved JSEA) wrk n a ladder they must have the ladder secured at r near the tp r at r near the bttm t prevent the ladder frm mving, AND ne f the fllwing: Have 3 pint cntact; r Use a ple strap if leaning against a ple; r Hld anther stable bject with ne r bth f their hands (i.e. guttering, fascia bard); r Use a fall arrest harness nt attached t the ladder. Aluminium ladders and timber ladders with wire reinfrcing shall nt be used where an electrical risk exists. The bttm f the ladder must be n a stable surface. If the ladder is leaning against a ple, there must be a device fitted at r near the tp f ladder t hld it in place (i.e. steel rpe r hp). Persnnel must ensure ladders are nt laded in excess f the safe wrking lad. Ttal weight will include the persn and tls r equipment. Persnnel shuld avid carrying any items while climbing, r where this is nt pssible must ensure the lad des nt restrict mvement r cause a persn t verbalance. Wherever pssible, tw persns shuld handle and erect ladders t minimise manual handling risks. Ladders, except fr step ladders, shuld be secured at the ft r head while in use (this may be dne via anther persn hlding the ladder r thrugh mre permanent anchrs); On step ladders, n tread abve the third frm the tp shuld be used Where persnnel are wrking n a ladder abve 2.0m (rather than gaining access), and they cannt maintain three pints f cntact, this wrk is cnsidered t be wrking at heights. Figure 1 - Example f Safe Ladder Use Figure 2 - Example f Unsafe Ladder Use Page 4
4.2 Selectin f a Ladder Where pssible and practical, alternative ptins shuld be cnsidered first. Alternative ptins may include the use f ladder steps (hand railed platfrms), scafflding r elevated wrk platfrms etc. Any ladder selected shall be f sufficient length t ensure the fllwing cnditins are met: The ladder can be used at a slpe n greater than 4 in 1. The ladder extends at least 1 metre abve the platfrm t be reached. A persn can stand at least 1 metre/ n higher than 3 rungs frm the tp f the ladder when in the wrking psitin. Figure 3 - Examples f Prtable Ladders Nte: The pints listed belw shall als be taken int cnsideratin when making yur selectin: Self supprting step ladders are cnsidered suitable fr use in places where there is n supprt adjacent t the wrking pint. There shall be sufficient space t use the step ladder in a fully spread psitin. Metal ladders and timber ladders with wire reinfrcing shall nt be used where an electrical hazard exists. Timber ladders shuld nt be placed where they are subject t prlnged expsure t high temperatures. Cnsider the envirnment which aluminium ladders are t be used fr chemical interactin as aluminium is highly reactive e.g. arund caustic tanks etc. If a ladder cannt meet the abve cnditins, then sme frm f mbile platfrm r scaffld shall be used. The use f rpe ladders is cnsidered a last resrt and their use requires a specific risk assessment. Page 5
4.3 Maximum Ladder Lengths The maximum length fr ladders used n CS Energy sites are listed belw: Maximum Safe Length f Ladders Step ladders Single Ladders Extensin Ladders Extensin Ladders (nly fr electrical wrk) 3 Metres 6.1 Metres 7.5 Metres 9.2 Metres 4.4 Ladder Psitining Key Pints Prtable ladders shall be psitined n a substantial base and the fllwing requirements shall be met: Wden blcks, bricks r ff-cuts shall nt be used t level the feet f any ladder. A pitch rati f 4 in 1 is required (the base f the ladder shall be 25% f its length frm the vertical surface yu are accessing). The ladder shall be psitined in such a manner as t have clear access tp and bttm with the tp f the ladder extending at least ne metre abve the landing yu wish t access. The ladder shall be secured crrectly at the tp r fted. Distance frm the base f structure t the ladder shuld be apprx ¼ the supprted length f the ladder At least 1m Ladder shuld prject apprx 1m abve the surface accessing Secured/ supprted at head r ft Fixed Object 4m Angle between 70%-80% (Can be <80% if tp and bttm fixed) Stable Surface 1m Page 6
