Top Safety Tips When Working on Mobile Platforms

Every year the UK workforce suffers from deaths and serious injuries as a result of individuals falling from mobile platforms. Many of these terrible incidents occur because the correct safety procedures have not been followed. Any kind of working from height is classed as a high risk activity but if the proper procedures and Health & Safety training guidelines are put into place, the numbers of deaths and injuries would be far less.

Duty of Care

Each and every UK based employer has a duty of care to his and her employees. And this means looking into any risks and hazards that may be faced in the workplace. The construction industry experiences the most deaths and injuries in the workplace, but the other industry sectors also suffer a lot from accidents. If your employees work from height, and in particular on mobile access platforms, you must ensure that they follow the correct procedures in order to minimise the associated risks.

The Dangers

Working at height is a very risky practice but some activities cannot be completed without using a mobile access platform. Falling or slipping whilst working on such a platform can cause serious injury and even deaths. Dropping a heavy piece of equipment from height also poses a huge risk to passers-by and fellow workers.

Training Courses

Organisations such as IPAF have come into existence in order to offer protection and guidance to workers who often risk their lives working from powered access platforms and mobile access towers. They have both devised a comprehensive set of safety training courses that offer a great deal of knowledge based learning for those who work at height. Both of these concerns are HSE approved and offer employers and employees a recognised qualification for working at height.

Working Safely From Mobile Platforms

IPAF have devised the best and safest way to work from height with the minimum risks, this article looks at the key points to remember when working in this type of environment. The best practice when preparing to work from height on mobile access platforms is all about the risk assessment, followed by removing these risks. Here are some of the major issues to look at before attempting to work from height using mobile access platforms:

  • How High? – Before you start to plan your work from height, it is essential that you look at the actual height of the job. How high is it from the ground and is it vital to use the mobile platform in order to carry out the work?
  • Mobile Platform – There are a myriad of different mobile access platforms in existence and it is imperative that you choose the most suitable once for your job. If you are in doubt, you should speak to your employer for assistance.
  • Weather and Ground Conditions – Safety at work, particularly from height, is all about the conditions of the ground and the weather. If you are working outside, and there is a heavy thunderstorm, you need to avoid working from height until it has calmed significantly. If the ground is not level, this may cause a risk of the platform becoming unstable.
  • Operator Skill – Ensure that the individual or team involved in the mobile access platforms operation are fully trained to perform the task in hand.
  • Check The Equipment – A fully trained member of the workforce must check the condition and operating capability of the mobile access platform before any work begins. This includes the full maintenance and daily checks that are outlined in the IPAF training courses.
  • Restraint – Ensure that all means of restraints are in place before commencing working from height. This includes equipment that offers some form of fall arrest system and other types of barriers on the platform.

Need More Information?  

If you are concerned that your employer does not have your best interests at heart, speak to a member of the HSE for advice on these matters.