Capital Equipment News April 2022

WORK AT HEIGHTS

Gravity Access serves the telecommunications, mining, industrial and energy sectors.

Curbing the occupational hazards of working at heights Falls from height are one of the major causes of injury and deaths in the workplace across industries as diverse as agriculture, construction and entertainment. This feature explores the pros and cons of using mobile elevating work platforms, takes a look at European versus South African legislation in terms of their use and discusses the safety training received by those who work at height. By Mark Botha D iscussing the advantages and disadvantages of mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs) versus scaffolding, Blaize Wulfsohn, GM: Compli ance & Enterprise Risk Management at Eazi Access, says that MEWPs contribute to improved productivity as they provide full control of movement to the person preforming the task. “The MEWP ensures the control of your own work environment. They can be moved and operated by a single person and have a range of safety features. With scaffolding, qualified teams are required to move the scaffold, which could be time consuming and costly.” He says MEWPs allow workers to operate effectively at full height while reducing fatigue as climbing up and down scaffolding is time consuming and can contribute to fatigue.

MEWPs can also be stored easily on site as they are compact, durable and can be stored outdoors, while scaffolding in large quantity occupies large amounts of space to store. “MEWPS are easily transported, which allows them to be driven around the site and they can be hoisted as one unit onto different work levels. Scaffolding may be expensive to transport and move about, and can only be hoisted in bundles.” Wulfsohn says MEWPs provide a stable, enclosed area for workers to move in and toe boards are permanently in place. Tools can be lifted to height within the basket. “Scaffolding tools need to be carried up by the workers or pulled up with ropes, which is risky and time consuming. Workers need to hook and unhook lanyards every time there is a need to move.” Johan Vorster, CEO of Evolution Height Safety, says MEWPs form part of fall protection systems as the worker is encaged and can use single shock absorbing lanyards for additional safety. “Scaffolds depend on fall prevention systems as opposed to fall protection, with a double shock absorbing lanyard, which exposes the worker to a fall while gaining access. Fall prevention is only applicable when the worker has reached a designated platform.”

CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS APRIL 2022 22