Dropped Objects

Preventative controls

To prevent an incident by reducing the likelihood an incident will occur.
Preventative controls are the result of carrying out a thorough risk assessment into all tasks performed whether working individually or in teams and identifying the methods to be used to either eliminate or control those risks.

STATIC DROPPED OBJECT:

Has fallen from a stationary position.

DYNAMIC DROPPED OBJECT:

Has fallen due to being struck by another object or involved in a collision.

Static

Some causes of static dropped tools or objects

• During usage when vigorous movement and other factors can lead to the user losing grip on the
  tool or item.
• After usage where tools can be unintentionally left behind, and where they may drop from the surface due to nearby vibrations or be knocked over the edge.
• Vibration / corrosion and environmental conditions Items become loose, corroding and falling,
  bad weather.
• Maintenance / equipment inspections not being carried out correctly equipment inspections may
  not be done adequately.
• Poor housekeeping / inadequately secured equipment people may leave things on walkways
• Relevant experience / hazards not identified may be new to the job position/ requires training.

Dynamic

• Transportation when the tools are moved or carried to the desired work location, where unintentional collisions with other objects or structures or lapses in concentration.
• Striking against or colliding with objects human interface / making mistakes.
• Unnecessary distractions being distracted by phone calls or people.
• People not following the plan or procedures or not having a plan or procedure.
• Failure to recognize and manage change not looking at what is happening around them and failing to see the job change
• Relevant experience / knowledge are new to the job and may have limited knowledge of
  their job position

Preventive controls for Static dropped tools and objects include:

Tools and Equipment maintenance and periodic inspections Check tools are in good condition, not loose, corroded, or damaged e.g. check hammer heads are secure, tool lanyards, tethers, connectors and anchorage points meet manufacture's inspection instructions and or training. This inspection regime should include keeping an equipment inspection book. This is one of the tools that will be used as a preventive control for periodic inspections It should provide:

• A header noting the inspection frequency
• A picture of the equipment that requires inspecting
• A reference number of the equipment
• A description and location of the equipment
• The fastening / tethering method and inspection procedure
• Pass / Fail and comments section
• Inspectors signature

If the equipment inspected does not meet the inspection procedure then it will be marked as a "Fail" and the failure detail noted in the comments section. Create a tool / equipment storage log book to be used to issue tools and equipment. Tools must be logged back in at the end of work to ensure none are left behind to become a hazard.

Preventive controls for dynamic dropped tools and objects include:

• Individual awareness of task and surroundings
• Avoid unnecessary distractions
• Maintain awareness for the area of the job and any other area you may affect.
• Incorporate the THINK Planning Process into all tasks performed whether working individually
  or in teams
• Participate in the START process an observation process to observe and monitor work practices, plans and workplace conditions
• Call a "Time Out for Safety" (TOFS) If anything changes in the plan call a "Time Out for Safety

The THINK Planning process is used in task planning to:

* Plan the task
* Identify the hazards.
* Assess the likelihood and consequence of the possible incident
* Reduce the risk by applying preventive and mitigating controls.

The THINK Plan is risk management plus task planning!
Always use the THINK Planning Process
The START process is used to observe and monitor work practices, plans and workplace conditions
START (See, Think, Act, Reinforce, Track)
START is a process used by "Transocean" to observe and monitor work practices, plans and workplace conditions. It is the responsibility of all personnel to participate by personally performing START observations daily. We use the START process to demonstrate personal commitment to achieving, and in many cases maintaining, an incident-free workplace. The intent of the START policy is to prevent people from being injured, through observing and monitoring tasks and work practices to identify hazards, reinforce safe behaviour and correct at risk behaviour to achieve desired results. START promotes effective conversations about safety. Having effective conversations requires you to speak, listen and understand. The START process must be used to observe and monitor work practices, plans and workplace conditions. Operatives should be encouraged to:

• Participate fully and be engaged in the START process.
• If anything changes in the plan call a "Time Out for Safety"

Mitigation controls

Mitigating controls - reduce the consequences of an incident if preventive controls fail or are
not effective.

• Secondary retention such as tool tethers and lanyards how do they mitigate? - Secondary retention helps stop the items falling completely to the ground. Use of company approved tools and tethering systems for working at heights how do they mitigate? - Working at Height Tool Kits stops the tools from falling to the ground.

As an example securing the tool using a lanyard to a suitable anchor point so the tool is restrained should the worker let go.
Note! The lanyard / tether should be structurally rated and anchor point should also be structurally rated where tools are anchored to a belt, tool bag or tool holster.

