Fatal Risk Working Group - Working at HeightMartin White - Head of Birse Rail

Introduction

Birse are now part of Balfour Beatty Rail

Now part of Projects business unit

Beginning of a journey in BB Rail

Part of Zero Harm in Balfour Beatty

Zero AFR for most of last year

The Golden Rules

The Golden Rules

Fatal Risk Working Group Zero Harm Journey Plan

Balfour Beatty Rail fatal risk working groups − Electrical Safety− Working at Height− On Track Plant Safety− Materials Handling− Driver Risk Management

Led by an Executive Team member

Why?

Our fatal risks remain in this category

− Many HiPos or close calls here Our statistics are nowhere near Zero Harm We are not in sight of making our work at height risk free We’ve come a long way but not far enough

What is WAH? Anything where a person could be injured from someone

or something falling, regardless of: − the duration− equipment being used − the physical distance involved.

Includes:− access to and egress from the work area− falling objects

Holiday snaps?

Closer to home?

Even closer to home

Who are we?Martin White – Head of Birse RailMick Davies – SHE Manager Rail ProjectsAdam Nolan – PlannerJames Mather – Graduate EngineerJim Nabarro – Specialist Rail Plant ManagerRichard Morgan – Birse Contracts ManagerRon Foster – Rail Projects Project Manager

Statistics In 2008 there were 329 fatalities in the US Construction industry

related to falls from height In 2008 there were 21 fatalities and 1,200 major injuries in the UK

Construction industry related to falls from height Between January 2007 and January 2010 in Balfour Beatty there

were 594 incidents related to work at height, of which 71 were major injuries and 3 were fatalities

Between October 2008 and January 2010 in Balfour Beatty there were 230 incidents involving falling objects, of which 17 were major injuries and four involved third parties and members of the public

Statistics

Birse Rail had 10 incidents relating to Working at Height

in 2010:

8 near misses / close calls

1 injury (requiring medical attention)

1 Prohibition Notice

Working at Height Group – Our Remit Ensure WAH risks are managed

− Failure is not an option Improve BB Rail processes for controlling WAH Reduce WAH risk by

− Avoiding it− Finding alternative solutions − Providing even better controls

Key WAH Risk Areas for BB Rail On Track Plant – maintenance and repair Access to wagons for loading/unloading Demolition Civils and building activities OLE installation Use of MEWPS Signal gantries – erection/maintenance Trestles/Scaffolding/mobile towers

Can we eliminate working at height completely?

Falls from height and falling objects risks

− Balfour Beatty employees

− Other Contractors

− Third parties and members of the public To do so we need others to help

What are we going to do?

Identify the key risk areas Define the problem Find best practice from BB Opcos and suppliers Instruct people “how to do it” (not how not to do it!) Have a “reality check” with those at risk. Check that what we propose will actually work

− In our environment

Planning

Proper planning is essential (6 P Principle) All activities potentially involving work at height must be

− identified

− the risks systematically assessed

− risk reduction planned in advance

Work at height should be avoided whenever possible.

Objectives

Avoid the need to work at height− Change design of structure or process

Reduce the number of people who work at height− Increase off site manufacture.

Reduce the likelihood of a fall− Use podium steps rather than a ladder

Reduce the consequences if falls do occur− Fall arrest systems including a system for recovery

How and when are we going to do it? Gather information (January) Collate best practice (February) Review on site working practices (February) Apply our ideas (March) Compose solutions (April – May) Reality check and cost check (May) Identify training needs (May) Implement (June)

Best Practice

Vehicle edge protection

Load strapping

Ceiling access

Cabin lifting

Vacuum lifting of precast units

Feet on the ground campaign

Assume that all work will be conducted with feet on the ground.

Where this cannot be achieved, then the “ground” is brought up to the level of the activity, e.g. by using a MEWP.

What are our challenges? Proper engagement with the workforce

− Both ways Behaviour of

− our employees− our sub-contractors− our clients

Over complication in our solutions Cost of solutions

Long Term Success

Reduced risks posed by WAH Reduced accidents and HiPos Recognition from our end users

− workable solutions in place The workforce says it’s better Zero Harm at height

Any questions?