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UNIVERSITY WIDE PROCEDURE

Occupational Health and Safety
- Work at Height / Fall Prevention -

1. Purpose

To eliminate or minimise the risks of injury associated with work at height in University activities, with particular focus on the risks of falls.

This procedure describes the method for:


2. Scope

This procedure applies to all Work at Height (as defined).


3. Definitions

"Authorised Work at Height Supervisor": means a person who has been assessed by a Manager of the Physical Resources Section of the University of Ballarat to have the competencies and authority to issue Work at Height Permits under this procedure, and whose details appear on the register of Authorised Work at Height Supervisors (refer section 5.2).

"Fall Hazard": means the potential for a person to fall more than 2 metres. Such a fall may occur from a height greater than 2 metres, but also down a pit or shaft deeper than 2 metres.

"Supervisor": in this procedure, this term covers any employee or contractor of the University who plans, organises or supervises the work at height of other employees, contractors, or students.

"Work at Height": means any task that an employee, contractor or student undertakes in the context of occupational, educational, research, commercial, or other University-endorsed activities, whatever their location, where a fall hazard (as defined) has been identified. Sporting activities and theatrical performances are not included within the scope of this procedure. However, note the following:

  • whilst the sporting activities and theatrical performances themselves are not included, all work at height associated with setting up, maintaining, and dismantling sporting equipment, theatrical props, lighting, etc is included; and
  • the general requirement for Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control reviews as described in the OHS Procedure - Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control still applies if any hazard, such as a fall hazard, is present in the sporting activity or theatrical performance.

4. Actions

4.1 Supervisors
Supervisors must:
  • obtain signed authorisation on a Work at Height Permit from an Authorised Work at Height Supervisor prior to the start of work (the Permit must include a correctly completed and up-to-date HIRAC for Work at Height review);
  • ensure that all conditions in the Work at Height Permit and the associated HIRAC for Work at Height are fully implemented throughout the duration of the work at height;
  • suspend work at height if the conditions of the Work at Height Permit and the associated HIRAC for Work at Height are not or cannot be implemented;
  • obtain a sign-off from the Authorised Work at Height Supervisor on completion of the work; and
  • keep records for work at height in accordance with section 8 of this procedure.
4.2 Authorised Work at Height Supervisors
Authorised Work at Height Supervisors must:
  • verify that the Work at Height Permits and the associated HIRAC for Work at Height submitted to them for authorisation are completed fully and correctly;
  • satisfy themselves that the risk control measures identified in the Work at Height Permits and HIRAC for Work at Height are appropriate before granting authorisation;
  • specify any additional risk control measure they deem necessary before granting authorisation; and
  • satisfy themselves that the work has been completed to a satisfactory and safe standard before signing off section 7 "Completion of Work" on Work at Height Permits.
4.3 University Employees, Contractors and Students
University employees, contractors and students involved in work at height must:
  • perform the work in accordance with the information, instructions and training they have received from the Supervisor and Authorised Work at Height Supervisor.

5. Responsibility

5.1 Heads of Schools and Sections
Head of Schools and Sections are responsible for the overall implementation of this procedure in their School or Section. In particular, they must ensure that:
  • staff, contractors and students within their School or Section are aware of the requirements of this procedure and attend training as appropriate; and
  • staff, contractors and students within their School or Section comply with the requirements of this procedure; and
  • where required, safety equipment in the form of harnesses, fall arrest systems, etc is supplied and maintained according to manufacturer's instruction.
5.2 Physical Resources
Managers within the Physical Resources Section are responsible for:
  • determining which buildings are to have permanent access point nominated and suitable engineering requirements installed, ie handrails/ladder locking points, clear access from public entry, warning and instructional signage on roof access points etc (these must be designed in accordance to the relevant Australian Standards and Codes);
  • determining which buildings are to have temporary access points nominated, suitable engineering requirements installed, and safe work methods developed as part of their HIRAC reviews;
  • maintaining a register of work at height locations and related HIRAC for Work at Height reviews;
  • authorising competent and experienced persons to issue Work at Height Permits (Work at Height Supervisors); and
  • maintaining a register of Authorised Work at Height Supervisors.
5.3 Occupational Health and Safety
The Manager - OHS is responsible for:
  • maintaining and updating this procedure as required;
  • publicising the existence of this procedure to the University community; and
  • developing and delivering the training required by Supervisors to fulfil the role assigned to them in this procedure.
5.4 Other
Other responsibilities are outlined in Section 4.


6. Policy Base

University of Ballarat Occupational Health and Safety Policy - Occupational Health and Safety Policy.

University of Ballarat Occupational Health and Safety Policy - Hazards Management.


7. Associated Documents

Refer to section 8.


8. Forms/Record Keeping

Title Location Responsible
Officer 		Minimum Retention
Period
Work at Height Permit Local School/Section Supervisor 5 years
Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control (HIRAC) for Work at Height in University Locations/Activities Local School/Section Supervisor Until superseded by new HIRAC (maximum interval of 5 years between assessments)

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Warning - Uncontrolled when printed! The current version of this document is kept on the UB website.

Authorised by: University Health and Safety Policy Committee(provisional approval)
Maintained by: Manager - Occupational Health and Safety
Review Date: Dec-2011 		Original Issue: 04/10/2006
Current Version: 04/10/2006