• Effective use of barriers (consideration of potential for bounce/deflection of a dropped object) How do they mitigate? - Barriers keep personnel away from an area where there may be the potential for dropped objects.
• Designated restricted access areas (Red/Yellow/Green) how do they mitigate? - Restricted access areas keep non-essential personnel away from specific areas where there may be the potential for dropped objects.

Tool and Object Fall Zones

For example the floor areas should be designated as one of three zones:
Green, Yellow, or Red:
Green Zone - Anyone may enter as long as no additional barriers are in place.
Yellow Zone - Authorized personnel with tasks in the area may enter. All other personnel require permission to enter or work in this area.
Red Zone - Only authorised personnel who are required for the current task / operation. All other personnel are strictly not permitted in this area at any time.
Designated zones should have signs at all access points and access diagrams

Safety tools that should be used prevent and mitigate dropped tools and objects

THINK - Use this to plan the job, to carry out risk assessment, method statements and apply controls
START - Use this tool to monitor the job
TIME OUT FOR SAFETY (TOFS) - Stop the job and re-assess when changes occur
INSPECTIONS - Carry out periodic inspections as advised in the method statement

Dropped tool awareness

It is commonly recognised that hand tools can be grouped into three causes of tools being dropped:

• During usage when vigorous movement and other factors can lead to the user losing grip on the item.
• Transportation, when the tools are moved or carried to the desired work location, where unintentional collisions with other objects or structures or lapses in concentration.
• After usage where tools can be unintentionally left behind, and where they may drop from the surface due to nearby vibrations or be knocked over the edge. Dropped tools, debris or materials may hit individuals below, leading to serious injury or death. Risk assessment will ideally identify work areas where objects may possibly drop from, and also the method statement should list the appropriate control measures that must be taken.

Why provide for tool tethering?

Hand tools used during work at height may potentially be dropped very easily. As a preventive measure, tools should be secured using a lanyard to the user. When correctly used, this will prevent the items from dropping during use or transportation. Furthermore, the lanyard also cuts down the possibility of tools being lost, misplaced or left behind on completion. It is strongly recommended that specialist rated tool tether's which include a lanyard is used, making certain the actual performance of the tool use is maintained without difficulty to the operative. Safeguarding yourself, co-workers and members of the public from the risk of being struck by falling objects can be achieved with appropriate risk assessment and the implementation of suitable control measures.

An effective system will benefit the company and its workforce by:-

• Lowering the probability of accidents.
• Improve working efficiency and safety for workers.
• Enhance company's reputation as a responsible contractor that recognises the need for proper planning, operations and use of appropriate equipment.

Answer to these pressing needs

One of the greatest challenges of using tools at height relates to conduct, work procedures and inadequate securing of tools and equipment.

Case studies

City centre development - near miss incident

Large City centre development, numerous contractors working at height over busy high street.
Leading Edge approached to provide tailored solution for tool retention following a near miss incident.
Bespoke tool lanyards and tethering solutions, designed, manufactured and tested in very short space of time. Tethering solutions allowed for existing tools to be adapted without the significant cost of replacement working at height tools.

Dropped Hammer Head

during scaffolding activities the head of a hammer came off and fell 15 meters to the ground, landing between two workers. Basic causes included:

• Head came off hammer. The hammer was worn and the shaft had previously been refitted to the head.
• No overhead protection for people working below.
• No policy for managing contractor hand tools.

The following Case Reports of accidents investigated by OSHA illustrate how seemingly innocent workplace activities can have deadly consequences.

• An employee was standing under a suspended scaffold that was hoisting a workman and three sections of ladder. Sections of the ladder became unlashed and fell 50 feet, striking the employee in the skull. The employee was not wearing any head protection and died from injuries received.
• Two employees were using a wire rope to winch a wooden tool shed onto a flat bed trailer. The wire rope broke, snapped back, and struck one of the employees in the top of the head, killing him. The employee was not wearing a hard hat.
• Workers were using a winch to pull a 10-foot section of a 600 lb. grain spout through a vent hole, when the spout became wedged. Using pry bars, they attempted to free the spout, which was still under tension from the winch. When it popped free, the release of tension caused it to strike one of the workers in the head, who had no head protection.

A carpenter was attempting to anchor a plywood form in preparation for pouring a concrete wall, using a powder actuated tool. The nail passed through the hollow wall, travelled some 27 feet, and struck an apprentice in the head, killing him. The tool operator had never been trained in the proper use of the tool, and none of the employees in the area, including the victim, were wearing personal protective equipment.