501 2012 6 28 27 39 561
501 2012 6 28 27 39 561
Document Document
Issue Date * Compiled By Approved by
Issue Owner
Document
Revision Date Procedure Document No.
Revision No.
User Notes: - Corporate Rules and procedure Team at Tata Power, SBU/Site
Name is the custodian of this document and is responsible for the Administration
and Authorization of this Procedure. Rules and procedure Site Team is responsible
for confirming the accuracy and integrity of content and proposed changes to the
Procedure.
Controlled copy of the current version of this document is held at TATA POWER,
SBU/Site Name on portal. Any printed / electronic copy of this document is
uncontrolled. It is recommended that users verify that the version being used by
them is the current version by referring to the controlled version
* Compiled By -
Trombay V. Srinivasan
Trombay MP Mhatre
Trombay C.P.Bijukrishnan
Z.H.Mulani
1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................6
3. REFERANCES…………………………………………………………………………….6
4. RESPOSNIBILITIES…………………………………………………………………… 7
5. DEFINITIONS …………………………………………………………………………… 7
6. PROCEDURE …………………………………………………………………………….9
GENERAL …………………………………………………………………………………9
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENTS………………………………………………………11
APPLICATION…………………………………………………………………………….18
RISK ASEESSMENT……………………………………………………………………. 19
RECORDS ………………………………………………………………………………….. 19
CHECKLISTS ……………………………………………………………………….…….20
This document contains proprietary and confidential information of Tata Power and
is intended solely for the internal use of authorized personnel. This should be treated
as BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL and its external use or disclosure, unless specifically
authorized, is strictly prohibited
This procedure is developed to cover the safe practices required for Working at
Heights. This procedure is developed to establish mandatory requirements for
practices to protect personnel from hazards associated in this area.
This procedure has been developed by a cross functional team. The requirement
that has been identified here are equally applicable across all locations at TATA
POWER.
The procedure will help to provide a new impetus towards achieving the best in
class safety standard. This revision – 0 release of the procedure is formulated
based on world class practices.
It covers role and duties of all personnel associated with work at height as well as
the tools and equipments required to discharge their duties effectively.
2. Scope and field of application
This procedure primarily addresses heights as defined in Section 6.1 and working
at heights for which Company specifies that a permit is warranted. Working at
heights for which Company does not specify that a permit is warranted is treated
as a special case.
This procedure applies to all groups, sections and project sites of TATA POWER.
Roles and responsibilities have been defined for the persons associated with the
Working at Heights. The practices which have been identified here are equally
applicable across all plants, sections within TATA POWER, Trombay.
3. References
IS: 3696 (Part II) –1987 Safety Codes for Scaffold and Ladders
Scaffolding Procedure
4. Responsibilities
All line managers and their team dealing in work at height is responsible for
adhering to the procedure during working at height. These include their
contractors and work force.
It is the responsibility of Plant/Site Head to see that all concerned in the plant
are trained in working at Height procedure.
Unit In-Charge to ensure that HIRA is prepared and attached to work permit
before work at Height commences. It is responsibility of the Permit Acceptor
to ensure that only trained people are deployed for the jobs at working at height.
5. Definitions
Continuous Tie-Off - The requirement that a person be tied off at all times
when working in an elevated areas where the potential for falls exists. This is
most commonly accomplished by using double lanyards, a lifeline, or a
retractable lifeline.
Double Action Locking Snap Hook - A device for securing lanyards that
requires two separate locking pins be depressed before the snap will open.
Full Body Harness - A full body (Class 3) harness, heavy duty, with leg straps
Refer IS 3521.
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Lanyard - A flexible line to secure the wearer of a safety harness to a lifeline or
fixed tie off point
Qualified Inspector - Any person who has been specifically trained to inspect
and evaluate the condition of harnesses, lanyards, etc. Completion of the site-
training course for fall protection certifies an employee as a Qualified Inspector.
Safety Net - A device to protect from the fall of personnel and materials. Safety
net mesh openings must have a maximum size of 6 inches x 6 inches and be
secured at each crossing to prevent elongation of the opening. All nets must meet
IS: 5175 standard.
Rope Grab - These are automatic lifeline devices, which act by inertia to grab
the vertical lifeline should a fall occur. Rope Grab shall be ¾” synthetic rope or
½” wire cable.
Work Permit Issuer—A person who is authorized to verify that all conditions
for working at heights have been met, to define ongoing precautions to maintain
safe working conditions during the work, to authorize the work to occur, and to
cancel the permit allowing the work; also known as proprietor, work group
supervisor, or authorizing person.
Work Permit Acceptor -A person who accepts the work permit and executes
the job in the field.
