Working at height from trucks
Hi
We have recently had an incident where a worker reported one of our mechanics for not using a harness or work platform to access the top of our Hydro Excavation truck.
Does anyone have a solution out there - we have invested in training and harnesses along with identifying anchor points for access outside of the workshop. (drivers and mechanic)
In the workshop we have mobile platforms but due to the variety of size of our vehicles they are not suitable for all requirements
Considering an overhead gantry with fall arrest but again means using harnesses and training
Look forward to feedback
Cheers
Hi Keith
Trying to imagine the situation - was the mechanic standing on the top of the truck without a harness and not using a platform for access?
Hi
Sounds like a design problem with the vehicle. Does the manufacturer/supplier have advice on how to safely gain access to be able to maintain the vehicle. Are you able to retrofit access i.e. steps and handrails?
cheers
Without seeing top of unit, is it possible to have a railing system similar to Tankers, where you put them up when on top of tanker and drop then when you come down. Have look at top of pressure tankers like Golden Bay, or Holcim, or even Ixom.
Hi Keith, a difficult one to comment on without seeing the truck or knowing the type of maintenance being carried out. Perhaps some pictures may help the audience?
Working at heights in and around trucks is a tricky beast and people often cherry pick pieces of guidance from the Good Practice Guide for working at heights. As you've rightly pointed out, harnesses not only require the people using them to be trained but also a rescue plan and that generally requires the rescuers to also be in harnesses and trained so it gets pretty resource intensive. Handrails are a great option to solve this problem as they go where the truck goes and don't require people to be in harnesses. Work platforms are another good option but as you point out they are not necessarily a one size fits all solution. Hopefully it goes without saying but eliminating the hazard is good to i.e. can the item requiring maintenance be removed and serviced at ground level? Obviously someone still needs to get up to remove it but it reduces the exposure to the hazard.
Quote from Keith on January 12, 2024, 8:47 amHi
We have recently had an incident where a worker reported one of our mechanics for not using a harness or work platform to access the top of our Hydro Excavation truck.
Does anyone have a solution out there - we have invested in training and harnesses along with identifying anchor points for access outside of the workshop. (drivers and mechanic)
In the workshop we have mobile platforms but due to the variety of size of our vehicles they are not suitable for all requirements
Considering an overhead gantry with fall arrest but again means using harnesses and training
Look forward to feedback
Cheers
Hi Keith,
Many newer Hydrovac trucks have a handrail system fixed to the top of the unit either side that can be pulled up, like the tankers as another member mentioned. Where this is not present, harness and anchor systems are utilized. If you can retrofit a fold down handrail to the top solves a lot of issues. Temporary work platforms and EWPs are not often practical as they do not get to the area where repair is needed, often where the boom/hose connects, and workers climb out to reach repair area.
Thanks, ordering the trucks with safe access designed in is the ideal situation and some of our vehicles have this but a lot of the older fleet does not have anchor points or rails
We have both Mechanics and occasionally workers requiring accessing the trucks - 3.9metre high
Will need different solution for our workshop as possibly a fixed platform or overhead rail to anchor to
cheers
Quote from Supertowing on January 17, 2024, 2:47 pmHi Keith
Trying to imagine the situation - was the mechanic standing on the top of the truck without a harness and not using a platform for access?
The mechanic had climbed the side of the vehicle standing on a fixed shelf that is designed to carry approx 250 kg of equipment. Even though they had 3 points of contact we didn't have a ladder or fixed access designed to be able to climb on the vehicle. Seemed a bit harsh that WorkSafe pursued this however we accept there is risk that wasn't considered at the time and there are alternative ways we should have minimised the situation. If they had set a ladder against the truck and secured there probably would not have been the same issue
Quote from Denise on January 17, 2024, 2:56 pmHi
Sounds like a design problem with the vehicle. Does the manufacturer/supplier have advice on how to safely gain access to be able to maintain the vehicle. Are you able to retrofit access i.e. steps and handrails?
cheers
Hi Denise
Retrofitting is an option albeit a costly one and technically difficult to engineer on some of the units due to design- we will likely use harnesses on those vehicles until they are replaced
Hi Keith,
Can I suggest you let everyone know the region you're in? Someone may know of an engineer who could assess and assist with a solution.
Also, if you email me an image of the top of the truck I could send out to HARMfree members on a joint email - info@harmfree.nz
Cheers
John
