Safety Harness Requirements and Regulations for Working at Heights in Construction

Dear Sir,

I would like to know if brick wall making, with a height of about 2 meters, is currently in progress and if a proper working platform has been provided to the workers. Also, I am curious to know whether it is mandatory for the workers to use safety harnesses on the platform during masonry work.

Thank you.

When one is working at a height (especially in construction), a fall from 2 meters can result in dislocating a joint in the body, if not causing death. A proper working platform at a height can also lead to injury in the event of a fall.

Therefore, it is always necessary to mandate that workers wear safety harnesses while working at heights to prevent falls and injuries.

Regards,
Ashutosh Thakre

Factories act has the following provision :
32. Floors, stairs and means of access.—In every factory—
(a) all floors, steps, stairs, passages and gangways shall be of sound construction and properly maintained 65 [and shall be kept free from obstructions and substances likely to cause persons to slip], and where it is necessary to ensure safety, steps, stairs, passages and gangways shall be provided with substantial handrails;
(b) there shall, so far as is reasonably practicable, be provided and maintained safe means of access to every place at which any person is at any time required to work.
2[(c) when any person has to work at a height from where he is likely to fall, provision shall be made, so far as is reasonably practicable, by fencing or otherwise, to ensure the safety of the person so working.]
So I think this will confer your case.
While lifeline is not specified as such, it's a good idea to provide it.
More important I think is to know where the lifeline is to be attached. It's meaningless if the worker is not attaching it to a secure place that can take his weight and prevent a fall from the height.

Hi,

Do you really need to refer to a "law" in order to decide when you have a doubt whether to use a harness or not? Why not choose the safe option and adopt it anyway?

Best Regards,
Amod Bobade.

Thanks for your comment, sir. Definitely, we use safety harness for 2 meters height work. My doubt is that the length of the standard lanyard is 1.8 meters, and we assume the height of a worker is 6 feet. Total length will be approximately 4 meters. We assume that he anchors his safety belt on a handrail which is approximately 1 meter in height, and he stands on a platform which is 2 meters in height from ground level. If a person falls from a 2-meter platform, then he will fall on the ground. We need at least a +4 meter clearance from ground level to the use of a harness on the platform to save the worker.

Regards,

Mandola

Hi,

I understand your question now. You cannot use a standard-length lanyard here. You have to opt for shorter lanyards. Additionally, you should not use shock/energy absorbers at this short height.

I also don't think a temporarily erected 'Handrail' can be considered truly safe or a proper anchoring point. For smaller platform heights, you need to position anchorage points at higher locations than handrails to reduce freefall height.

Please review the following thread to see if it provides you with any further information:
https://www.citehr.com/253007-use-sa...-download.html

Best Regards,
Amod Bobade.