Rank: New forum user 
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Why is it important to use full body harness when working at height even the scaffold that is in safe for use? (for clarification only).
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Rank: Forum user
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If the scaffolding is complete and inspected, you are essentially working in collective protection given by the hand rail and other structural members. So it is not necessary to wear a harness to be in fall arrest, as long as you remain inside the safety of the scaffolding.
Phil
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Rank: Super forum user
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I agree with your comments regarding not requiring a harness, Phil but doesn't the Scaffolding provide collective prevention as opposed to protection?
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Rank: Super forum user
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I would be considering the height of the scaffold here and the location of the works. For example, if scaffolding was used to gain roof access, I would still use a body harness to prevent falling. If working on particularly high scaffold, again, I would recommend it. As for the reasons why, if a scaffold pole was to fail, or an operative was to lean too far over the edge, the harness will prevent them from falling. I am no expert on WAH though! This is just my best educated guess and saying what my recommendations would be. Check out this vid: http://www.hsepeople.com...ew/safety-film_2738.htmlIt doesn't link directly to the issue of scaffolding, but it does address it in an indirect way.
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Rank: Forum user
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Ashley,
For the harness to be effective, it needs to be connected to an engineered or approved anchor point normally by means of a lanyard.....There lies your answer......Why add potentially infective and uneccessary controls to a perfectly functional SSoW. Scaffolds are designed and inspected by competent persons to ensure scaffoldtubes and fittings do not fail in use.
If someone is planning to lean substantially outside any edge protection, they would putting themselves into an unsafe condition which is contrary to normal accepted practices.I would suggest an additional risk assessment is carried out and the correct control measures implemented for the specific task which requires any individual(s) to breach the designed protective system.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Bill,
I am failing to see how it would be ineffective and unnecessary, please elaborate?
Surely it would be effective (and very much necessary) if working at the top level of a scaffold or on a scaffold being assembled or dismantled where there is a much higher risk of failure of the scaffold or falling?
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Rank: Super forum user
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Umar Saeed has indicated in his posting that, ".....the scaffold is safe for use", therefore implying that it is neither being erected or dismantled. To me, a safe scaffold is one has robust edege protectrion --Top & intermediate handrails etc etc and without gaps each floor level etc. Therefore, if a scaffold has already been erected & meets specific standards, one does not need full body harness to work on it, especially when the means of access from one level to the next is by "stair-system" Some multinational companies, especilally those in the oil & gas sector insist on having this--it is a part of thier life saving rules globally. http://www.shell.com/glo...iety/safety/culture.htmlMy view is that, due to varying standards globally, such multinationals have these rules, irrespective whether they operate in UK, USA, Africa, Asia etc.
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Rank: Forum user
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Agree with other comments, if the scaffold is fully erected and complete and signed off as safe for use then no harness required.
Only require wearing a harness and lanyard if dimantling or erecting the scaffold. If accessing a roof from a scaffold then there are designs that can be used to provide suitable edge protection which again would negate the need for harnesses.
Lanyards when being used for erecting and dismantling have to be secured above head height in order to reduce the distance of a possible fall, and obviously need to be anchored to a secure attachment.
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