Heights hazards and control

For warehouse storage, codes group commodities that have similar fire hazard and control characteristics into classes. Standards specify the storage height for commodity piles because the height of materials affects fire growth, intensify, and control. 

Construction hazards and controls from working at height... 

Healthcare organizations must monitor contractor activities and point out any uncontrolled hazards. Contractors must address and control aU hazards. Some anployers incorrectly assume that contractors who work at heights possess knowledge of OSHA fall protection requirements. Contractor safety can be addressed by a prequaUlication process that allows only contractors with demonstrated skills to bid on projects involving work at heights. 

There are many lire protection problems in warehouses. One should refer to the NFPA National Fire Code and other sources for more details about storing particular materials and fire protection in warehouses. Fire protection consideration includes type of commodity, ease of ignition, rate of fire spread, and rate of heat produced. Other factors are quantities of material stored, how they are stored, height of storage, and accessibility. Distance to other commodities can also be important. For example, fuels must be separate fiom oxidizers. All these characteristics help determine the fire hazards and suitable designs and controls. 

If demolition or refurbishment is to be undertaken, then hazards associated with structural collapse, fire, working at height, lifting and carrying and electricity must be considered together with health hazards from lead, asbestos, vermin and insects. As mentioned in Chapter 10, a structural survey before work commenced should reduce the risk of unintentional structural collapse. The issue of hot work permits, provision of fire-fighting equipment and suitable storage facilities for flammable substances should control the fire risk. Health risks can be controlled, for example, by the use of licensed contractors for the removal of asbestos, specialist contractors to eradicate vermin and the provision of suitable personal protective equipment. 

In a moment of humor people say, It s not the fall that is so bad, it s the sudden stop when you hit the ground. One must understand the physics of falls in order to understand the potential severity. Understanding physics and some physiology will also help one understand design features and how to reduce hazards through effective controls. Three important aspects of falls are (a) the motion and height of a falling body (b) the impact as a fall stops and (c) the ability to withstand impact. 

H-statements (in fact the original R-phrases) have been divided over the different categories guided by the COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) essentials scheme [28], mainly led by the height of exposure giving toxic effects, the presence of a threshold value, the severity of the effect and reversibility of the effect. 

---