Health & safety

Research done by the Department of Labour in the last couple of years estimates e that nearly a third of serious harm accidents in construction construct result from slips, trips, or falls. And, surprisingly, falls of less than three metres happened the most with almost 70 percent from te temporary structures, 50 percent of falls from permanent structures, structures and 60 percent of all falls, from heights under three metres. This, says sa the research, suggests that lower-height falls are a significant cause c of serious harm, and should be a priority for harm reduction activities. act

Falls from a temporary structure struct made up the largest group of incidents, at just under half the t total number of cases examined. This category of fall includes falls from ladders, trestles, and scaffolding.

Falls from temporary structures had ha the following characteristics: • They contributed to five of the nine fatal fa accidents examined in

this particular data. • Over half of these falls were falls from ladders la being used as a

work platform. • Seventy percent of the falls from temporary structures were recorded as being less than three metres in height. Falls from a permanent structure were the next ne most common type of fall (21 percent of all falls). These falls contributed con to three of the nine fatal accidents examined in this partic particular data.

And only two of the falls from a permanent struc structure recorded safety harness or fall protection being used for falls over o three metres in height.

Despite all the references height, it is not necessarily height but the hazards of a workplace that can cause a fall.

A number of factors contributed to falls resulting in harm har including poor health and safety management on site. Haza Hazards were not always identified, and where hazards were identified, identifie work at height was not always identified as a hazard.

It is not hard to identify potential hazard and it is not hard to put safety measures into place, using such devices, for instance as Fall- Pac bags.

Fall- Pac bags are available in two sizes, 2500×644, 1250×644 and can be combined to create the TS2 transport safety bag.

The safety bags are polypropylene, manufactured to ISO 9001 standards, filled with chipped polystyrene pieces (they are not airbags or beanbags) and have been in use in the construction market since 2004.

Each 2.5 Lm bag is lightweight, waterproof, fire retardant, hardwearing and covers 1.6m2 of floor space when laid flat.

One layer of bags gives effective protection from falls up to 2.8 Lm to the top of the bag, two layers up to 5.6 Lm to the top of the bag.

Testing is conducted in the UK using state of the art equipment that measures the forces on the body using a tri-axial accelerometer. Tests can be carried out at fall heights up to 6.0 Lm and recorded images can be saved for slow motion analysis. All tests information is 100 percent up to date in line with the latest 2014 requirements, not the older, now obsolete, 2004 standard. Test data is available.

Demands of the residential construction market lead Fall- Pac to develop the half- pac (1250 x644) and the 2500 long bracing bag, specifically designed to sit on top of room braces protecting workers who may fall.

These bags, says Fall- Pac, are the only bags in New Zealand to comply with the PAS 59 2014 Revision; airbags that are inflated and installed on- site have been excluded from this standard and as such no longer comply.

The bags are hired on a daily basis and are delivered and collected from site. The bags must be fitted in accordance with the recommendations to ensure maximum protection.

Fall- Pac also offers the Transport – TS2 – bag system, specially designed to be used around vehicles, providing protection whilst unloading, to workers on trailers or high loads.

The bags are positioned around the vehicle and are clipped together to form a protective surface should someone fall from the unloading platform. The 2500L X 1800W X 1200H, TS2 bags protect from falls up to 5.6Lm, are easily assembled on site and provide the option of a portable protective unloading bay.

Fall- Pac bags are easy to use. They clip together for a tight fit and fill all the available space in the hazardous area. Different sizes are available and sometimes a mixture of sizes makes the best fit needed. There are also bracing bags that offer protection in the clearance zone below a net.