Working at Heights Course: The Importance of Safety When Working From Heights

From construction to firefighting to electrical, numerous industries require employees to work at heights to get a job done. Despite the commonality of working from heights, there are numerous health and safety dangers involved in this job position. To demonstrate why safety is imperative when working at heights, we have outlined the various risks that can result in fall-related injuries or death. We have highlighted a few important steps to take to ensure the safety of those who work at heights, with working at heights training being the most imperative step for safety. EMCARE offers a Working at Heights Course that will adequately equip workers to work at heights safely.

Risks of Working at Heights:

Falling is the main hazard that threatens the safety of employees whilst working at heights. Slipping and falling from a height of two meters or higher will lead to serious injury and increase the possibility of disability or death. The best way to understand how critical safety is when working from heights is to understand the various hazards that you will face when you are working on a roof, alongside a building, or hanging from the ceiling. We have listed the top five hazards that can result in slipping and falling when working at a height.

1. Fragile Surfaces:
   
   When employees are tasked with performing work on the roof of an existing building, they face the risk of working on fragile surfaces. Fragile surfaces, which include skylights, rusted metal sheets, roof slates, and ceilings with glass elements, are a common threat to the safety of employees who work at heights. The main risk posed is that fragile surfaces are not always easily identifiable or the deterioration of the surface is hidden either below the surface or by debris on the roof. If an employee walks over this surface, they risk slipping off the roof or falling through the fragile surface and facing injury or death.
   
   
2. Failure of Elevated Platforms:
   
   Elevated platforms, which include scaffolding and towers, are widely used by employees who work at heights as they provide easy access to the tops of buildings or allow employees to perform work on the side of buildings. Scaffolding and towers are exceptionally useful, but they also pose an extreme safety risk. If the scaffolding is not erected correctly or if there is a mechanical failure with the tower, employees working at heights are placed at great risk. There are also risks of collapsing scaffolding which can injure those on and around the scaffold or injuries caused during the erection or dismantling of the scaffolding.
   

3. Minimal Edge Protection:
   
   When working on an elevated platform or roof, it is required that edge protection be provided. Edge protection creates a safety barrier between employees working at heights and falling off the scaffolding, tower, building, or through an opening in the roof. If minimal edge protection is provided and the entire perimeter does not have a barrier of protection, there is a risk that if an employee slips, they will fall through the gap and face injury or injury an employee below.
   

4. Poor Securing of Safety Equipment:
   
   While wearing safety equipment is an important step towards workplace safety, there are still certain risks involved. If employees are not adequately trained on how to safely secure their safety equipment or the best surfaces to select for securing safety equipment, there is a risk of safety equipment failure. This can lead to devastating consequences that include injury, disability, and possibly death for the fallen employee and anyone working on the ground below.
   
   
5. Falling Objects:
   
   Certain instances will require numerous employees to perform work at different heights, which increases the safety risks for the employees. If an employee working at a higher level drops a tool, roof tile, or construction debris, the employees below are at risk of being hit by the falling object. Being hit by a falling object can cause injury or death to the employees below, or knock an employee off their balance and cause them to slip and fall.

The Importance of Safety When Working at Heights:

The various risks associated with working from heights demonstrate the extreme importance of upholding safety measures. We have outlined a few ways to ensure your safety and the safety of your colleagues or employees when working at heights.

1. Training:
   
   Every employer is obligated to ensure that their employees receive adequate training before performing their job. Training becomes increasingly important when employees are working at heights due to the level of hazards that these employees face. You will need to find an accredited and professional training facility and enrol your employees to ensure your workplace is safe for your employees to perform their work.
   
   EMCARE offers a Working at Heights Course that is an essential training course for those who intend to work at heights. If you are considering entering into a workplace that will require working at heights training, we will ensure that you receive quality and accredited training with the EMCARE Working at Heights Course. Our Working at Heights Course is also suitable for employee training at the workplace if you have ten or more employees needing exceptional working at heights training.
   
