Risk assessment highlights danger of falling from a mezzanine floor

Case Study

Problem

Following a review of a risk assessment an employer was concerned about the risk of falls from openings along the edge of a mezzanine floor when pallets were being placed and retrieved using a fork lift truck. Removable metal bars and chains were placed across the openings when they were not in use. This relied on the operators remembering to put the bars and chains back after use. The employer was also concerned that the chains would give inadequate protection if someone fell against them.

Solution


The employer decided to install special pivoting safety barriers which would provide continuous edge protection for all employees and not just the person engaged in loading.

When a pallet is being landed from below, the barrier is arranged so that it provides a pallet sized opening at the mezzanine edge with the internal edges guarded. Once the pallet is landed, the barrier is pivoted forward so that the mezzanine edge is now guarded and the pallet can be accessed from the mezzanine platform without the risk of a fall.


The new safety barrier provided collective protection for all employees and was therefore a better alternative to providing a harness which would only protect the wearer. Employees also no longer had to remember to put the bars back in place and the unsatisfactory system of using chains was removed.

www.mezzbarriers.co.uk is a division of Dale lifting and Handling and specialises in safety barriers for personnel at risk from falling at work and have developed an innovative range of edge protection solutions which include:

• Pallet gate openings
• High level roller shutter openings
• Loading docks
• Teagle Openings
• Hoist platform openings
• Construction site loading platforms
• Roof edge protection
• Restraint barriers
• Big Bag handling
• Long load openings
• High load low headroom
• Narrow walkways

Visit our website www.mezzbarriers.co.uk or call us: 0161 223 1990 to solve your height safety problems