Working at heights — Elevated working positions where the risk of a fall from
height exists and where there is no physical protection such as handrails. Types of
work covered include working from all types of ladders, scaffolds, mechanical
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003
lifts, inside confined spaces, sloped roofs, areas where there are no overhead tie-
off points, when working within 6 feet (1.8Mt) of the edge of a flat roof, erecting
steel or installing/replacing roofing and in pipe racks. This does not include
normal work on low stepladder (mobile platform having height less than 6 feet
(1.8Mt), for example, used for repair of electrical fittings and valve operation),
loading platforms with fixed handrails, or similar locations.
Working From A Ladder - Any work from a ladder requiring employee’s feet
to be above 6 feet (1.8 mt.) and use of both hands.
6. Procedure
6.1 General:
Besides the use of a safety full body harness, there is also a need to eliminate
the hazards and reduce the risks to an acceptable level; use other required
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Full body harness with double lanyard shall be worn when work requires
persons closer than 1.8 meter from roof edge without parapets, or floor
opening.
Full body harness with double lanyard shall be used by persons where work
requires persons to move or walk from one place to another for changing work
locations at height and where it is not feasible to provide guarded platforms
and scaffolds (e.g., pipe racks) so as to ensure one lifeline is always tied with a
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003
fixed support. Persons shall always keep one lanyard anchored/tied with the
fixed support while walking/moving on unguarded surface/edges or
structures. Where ever, appropriate fixed support is not available to anchor
lanyard of full body harness, provide lifelines of inspected fibre rope or steel
wires to anchor lanyard. In no case free fall of more than 1.8mt shall be
allowed.
Make shift arrangements viz., drums, barrels; chairs, etc. shall not be used as
work platform to work at height.
The intended load must not exceed the maximum working load of portable
work platforms.
Full body harness, which meet IS standard, (IS 3521: 1999) shall be used.
Safety belts are prohibited.
Lanyard should be attached to the D-ring on the back of the harness between
the shoulder straps.
Proper area barricading to prevent people walking across below the working
area shall be done before commencing any work at height. If such barricading
is not possible, safety net shall be provided and “Work in Progress” boards
shall be displayed.
6.1.1 Permit:
6.1.2 Training
When performing man lift operations, all personnel in the personnel basket
(platform) must wear a full body double harness (class 3) with the lanyard
attached to the man lift or permanent structure. Do not anchor a lanyard with
personnel platforms (work baskets)
Work from portable and extension ladders above 1.8 mt. heights from the
working/walking surface will require the use of personal fall arrest
equipment. The ladders must be secured from moving by tying the ladder to
the structure and by using an attendant holding the base of the ladder.
Temporary platforms and scaffolds should be provided with solid grating (free
of openings) and standard guardrails with toe boards attached. Employees
working from such completed temporary platforms and scaffolds are not
required to wear fall arrest equipment as long as they stay inside the confines
of the guardrail system.
In case of hazard of Honeybees, help from pest control, water spray, steam jet
and PVC apron with hood shall be used. Hazard of bird hit and monkey attack
is to be considered at high rise tower and prone areas Suitable
net/arrangement shall be provided to avoid fall of coconut.
Installation of a Guardrail System around the work area is required for fall
protection. Guardrail Systems must meet the following minimum
requirements:
Toe boards will be provided to prevent persons falling off the working surface.
Toe boards must be a minimum of 150 mm / 6 inches in vertical height and
capable of withstanding 23.00 kg / 50 lbs. of outward force.
Screens or panelling from the toe board to the mid or top rail will be required
when equipment or material is piled higher than the toe board and is capable
of being ejected from the working surface to the level below.
All platform / walkway above 4 feet from floor shall be provided with
guardrail system.
Every floor opening into which any person can fall must be guarded by a
standard guardrail system or by a metallic grating duly fixed in position.
Any floor opening, for temporary maintenance work, shall be fixed with
proper size cover having sufficient strength.
Fall arrestor system is full body harness with double line lanyard of 1.8 mtr length
out of which, one has to go to the fixed anchorage and another one for movement.
Shock absorbers are preferred to ascertain adequacy of harness in case of sudden
fall. Safety nets are to be provided for protecting from human fall and material
fall. Hand tools used while working at height should be securely tied to avoid free
fall in case of accidental slippage.
Rescue equipment set along with a trained rescue team with a rescue plan needs
to be made available.
Personal Fall Arrest System components must be visually inspected before each
use.
All safety net systems shall meet the requirements of Indian Standard (IS:
5175).
Safety net mesh openings shall have a maximum size of 6 inches x 6 inches
and be secured at each crossing to prevent elongation of the opening. All nets
must meet IS: 5175 standard.
Safety nets shall be installed as close as possible to the working level but in no
case more than 25 feet below the working level.
The safety nets shall extend out at least 8 ft. from the side of the open edge.
Material, equipment and other items that fall into the net are to be promptly
removed.
Safety nets are to be inspected before use and then daily for wear or damage
caused by falling materials.
Warning lines may be constructed with rope, chain or wire and installed 30
inches above the working surface. The supporting stanchions (post, pillar, upright
support etc.) must be capable of withstanding 16 lbs. (7.3kg) of force applied
horizontally.
