Work at Height and Electrical Permits: Do You Need Them for Overhead Jobs and Certain Electrical Tasks?

Please clarify these doubts for me: Is a Work at Height Permit required for jobs performed overhead at a height exceeding 2 meters where a working platform with railing and stairs/monkey ladder is provided? Also, which types of electrical jobs do not need to be covered by an Electrical Work Permit?

Please find the attached checklist for work at height and the presentation for details.

Regards,
Chandu

There is no need for a Work at Height Permit if the work is being carried out on a platform with a top rail, mid rail, toe-guard, and safe access to reach the said platform. In the case of stairs, the permit is not required. However, when it comes to a monkey ladder with cage-type railing, existing hazards require fall protection when climbing. Therefore, a permit is required for such situations.

All jobs involving live electrical systems require a permit. If it's on dead lines or electrical equipment, a permit is not needed.

Thank you very much for your documents. They are really good. Please keep sharing and keep up the good work.

Thank you.

"Dear Dipil Sir, Sorry for my late reply. "There is no need for a Work at Height Permit if the work is being carried out on a platform with top rail, mid rail, and toe-guard." This is for up to what height? Does one not need to wear fall protection while working at any height with the above conditions? Please clarify. Regards, SSM"

Working at Heights - Definition

Elevated working positions (above 1.8 m or 6 feet) where the hazard of a fall exists and where there is no physical protection such as a platform with guardrails. The typical examples of working at height are: working from all types of ladders, scaffolds, mechanical lifts, inside confined spaces, sloped roofs, and areas where there are no overhead tie-off points.

Safe Work Platforms - Definition

These platforms are designed in such a way that they provide maximum access space for unclogging and maintenance in safe conditions. A minimum 2100mm headroom clearance should be required above platforms, including passages, walkways, and all points in stairways. The minimum access width shall be 900mm. Exceptions (restricted width for access dedicated to maintenance purposes) must be approved in writing. All platforms shall be provided with handrails and toe guards. There should not be any floor openings in the platforms that may have the potential to injure the workers.

Now, if there is a safe work platform above any height with safe access to reach there, there is no need for fall protection. So, height is not an issue. Normally, above 1.8 m, fall protection is required, but it changes as per the situation.

I hope it's clear to you. If anyone on the forum has an objection to what I stated here, please come forward and shed light on the topic so that we can have a good discussion on the topic.

Dear Dipil, Nice explanation about "work at height." I agree with your points, but in my view, my suggestion is that they should wear a harness while working at height within any scaffolds/platforms (if they meet all requirements). They should not tie the harness to the scaffolds/platforms but should tie the harness to the nearest anchorage point. It should meet the fall protection requirements. As you know from your experience, those who work at height sometimes or often stand on the rails, which may slip. That's it, no more. I always suggest that our team uses harnesses, especially when working on scaffolding.

Dear SSM, Please take a look at this too.

Dear Chandrasekhar, Thanks a lot for your documents.

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE.

Wait for commands. Keep on sharing.

Regards,

Dear Dipilji,

One Query Regarding Height Standards

Why is 1.8 meters or 6 feet used as a standard? Is there any scientific basis behind this?

Regards,
abhay

Dear Raghu, I agree with your point when it comes to temporary elevated working platforms like scaffolding; a safety harness is a must. However, sometimes it's not always possible to provide a safe anchorage point when working at height. Let me provide a few examples:

1. A person working on a telescopic tower ladder - What is the safe anchorage point? Is there any meaning in wearing a safety harness on the top platform and anchoring the lanyard on the guardrail of the ladder platform? In my opinion, the harness should be worn for attaching the same with a rope grab during vertical climbing. On the top platform, it will not be helpful.

2. In the case of a scaffold for slab casting, we provide a lifeline around the edges of the slab. What should be the safe anchorage point for the lifeline? What do we normally provide as a lifeline - 25mm PP rope, nylon rope, or 10 or 8 mm wire rope? How many persons can tie their harnesses into it? Where do we tie the lifeline to ensure the integrity of the anchorage point? When it comes to calculations, with 2300 KG per person force generating, how many such lifelines are required if more than 5 persons are supposed to anchor their lanyards into the lifeline? In my opinion, there are a lot of problems. It may be theoretically okay, but practically seems difficult.

In conclusion, an engineered platform with guardrails is the best option. A safety harness should be used as a last defense. I look forward to your comments.

Dear Abhay, As per my understanding, there has been a lot of study done by the experts in the field of injury prevention who have come to the conclusion that falls from more than 1.8 m cause serious injuries compared to falls from levels below. Hence, considering works above 1.8m as work at height.

However, this doesn't mean that precautions are not required when working below this height; they are necessary. Even at home, we can slip in bathrooms and cause serious injuries. So, we should be cautious everywhere and in whatever we do.

If anyone has a specific reply to what Mr. Abhay asked, please share the same.

Thank you.

I would like to know whether a height allowance should be given to construction workers who are working at heights exceeding 10 meters.

Regards,
Ashish Singh
EHS Incharge, LMB

This purely depends on the organization. Some organizations may have internal standards for providing incentives to increase productivity and boost worker morale. As such, there are no specific guidelines or rules for such requirements, to the best of my understanding.