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Statistics from Level.co.nz show that for accidents in the building industry resulting in serious harm, about a third are from trips or falls. To put it bluntly, the stakes are higher when you’re working at height, whether on a cherry picker, ladder or scissor lift. Yes, safety should always be a top priority on the work site, but if you slip up from height like on a roof, there’s more chance of a severe injury.
Especially during construction season, warmer weather means more and more tradies are out working in the sun and up on scaffolding. Thankfully, there are ways you can mitigate risk and prevent falls. This guide will go through our top tips for safely working at height. Along the way, we’ll cover helpful bits of access equipment to hire and practical advice. That way, you’ll be able to use access equipment like our mates at Oceania Marine safely. It’s important to note that these tips should not be the only safety regulations you follow. It’s also worth doing further research with the likes of WorkSafe. Let’s get started!
So, what counts as working at height? Technically speaking, working at height means working somewhere where you would be injured if you fell from one level down to another. It doesn’t matter whether you’re on the tools inside or outside, below or above ground level. If you can hurt yourself by falling, it’s classified as working at height. This means that taking the right safety precautions and using the proper access hire equipment is crucial for many jobs on the work site.
Even smaller jobs like painting your house exterior or putting drywall up need a ‘better-safe-than-sorry’ approach and gear like scaffolding or a scissor lift.
Like with any task or job on the work site, it’s essential to carry out a hazard assessment before beginning work at height. This will most likely include the following:
You’ll then need to assess each hazard and control each risk. A big consideration as part of this is understanding fall distance. There are handy online calculators to help you to figure out your fall distance.
Not all equipment for hire is created equal, including access hire equipment. It’s vital to only hire equipment from companies you know you can rely on. Using access equipment that is old, not fit for purpose, or broken increases your risk of a serious accident. Whether you’re after a cherry picker for hire, scissor lift for hire or even a knuckle boom, we’ve got your back at Hirepool. All of our equipment for hire is regularly serviced, so you know it won’t let you down.
Although some of our access equipment may require an operator certificate, some options do not. All of our access hire equipment has a detailed description online, so you can make sure you’re getting the right piece of gear for the job at hand.
No matter which access equipment you choose, looking for the six-month certificate is also vital. This certificate shows that EWPA, Elevated Work Platform Association, has checked that the equipment is in safe working condition. For more advice, check out our guide on access hire and choosing the right access equipment for your job.
At Hirepool, we always believe in a better safe than sorry approach. Part of this is wearing a safety harness when working at height, no matter how high. We require you to wear a safety harness with particular access equipment when operating at a certain height. However, hiring and using a harness at all times is encouraged. If you were to slip, a safety harness will stop you from falling. In most cases, it’s that simple. Another benefit of using a safety harness is that you may subconsciously feel more confident working at height.
This may make you more efficient at your job. When you hire access equipment, be sure to read the instructions for use to see whether a safety harness is an obligation or not.
New Zealand is known for sometimes experiencing all four seasons in one day. Even in summer, you’ll want to always check the weather in the morning before heading out to work at height. Even if the weather seems good in the morning, it’s also a good idea to check it throughout the day. Use your smartphone to look for any changes.
Rain and wind are the big issues when working up high, whether you’re up on a cherry picker, scissor lift or even a ladder. Wind can cause you to drop equipment, lose balance or even tamper with your access equipment. On the other hand, rain can make your working surface slippery and increase the chances of slips and falls. Follow your gut and take a cautious approach when assessing the weather.
No matter what course you're doing or who you’re seeking guidance from about safety when working at height, there’s one main source of truth in New Zealand. Nearly all health and safety providers will be sourcing information from the Health & Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace management) regulations. This legislation details your duty of care as a tradie on the work site. It’s a good idea to read over it to familiarise yourself with key points, including your general duties and management of particular risks.
Accidents happen, sometimes, no matter what. It doesn't matter how prepared and safe you think you are as a person. Working at height is inherently dangerous. Because of this, it’s a good idea to limit your time up high as much as possible. The longer you work, the more fatigued you become, both physically and mentally. And, when you’re tired, you’re more likely to make a mistake and cause an accident. Only work up on a knuckle boom, cherry picker, scaffolding or any other access equipment for as long as you need to. It doesn’t matter how good the view is!
There are many options for access equipment, most of which are available at Hirepool. Each access equipment will come with its weaknesses and strengths, so it’s essential to take the time to assess which is the best option for the job at hand. Access equipment for hire at Hirepool includes:
Many of our cherry pickers are towable, making them very convenient. Given the design of a cherry picker, they offer the ability to go up and over obstacles.
Most of our knuckle booms are classified as specialist gear requiring a license. Given their design, knuckle booms are perfect for tight workspaces and can reach a lot higher than some access alternatives.
One of the perks of choosing a mast lift is its size. Mast lifts are fantastic for using indoors, for example, in a warehouse. They’re very easy to manoeuvre.
Scissor lifts are one of the most sought-after forms of access equipment. A scissor lift has a great balance of reach, lifting capacity and a large working area. Read our advanced gear guide on scissor lifts for more information.
Sometimes, telescopic booms are called telescopic boom cranes. That’s because a telescopic boom makes it easy for you to get to hard-to-reach places. They’re very durable, with many being on rollers.
Scaffolding is a great option to provide a flat working surface for many different work sites and home applications. Scaffolding is solid and comes in various sizes and types depending on the job. Read our guide on how to set up scaffolding for further advice.
You may think you know how to use a ladder properly. But, there are many safety considerations to avoid an accident.
Once you’ve chosen the right access equipment, it’s essential to access it before using it. Yes, Hirepool does regularly service gear. However, things can change in transport or while you’re hiring the gear. As we’ve already mentioned, look for the six-month certificate and be sure to carry out the pre-start safety checks that will be a part of the instructions for use. If you’re picking up access hire equipment for someone else, be sure that they read these instructions and understand the limitations of the gear. For example, heavy power tools aren’t a good idea for ladders. On the other hand, a large cherry picker isn’t ideal for use inside. Worksafe has some great recourses about using mobile elevating work platforms. Otherwise, check out our advanced gear guide on scissor lifts.
Of course, this blog is a great place to start when considering working safer at height. However, it’s important also to ensure you and your fellow tradies have the proper training. You can learn a lot more from several days of practical training at a course. This blog is also a great source of information to refer back to and refresh your memory. There are several options for further health and safety training, including:
At Hirepool, we’re also available on the phone if you have any further questions or want advice on how to use your given access equipment safely.
Safety always needs to be a priority when working at height. A big part of this is hiring the right access equipment. If you need to hire access equipment for your worksite, check out our wide variety online or pop into your local Hirepool branch to chat with the helpful team. For more advice for tradies, head over to our Trade Hub. It’s full of helpful information, including our blog that covers whether you should hire or buy gear for your trade business and testimonials from Hirepool partners talking about the benefits of hiring access equipment.
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High Demand Product: We suggest making a booking for this item in advance.
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High Demand Product: We suggest making a booking for this item in advance.
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