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WAH Competency Requirements –Industry Perspective

Goh Chye GuanManaging DirectorWAH Academy

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Scope

1. Introduction and Background

2. WAH Landscape

3. WAH Competency to Enable WAH Safety

4. Conclusion

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1. Introduction and Background

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1. Background

The need to better manage work at heights:

“… WAH fatalities has fallen more than 35% from 27 in 2009 to 17 in 2012. WAH remains the top cause of work fatalities. More must be done to prevent falls.”

Mr Hawazi Daipi, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Manpower ProBE Plus Forum, 4 April 2013

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A worker was killed after falling 27-storey

from a building under construction. He was

plastering the exterior wall of the building

before the accident.

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A service engineer fell

more than 9m to his death

while trying to fix an

audio visual projector

system at the indoor

Stadium.

10 Jan, 2013, ST

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The Iron Workers from America

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VisionZero Fatalities and Injuries

Strategy 1Greater WAH Awareness

Strategy 2Strong WAH Capabilities

Strategy 3Enhanced Regulatory Framework

Reduced Fatality and Injury Rates

FPP for all WorkplacesEnhanced Productivity and Business Outcome

Strategic Outcomes

Strategies

Our National WAH Vision

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Design & conduct

summative evaluation

Design & conduct

formative evaluation

Develop instructional

materials

Develop instructional

strategies

Develop criterion standards

Write performance

objectives

Identify instructional

goals

Identify entry

behaviours

Conduct instructional

analysis

Revise instruction

Dick and Carey’s Systems Approach Model For Instructional Design

Consult, Validate,

Feedback, and Pilot Courses

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WAH Conference14 to 15 Sep 2012

Singapore Expo

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USASingapore UK

Roofs

Ladders

Scaffolds

Roofs

Ladders

Scaffolds and MEWPs

Structures

Roofs

Ladders

Work Platforms

• Mainly Construction

• Mainly Construction

• 80% were lower level falls

• Mainly Construction & Marine

• Rise in Manufacturing and Logistics

Comparison of WAH Accident Trends and Agencies

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2. WAH Landscape

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WAH LandscapeWAH Performance1. Accident Statistics2. Accident Trends3. Accident Agencies

National Strategy1. Promotion2. Capability Building3. Regulatory Framework

WAH Competency1. Competency Framework2. Training Courses

Design and Planning for Safety1. Elimination of Risk at Source2. Dedicated WAH Solutions

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3. The Competency Framework

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WorkerBasic WAH knowledge &

understanding

SupervisorEnsures implementation

of fall prevention measures

AssessorEvaluates effectiveness of measures implemented

ManagerEnsures that systems & processes are in place

WAH Competency Framework

The Generic WAH Competency Framework

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Program Manager

Qualified Person

Competent Person

Authorised Person

Manager

Assessor

Supervisor

Worker

USASingapore UKAustralia

Height Safety Manager

Height Safety Inspector

Height Safety Supervisor

Height Safety Operator

Competent Person

Worker

Comparison of Designated WAH Personnel

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WAH Training Courses Available

• 5-day Qualified Fall Protection Person Training

• 5-day Competent Person Training

• 2.5-day Managed Fall Protection Person Training

USA

Australia

Height Safety Supervisor Course (2-day)

Roof Access Training Course (2-day)

Industrial Rope Access Training (5-day)

5-day Fall Protection for Engineers

Germany

Module 1: Height Equipment / Appreciation & Inspection

Module 2: Fall Arrest

Module 3: Work At Height

Module 4: Advance Work At Height

Module 5: Rescue From Tower, Mast and

Structures

Module 6: Rooftop Safety/ Work Restraint

(Total: 23 hrs)17

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Qualifying the WAH Manager – the UK Approach

How to Successfully Manage Working at HeightNeil Tomlinson

Director, Access Industry ForumWAH Conference 14 to 15 Sep 2012

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WAH Competency Requirement

Active Fall Protection System• Workers• Supervisors• Assessors• Managers• Engineers/Designers

Passive Fall Protection System*• Workers• Supervisors• Assessors• Managers• Engineers / Designers

• Design and Planning • Edge Protection• Safety Netting• Catch Platform• Rescues and Emergency Response

• Use of PPE / Emergency Response• Rope Access• Roof Access • Tower Climbing• Aerial Lifts / MEWPs • Tower Scaffold• Scaffold• Suspended Access• Rescues and Emergency Response

* Passive fall protection systems do not require the use of PPE or active participation from the worker

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4. Conclusion

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Safety is an Investment

Competent People

Engineering and Equipment

Design for Safety

1. Software

2. Hardware

3. Heartware

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Dedicated WAH Solutions (Post-Design):Case Study

Problem:• Safe cleaning was not considered during design phase• Building has many overhanging / cantilevered shades • The sunshields prevent typical methods to clean the windows• The sunshield would push the rope of the descending window cleaner

away• Share edges would damage the rope

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Solution:• Specially designed solutions• Combination of several solutions• Example gondola on the roof, rigid rail system, and horizontal

lifelines ... etc • Development of a specific window cleaning plan with service and

trained personnel to perform the tasks

Dedicated WAH Solutions (Post-Design):Case Study

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Dedicated WAH Solutions – Case Studies

1. Workers need to access the top of aircraft to perform maintenance and inspection

2. Workers are exposed to fall hazards from 25 to 65 feet (8 to 20 metres) depending on location on the aircraft

Problem:• Existing lanyard was found to be out of compliance in

terms of maximum arrest force and deployment lengths

Solution:• Specially developed lanyard • Specific testing procedure for the pin and receptacle• Worked on compatibility issues in the lanyard and pin• Development of a dedicated lanyard system

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Specially designed building maintenance system

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Retractable cat ladder with cage

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Training Facilities

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Engineering

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Testing

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Equipment

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Reflection:Think about 3-5 areas where you have concerns related to work at heights.

Write your areas of concerns on a piece of paper.

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