Raising the game in work at height

(PRLEAP.COM) There are other indicators of subjects which are not being addressed fully – for example in the output of key interest groups:- research papers of HSE; priority topics identified by the British Standards committee responsible for height safety, and technical guidance notes issued by the Work at Height Safety Association (WAHSA).

There is one topic which all parties agree could be improved – rescue and provision for emergencies.

Rescue is presently a subject which suffers from a two-fold problem. A lack of appropriate equipment is compounded by distributors and resellers who lack sufficient knowledge but nevertheless offer solutions to end users that are unsuitable for the task.


heightec

One organisation has been in the process of addressing this for some time. The heightec Group is a UK manufacturer of specialist height safety equipment and is a comprehensive training provider via a dedicated rescue division, The National Access and Rescue Centre (NARC).

heightec has been making technical equipment for nearly a decade and has recently completed a two year cycle of product development based on a review of harness characteristics and the performance of rescue systems in the utilities industry.


Rigorous criteria

As well as enhanced performance function, new products were also required to accommodate heavier users and to increase the longevity of a product. MD Keith Jones outlined the high standards required:

“Our acceptance criteria for new designs are rigorous – not only must they improve the comfort or safety of the wearer before during and after a fall, they must also offer increased strength of at least 25% over the European norm requirement. In the case of a rescue product, it must be safer, faster and more intuitive than an existing product. Maximum quality is of course essential”

heightec decided to look into three related areas – the design of the basic work harness used in utilities, new designs for tower rescue and pole top rescue systems and methods of remote casualty recovery.

New harness

The format of some products used for work at height in the utilities sector has changed little in more than twenty years. heightec carried out suspension and comfort tests with end users on the most common harness designs and found a range of issues which could be improved.

Tests were carried out with harnesses fitted and adjusted as they would normally be for work. Results were surprising. Most “experienced” users do not bother to adjust their harness correctly and many have never experienced being suspended in a harness. Consequently, many were horrified to discover how just uncomfortable hanging in a harness can be.

It was clear that some harnesses cause great discomfort during suspension. In many cases wearers experienced severe compression of the chest because weight was not being transmitted effectively to the leg loops. It is possible that such designs can have adverse effects during the arrest of a fall and cause subsequent chest constriction during suspension.

As a result of this research heightec developed a new product which reduces chest compression by incorporating multiple adjustment points and by refining the positioning and attachment of the support belt.

Rescue and recovery systems

A similar review of available rescue systems again found several shortfalls. In some cases, existing products in use have not been designed specifically for their intended function or are being incorrectly sold for the wrong application. (WAHSA offer a good overview of rescue provision in a technical guidance note).

Some systems require an additional rescuer to be unnecessarily at risk, are too complicated to ensure correct deployment or do not offer a fail-safe function in the case of user error.

By revising some principles developed for the fire and rescue service, heightec have been able to produce three new patented products for rescue and recovery each of which has been combined into a dedicated stand alone system for very specific applications. In each system, the performance of the rope device is paramount.

The company is now able to offer three basic formats of rescue provision; a high performance tower rescue system with high load rating for two person use; a miniature pole top system featuring double action safety and a system for remote recovery of suspended person without the rescuer being at risk or connected into the system.

For further details of any of the research discussed above or for details of new product, heightec can be contacted on 01539 728866 or via their website at www.heightec.com


Web References

HSE contract research reports

• ‘Revision of body size criteria in standards - Protecting people who work at height’
http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr342

• ‘Inspecting fall arrest equipment made from webbing or rope’ - http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg367.pdf

• ‘Harness suspension; review and evaluation of existing information’ - http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/crr htm/2002/crr02451.htm

Work at height Safety Association – Technical Guidance note on rescue - www.wahsa.org.uk

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