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Following the correct safety protocol is essential while working at height. Whether working at height daily or only on occasion, it is up to the employer to ensure safety is the top priority for all workers. Taking shortcuts with health and safety can have dire consequences for workers.  Below is a breakdown of the specifics of working at height and how to properly manage work health and safety when on site. Defining Height Working at height covers any type of work at an elevated position where the worker is at risk of falling and injury. This is most often due to insufficient or non-existing safety precautions. Whether working on a ladder, a roof edge, an opening in the floor, or even a loading dock, working at height can mean a lot of different things.  In Australia, working at 2 metres or higher is required to have the proper fall protection equipment that fits the relevant types of fall hazards in the working area.  It is the employer’s responsibility to provide safe ways to enter and exit workplaces, especially in areas where there is risk of fall. If at all possible, any work must be done on the ground or a solid construction.  Jobs that are considered working at height: Roof work and activities on fragile surfaces Work with the use of ladders Activities near an excavation or trench Work that involves scaffolding Jobs that require being on scissor lifts and other similar Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWPs) Maintenance work or any job at an elevation that requires the use of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) such as a harness Assess the Risks Working at height is considered one of the most dangerous types of work, recognised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) as one of the leading causes of injuries and

Capping beams are an integral part of construction, used across many industries from rail infrastructure to basement construction. They are typically used in deep foundation construction. This is where the ground is not strong enough to support the weight of the structure without additional support.  When doing deep foundation construction, sites are based around voids or excavations. These present major fall risks for workers and require stringent safety measures. SafeSmart has a variety of safety solutions when it comes to working at height, and this includes capping beam edge protection.  The guide below explains what capping beams are, what different types of capping beams are used, and why they are an important part of deep foundation construction projects.  Understanding capping beams To understand capping beams, you have to first understand pile foundations.  These are deep foundations made of long, slender columns of reinforced concrete. To be considered pile foundations: They need to be at least three times deeper than their width Transfer the above ground structural load through weak subsoils or water onto more solid rock or earth below it Can be driven or bored through tens of metres below ground if necessary. To link piles together, a reinforced concrete cap is used. You can link these pile caps with capping beams, helping protect the piles from erosion and other kinds of damage. Capping beams are structural elements that are usually made out of steel and concrete. They sit along the top of the piling to strengthen it all. They tie all the piling together, create foundations for the slabs, and help to strengthen the structure against shear and tension loads.  They are more commonly used in deep foundation construction where the ground is not strong enough to support the weight of the structure without additional support.  To create a

In the heart of Mount Thorley Warkworth, one of Australia’s bustling coal mining hubs, a threat was lurking. The massive conveyor systems—vital arteries transporting tons of material daily—are potential hazards for the workers who navigate their perimeters. Globally, these industrial behemoths are infamous for their risks, with countless injuries and fatalities linked to them. At Mount Thorley, supervisors and superintendents had identified their jump conveyor as being a risk to crew safety when moving on the walkway. Yancoal, the mining titan overseeing the site, consulted experts right away. De-risking Sites with AdaptaPanel After consulting with crews on site, SafeSmart Access experts identified the key areas for improvement and solutions that could de-risk the dangers on site. AdaptaPanel was proposed as the perfect edge protection solution for temporary and semi-permanent use. AdaptaPanel offered critical edge protection against falls into conveyor systems around the site. What sets it apart is its adaptability; the system features a locking and unlocking mechanism that not only allows for rapid installation but also makes removal straightforward during essential maintenance shutdowns. This means minimal downtime and maximum safety—a win-win in the high-stakes world of mining. Proposing Solutions & Delivering High Standards However, integrating this system wasn’t without its challenges. The existing infrastructure at Mount Thorley required the AdaptaPanels to undergo design modifications. Accommodating the conveyor’s stringers was no small feat, but the adaptability of the system provided intuitive solutions. The proposed design was a seamless integration of welded tabs and holes for bolting to the upright posts connected to the conveyor stringer. Using this design and methodology allowed the panel system to comply with AS/NZS 1657 and AS/NZS 1657:2018, while accommodating maintenance by unbolting the panels during shutdowns. Finished off with a warning-coloured yellow, the posts and panels were delivered to the site with a short lead