5 INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE T ensure ladders are apprpriately maintained the fllwing actins must be undertaken at each site: Emplyees are t cnduct a visual inspectin immediately prir t use t identify any significant defects: Lse Steps r rungs that can be mved by hand; Slippery steps r rungs; Cracks r splits in steps, rungs r stiles; Lse nails r blts r ther metals parts; r Damaged r missing ties. Ladder is firm, stable and level n the grund, secure at the tp and sitting at a 4:1 rati; Materials and tls are nt carried whilst climbing the ladders; Ladders are t be stred in a secure cvered area away frm expsure t weather elements; All ladders are t be inspected 6 mnthly by a cmpetent persn; Ladders that fail a test must be taken ut f service immediately and tagged apprpriately; and Faulty ladders are t be discarded apprpriately and nt sld r given t emplyees r members f the public fr persnal use. Nte: Under n circumstances shall any temprary repairs be made t a ladder. 6 STORING LADDERS All mbile ladders are t be stred in apprpriate hlding facilities that d nt cntribute t the degradatin f the ladder (i.e. in cvered areas unexpsed t the envirnment). Ladders shuld nt be kept behind drs r in walkways. They can be hung where reasnably practicable and ut f the way ensure there is minimal risk f falling. 7 TRAINING AND COMPETENCY N separate frmal training is required fr the safe use f ladders but it is a requirement that prir t any wrk being carried ut frm a ladder, that: Persnnel be familiar with the requirements f this prcedure; An apprpriate risk assessment (JSEA r 2x2 Task Risk Analysis) is carried ut; and All cntrls identified in the risk assessment are in place befre cmmencement f the task. Familiarity with the prcedure will be prvided (as a minimum) via awareness infrmatin during the site inductin. "B/D/11/19581" - CS-PTW-HAZ-02 - Wrking at Heights details the specific levels f training fr any Wrk at Heights Page 7
8 PROCEDURE REVIEW The CS Energy CS-OHS-52 Ladders prcedure will be reviewed n an as needs basis (e.g. fllwing legislative change, new infrmatin, relevant incident, HSMS review etc.) 9 DEFINITIONS Term Anchrage Pint Cmpetent Persn Elevating Wrk Platfrms Ladder Cmpetent Persn Shall Travel Restraint System Fall Arrest System Remval f Handrails r Flring Unprtected edge Definitin A device r thing by which a lanyard, static line r ther line may be attached t a building r ther structure, and includes the part f the building r structure t which the device r thing is attached. A persn wh has thrugh a cmbinatin f training, educatin and experience, acquired knwledge and skills enabling that persn t perfrm crrectly a specified task. Pwered mbile plant designed t lift persnnel t a wrk lcatin by means f a telescping device, scissr actin r articulated device. Includes prtable single, extensin and step type ladder The persn prpsing the installatin r remval f the mdificatin (may be implementer) Indicates that cmpliance with the requirement is mandatry. A travel restraint system is designed t prevent a persn frm entering int a psitin where they culd fall. It will typically invlve an anchr (this may be a fixed pint r a static line), lanyard t attach the persn t the anchr and a harness t securely attach the persn t the lanyard. Fall arrest systems shuld nly be used in situatins when it is nt reasnably practicable t use either temprary wrk platfrms r guardrails. A fall arrest system is designed t catch a persn nce they have fallen frm a height. It cnsists f an anchr, lanyard, persnal energy absrber r restraint device and harness. Remval f prtected edge (handrails and flring) is wrk: Where a remval f plant (e.g. handrails, flring, r ther device etc.) that expses edges 0.5m r greater; and Where a persn culd fall at 0.5m r greater. A drp ff/fall f any height which is created by the remval/mdificatin t an existing structure which is in place preventing expsure t a unprtected edge (e.g. remval f flring, handrails, stairs, hatches, pit cvers, manhles, etc.) 10 REFERENCES Reference N Reference Title Authr Crprate PTW "B/D/11/19582" CS-PTW-01 - CS Energy PTW Manual Cmmittee Crprate PTW "B/D/11/36145" S0010 - Wrking at Height Checklist Cmmittee Queensland Wrk Safety and Health Regulatins 2011 Queensland Gvernment AS 1576 Scafflding AS 1716 Respiratry Prtective Devices AS 1891 Industrial Fall Arrest Systems and Devices Suite AS 1892 Prtable Ladders AS 4576 Guidelines fr Scafflding AS 4389 Safety Mesh AS 4488.2 Industrial Rpe Access System Page 8
Reference N Reference Title Authr AS 1657 AS 2550.1 Fixed Platfrms, walkways, stairways and ladders Design, cnstructin and installatin Cranes Safe use Elevating Wrk Platfrms Page 9