   
2. Personal Protective Equipment:
   
   Personal protective equipment is specially designed to ensure the safety of employees who work at heights. As an employer, you are obligated to provide employees with quality personal protective equipment that is compliant with legislation and that is well-maintained. As employees, you are obligated to wear this personal protective equipment at all times and report any damages or need for replacement to a supervisor. The providing and wearing of personal protective equipment is a crucial step towards creating a safe workplace for employees who work at heights.
   

3. Health Check:
   
   Many workplaces require that a health check be performed on every employee before they begin working at heights. A health check for working at heights will include a grip strength test, a fitness test, a urinalysis to check for diabetes, and a general health test which will assess aspects such as vision and heart rate. After the health check, a certificate will be issued and will confirm that the employee can safely perform their work at heights in a manner that will not endanger their health or safety.
   
   
4. Supervision:
   
   Supervision is critical for any job that requires employees to work at heights. A supervisor will be tasked with performing risk assessment on the job, ensuring adequate safety measures are in place, that all employees are wearing the correct personal protective equipment, and that the employees are acting safely whilst working at a height. This critical position is instrumental in upholding the safety of everyone whilst employees are working at heights.
   
   Consistent supervision will also demonstrate that your business has a low tolerance for poor safety practices. This will instil a sense of urgency in your employees to always perform their work safely. Providing a supervisor for every job that requires employees to work at heights will also provide your employees with confidence that should an accident or incident occur, a supervisor is readily available to take action.
   

5. Segregating the Area:
   
   It is equally important to ensure the safety of those who are working below the employees that are working from heights. If an employee who is working from heights had to drop a tool or slip and fall, employees on the ground are also at risk of injury or death. We recommend keeping the ground below employees working from heights segregated to prevent any unnecessary accidents or incidents and ensure total safety in the workplace.

EMCARE Working at Heights Course:

EMCARE is a South African health and safety training facility. Among the many health and safety courses offered, EMCARE provides training for working at heights in the Working at Heights Course. The EMCARE Working at Heights Course will provide you with training of a high standard that will reduce your risks of falls and thus increase your safety when working from a height.

The EMCARE Working at Heights Course covers all relevant skills and knowledge that is necessary to work at heights safely and accurately. The Working at Heights Course will cover legislation about height safety, risk assessment, personal protection equipment, fall protection plans, and more. We ensure to be the total solution to your working at heights training needs.

Our Working at Heights Course is offered by a team of trained EMCARE professionals. Every one of our trainers is fully qualified and experienced with working at heights. Our trainers will offer unique insight, student-centred classes, and instil the necessary confidence needed to work at heights safely.

On completion of the EMCARE Working at Heights Course, you will receive a CETA certified certificate. Our Working at Heights Course is valid for two years, which means that every two years you will need to do a refresher course. This is to ensure that you are always kept up-to-date with the latest safety procedures and skills to make sure that you are always safe when working from heights with EMCARE training.

About EMCARE:

EMCARE has provided students with quality facilities, expert training, and instilled confidence in newfound knowledge and skills since 1997. With EMCARE, your experience, training, and personal growth are always at the centre of our focus. We strive to be the leading health and safety training facility in South Africa and to be your first choice for your Working at Heights Course or any other health and safety course.

EMCARE training facilities are widely located across South Africa. You will find an EMCARE branch in Johannesburg, Polokwane, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Cape Town, Hoedspruit, Lephalale, and Rustenburg. We make sure that our branches are easily accessible to both South Africans and international students so that anyone who is striving to improve their health and safety skills has access to the exceptional EMCARE health and safety courses.

For sneak peeks into our training facilities, courses, and valuable tips, follow EMCARE on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. You will be kept up-to-date on starting dates of different EMCARE health and safety courses as well as have access to real-life examples of students enrolled in the course.

If you are interested in the EMCARE Working at Heights Course or would like to enquire about the other EMCARE health and safety courses, you can easily phone us on our South African or International contact detail or email us. You can also fill in your details on our enquiry form and we will get in contact with you. Additionally, we have a team that is readily available for queries on our online chat service. We make it exceptionally easy to get in contact with us so that you can immediately begin the process of receiving quality education and training in your selected EMCARE health and safety course.

EMCARE Working at Heights Course will equip learners with the knowledge and skills to safely work at heights.