The warning line must be at a distance of a minimum of 6 ft. (1.8Mt) from the
roof’s edge or fall hazard. Personnel working in the 6 ft. (1.8Mt) area between the
warning line and the edge must use a personal fall protection system.
6.2.5.1 If working from a step ladder, with your feet less than 6 feet (1.8Mt) above
the floor, use of fall protection equipment is not required, unless working
backwards, then fall protection is required.
6.2.5.2. If working on a stepladder with your feet 6 feet (1.8Mt) or higher above
the floor, fall protection equipment shall be used. If no tie-off point is available,
the ladder shall be held by a second person to provide added stability.
6.2.5.3. When working from a ladder where harnesses are not being used, the
person on the ladder should avoid stretching to reach objects. A rule of thumb is
to not stretch so far that your belt buckle is outside the rails of the ladder.
6.2.5.4. Ladders shall not be used for jobs where leaning over ladder is required.
6.2.5.5 Electrical hazard: Portable metal ladders, and wood ladders with
metal reinforcements shall not be used for any electrical work or work in
substations, switch yards, power plants, or in any area where contact can be made
with energized circuits.
6.2.5.9
6.2.7.1 The diameter of manila rope shall not be less than 25mm.
6.2.7.2 Wooden planks forming steps shall not be less than 38 mm thick.
6.2.7.3 Rope ladder made of 12mm nylon rope with 25mm dia. fluted aluminium
pipes and with the provision of stop hook at the free end are also available.
6.2.8 Scaffolds
6.2.8.2 Fall protection is required whenever working outside the plane of the
handrails or if working against the handrails with awkward body position.
Personnel shall not climb on, or work from, any scaffold handrail, mid-rail, or
bracing member and shall use ladders to get into the scaffold.
6.2.8.4 Fall protection may be required when climbing scaffolds of less than 12 feet if
there is an unusual hazard, such as a scaffold next to the edge of an elevated
work area.
6.2.8.5 Fall protection shall be used while building scaffolds. Where practical, a
retractable lifeline should be used to protect those building scaffolds but is not
permitted to be attached to the scaffolding due to the side force thrust hazard.
Double lanyards should be used in this case so that the person may maintain
continuous tie-off.
6.2.8.6. If tying off to scaffolds, the stability of the scaffold must be considered. If the
scaffold does not have adequate stability, it should be tied off to a permanent
structure or fitted with outriggers to increase stability.
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6.2.8.7 Persons shall not be allowed to work on scaffolds during storms or high
winds.
6.3 Applications:
Flat roofs: All roofs in horizontal plane, not fragile in nature. For any job within six
feet from the edge of the roof, use of lifeline on any fixed structure for
anchoring the lanyard is must. Warning signboards shall be displayed
all around. Access to the flat roof shall be provided if not existing in the
absence of staircase.
Fragile roofs - Crawling ladders must be used while working on the fragile roofs.
Proper fall arrest system must be ensured.
Slopping roofs – Before working on a slopping roof ensure anchor points are
available for fixing of lifeline, if not provided at design stage.
6.3.2.2 Double lanyards should be used to provide continuous tie-off while moving
along pipe racks, cable trays, etc.
6.3.2.4. While working in pipe racks, etc., if no overhead tie-off point is available, the
lanyard should be tied off at foot level and all movement must be done by
crawling. "Walking the pipes" is not permitted if no overhead tie-off point
exists. If "Walking the pipes" is utilized, the material of construction,
diameter, wall thickness and integrity best be evaluated to assure pipes will
support the load.
6.3.2.5 When working on roofs, fall protection equipment shall be used when
working less than 6 feet (1.8Mt) from roof edges, unless roof edges are
protected by a Protective Barricade. Additionally, any work on a sloped roof
requires fall protection.
6.3.3 Pipe racks and cable trays, tank roofs, lighting towers
Tank Roofs:
While working in confined space at height use of rescue harness and self-
retractable full body harness is must.
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6.3.6 Painting outside the building more than 15 meters
Jacket with fall protection shall be used while working on tankers and trucks
When working from man lifts, scissor lifts, bucket trucks, or other similar
equipment, tie-off is required. Most such devices have internal tie-off points
and these should be used.
A team (comprising line manager and operators) shall carry out structured
risk assessment for all the specific and / or one-time jobs.
JSA shall be conducted for access & egress from one anchorage
point to another anchorage point.
6.5 Records
1. Work permits
2. Checklist of scaffolds
3. Periodic Inspections of fall protection device
4. Training of persons for working at height (02 years)
5. Inspection records of various types of ladders. (02 years)
7.0Management Systems
7.1 Related Procedures
TATA POWER Scaffolding procedure
7.2 Management Records
Records shall be retained in compliance with the Information Management
Program.
2 Rung broken
3 Rung missing
4 Rungs clean
8 Rungs loose
9 Non-slip bases
Inspected By:
Reviewed By:
Marks obtained:
Overall Rating:
Total marks:
Name:
Signature: