CONTRACTOR WHS HAZARD STANDARD LADDERS FIXED AND PORTABLE EXTERNAL USE ONLY
Principles in the Optus Contractor WHS management process CONTRACTOR MANAGEMENT STAGES PRINCIPLES THIS STANDARD REQUISITION Requisition WHS hazard areas are a key consideration in the selection of the appropriate procurement channel. PROCUREMENT CHANNEL SELECTION SPECIFICATION EVALUATION APPROVAL AND RELEASE Specification Hazard areas and Optus expectations in relation to these are communicated to potential providers in relevant project / task requirements (e.g. tenders, statement of works, purchase orders). Appropriate WHS specifications are included in the tender / statement of work conditions / purchase order (if required) and are reflective of Optus role (e.g. principal contractor). Evaluation The contractor submission suggests they are competent to manage the task and WHS risks of their workplace. ENGAGEMENT Engagement All parties have a consistent understanding of their mutual accountabilities as they relate to WHS risk management. Appropriate WHS specifications and obligations are included in the relevant contracts negotiated and signed by Optus. MONITORING Monitoring Relevant WHS controls are implemented and monitored at the workplace to manage the specific conditions and WHS risks of that workplace. SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE? HANDOVER CLOSE AND REVIEW Handover Customers (internal and external) are made aware of potential risk areas and legislative expectations at handover. Close and review Contractor WHS performance is assessed and considered when using the contractor in future. Project feedback is captured and used to enhance the contractor WHS management process.
IMPORTANT NOTE THIS CONTRACTOR WORKPLACE HEALTH SAFETY (WHS) STANDARD HAS BEEN DEVELOPED TO ASSIST OPTUS CONTRACTORS IN THE EXECUTION OF OPTUS CONTRACTED WORKS. THE STANDARD MUST BE ENACTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER APPLICABLE OPTUS CONTRACT CONDITIONS REGARDING WHS AND THE GOVERNING LEGAL REQUIREMENTS. WHILE THIS STANDARD HAS BEEN DEVELOPED IN CONSIDERATION OF THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS IT IS NOTED THAT WHERE ANY LEGAL REQUIREMENT EXCEEDS THIS STANDARD THE LEGAL REQUIREMENT SHALL TAKE PRECEDENCE. Purpose and scope This Contractor WHS Standard (Standard) Ladders Fixed and Portable, aims to establish minimum WHS requirements for Optus Contractors when working on fixed or portable ladders. In addition, this Standard supports the Commonwealth WHS Act 2011 (Act) where a duty is imposed (under the Act) on a person to ensure health and safety, it requires the person to eliminate so far as is reasonably practicable, and if it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate risks to health and safety, to minimise those risks so far as is reasonably practicable to workers. The WHS Regulations 2011 (Regulations) further supports the Act by the provision of Chapter 3, General Risk and Workplace Management and Chapter 4 Part 4.4 Falls in that a person conducting a business or undertaking at a workplace must manage, in accordance with Part 3.1, risks to health and safety associated with a fall by a person from one level to another that is reasonably likely to cause injury to the person or any other person. The Regulations are further supported by the Commonwealth Code of Practice, Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces 2011 and in particular Section 7 Ladders; 7.1 Portable, 7.2 Fixed and 7.3 Maintenance. This Standard applies to entities contracted by Optus where working on fixed or portable ladders at a workplace is a part of their scope of works. Roles and responsibilities Optus Contractors are, so far as is reasonably practicable, responsible for: Complying with all contractual obligations for ensuring workplace health and safety. Reviewing Optus risk management processes such as Risk Register(s) and this Standard and to factor this information into their safe systems of work. Establishing accountability and authorities for the safe management and supervision of work involving fixed or portable ladders. Conducting a risk assessment and documenting the outcome as a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) or similar. Ensuring persons have the required training and competencies. Providing communication and consultation to workers and their representatives as related to fixed or portable ladder work. Conducting inspections of work involving fixed or portable ladders to ensure compliance with safe systems of work and making such reviews / records available to Optus where and as requested. Where required, maintaining a SWMS after the completion of work or where a notifiable incident occurs, a copy of the SWMS for a period of 2 years. Developing emergency preparedness and response provisions, which may include plans, procedures, communications and hardware.
