Thread: Safety at Work - The Winners

3rd Place

2nd Place

1st Place

How many OH&S specialists does it take to change a lightbulb?

None

What actually appears to be a very straight forward job is to the trained eye fraught with danger!

First the safety professional would do a quick risk assessment and determine that a trained and 'competent' person should really be performing this task.

Following the tender process and selection of a suitable contractor with appropriate licenses it would only be wise to conduct a little risk assessment of the proposed work methods.
Generally speaking this would result in any live cricuits being RCD protected and lock out - tag out procedures being implemented to prevent electrocution when the worker is cleaning the socket contacts with his tongue and the lady of the house (or other person) turns on the light switch.

This is an essential aspect of our duty of care to the person(s) performing this task especially given the number of old sparkies hanging around graveyards because of working live when changing light bulbs.

Secondly, having assessed the electrical risks the second inherently dangerous activity must be assessed - work at heights. Any safety specialist who has worked in the utilities and trade sectors knows that historically falls from from ladders account for 40% of all falls, with an average workers compensation claim of $50,330 (Vic.- 96-98). This rings true with a common saying amongst ladder manufacturers in realtion to tradespeople and their marriage with the first and generally only ladder they ever buy - til death do they part.

Given the lightbulb is within reasonable reach if using a step ladder (not allowed to over-reach) and the person performing this hazardous task "cannot fall more than 2m" and the ladder can be setup on a stable, solid surface then all is proceeding very well indeed. On the other hand if the person could fall more than 2m we must reassess the proposed works to determine a safer work method.

This may include using a scissor lift, an elevated boom or potentially a mobile scaffold, all of which have further considerations in relation to safety.

Now, in relation to perfoming the work in a pool, .....

Lost a good mate to concussion back in the late 60's when as a house painter he fell off a ladder.
Have been wary of the bloody tings ever since.
Cheers