Investigating and reporting events such as incidents, accidents, dangerous occurrences and serious illness, within the required contractual period to Optus and where required, to the applicable Regulator. In addition to the above, Optus Contractors, so far as is reasonably practicable, are specifically responsible for: Ensuring a competent person(s) undertakes the installation, erection or commissioning of fixed ladders and is provided with all information necessary to enable fixed ladders to be installed and commissioned so as to eliminate risks to health and safety or, if this is not practicable, to control them. Aiming to discourage ladder use in favour of safer work systems such as scaffolding, platform ladders and / or high-reach equipment such as a scissor or boom lift. The provision of safe access and egress to the work areas including areas for ladder placement, preparation of the ground and security of areas below persons working at height on the ladder. Ensuring personal protective equipment selected is, suitable, used and maintained. Work planning Work planning includes, but is not limited to: Identifying a risk management process in order to manage the hazards and risks associated with fixed or portable ladder work. Ensuring the risk management process is carried out by a competent person(s). Identifying the required training and competencies for persons working using fixed or portable ladders at a workplace and / or certification and licences for persons erecting scaffolding, or operating high-reach equipment such as a scissor or boom lift. Identifying whether a permit system for working on fixed and / or portable ladders, is required. Identifying all Commonwealth, State, Territory and local statutory requirements for fixed or portable ladders. Procuring and / or organising appropriate types of fixed and / or portable ladders for the particular work task. Investigating the opportunity to procure safer work systems such as scaffolding, platform ladders and / or high-reach equipment such as a scissor or boom lift. Determining the training and competencies including emergency management for persons falling from fixed or portable ladders. Document control Uncontrolled when Printed. Control Source: Optus Document System: Document CWHSS_H_St17_OM38077_V1F 16 th June 2014. Authorised / Owner: Optus WHS Team. Implement work planning In order to establish a safe workplace, the implementation of the above Work Planning, may include, but not be limited to the following: No SAMPLE - WORK PLANNING CHECKLIST YES NO NA 1. Communicate, implement and adjust the risk assessment/swms prior to and during operation. 2. Authorise and issue a ladder permit system, where and as required. 3. Ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, fixed or portable ladders are not the primary means of access and egress (i.e. consideration of high-reach equipment).
4. Verifying the required certification, licences, training and / or competencies. 5. Inspect and verifying that fixed and portable ladders meet all necessary safety standards such as manufacturers, importers and / or suppliers requirements and are fit for the task at hand prior to use (i.e. non-conductive fiberglass or timber ladders for electrical work). 6. Ensure a ladder has a load rating of not less than 120 kg and is: secured against movement at or near its top or bottom, for example, by tying or clamping; manufactured for industrial use; used only for the designed purpose; not more than 6.1 metres for a single ladder, not more than 9.2 metres for an extension ladder used for electrical work or 7.5 metres for other work; used on a firm and stable surface; erected at an angle between 70 and 80 ; and extended at least 1 metre above a surface being accessed. 7. Ensure all fixed and portable ladders are adequately stored and secured against dislodgement whilst in transport. Note: 1 Ladder must be adequately secured to a vehicle (i.e. by the use of ratchet tie down straps). Note: 2 Ladders must not have excessive overhangs on brackets and any overhang should be marked with red or orange flags (i.e. where the ladder extends past the bumper bar of the vehicle). 8. Ensure all fixed and portable ladders are adequately secured against displacement whilst in use. Note 1: Ensure that the structure supporting the top of the ladder is capable of withstanding the load. Note 2: If a ladder is to be placed against framing or brittle material, a board is to be secured across the stiles to distribute the load. 9. If a series of fixed ladders is used to gain access to a surface, landing platforms must; be provided at intervals of no more than 4 metres; the angle of slope should not be less than 70 degrees to the horizontal and not greater than 75 degrees to the horizontal and in no case should the ladder overhang the person climbing the ladder. Note 1: If the angle is more than 75 degrees, a safe system of work to prevent falls should be provided such as a permanent fall-arrest system/full body harness. Note 2: A risk assessment must be performed to determine the type of fall-protection required on the fixed ladder. Fall-protection options may include a ladder cage providing a barrier between the worker and the surrounding space and/or a fall-arrest system. 10. Adequately guard and signpost any penetrations, skylights, roof openings, sides of platforms and holes where a person must work off a fixed and portable ladder, where and as required. 11. Ensure objects are not carried in hand whilst traversing a fixed and portable ladder and that objects are carried in a suitable backpack, tool belt and/or side pouch or manipulated by using a haulage line and prevented from falling whilst climbing and in use. 12. Ensure persons using ladders can maintain three points of contact on the ladder and tools can be safely operated with one hand. 13. Ensure the provision of safe access and egress to the work areas including the security of ladder work areas by provisions of signage and barricades and for the protection of the public. 14. Ensure a competent person inspects, in accordance with their inspection and testing frequencies, legal and manufacturer s requirements, fixed and portable ladders. 15. Provide protective equipment (e.g. eye protection, rigging gloves, helmets, non-slip safety boots and high visibility clothing etc.) to persons using fixed and portable ladders. 16. Ensure defective fixed and portable ladders are isolated, and a prominent Do Not Use / "Out of Service Tag" or similar, is fitted to the ladder, removed from service and repaired prior to recommissioning to service. 17. Ensure the risk assessment/swms is verified / audited at specified intervals and records kept. 18. Ensure emergency preparedness and response provisions such as plans, procedures and hardware are in place prior to the commencement of works involving fixed and portable ladders and they are scheduled for testing at regular intervals including provisions from falls from height.