Dubai Municipality warned that ignoring the wind speed exposes workers who climb buildings to clean up its façade due to the risk of falling, provided that the worker is free of diseases, and that he does not suffer from phobia.
She pointed out in a report issued recently, that the use of the system "suspended access ropes" has witnessed a significant increase during the past years, due to the rapid construction of structures and building designs for external facades, stressing the need to do this through companies and specialized and certified employees, with arrangements for effective monitoring of wind speed before the use.
She added that before doing any work at a height, the employer must make an accurate determination of the risks, to prove whether or not the rope access is an appropriate way to work, stressing the need to use the most secure means of access first, such as cleaning from the inside, and others.
She stated that the ropes system is mainly used during the construction phase, as well as during cleaning and maintenance activities, explaining that its most important features are the speed with which workers can reach difficult places to do their work, with less influence on other operations and the surrounding areas.
She pointed out that the person concerned with the use of hanging ropes must be appropriately trained, and qualified to carry out his required duties at the highest level, with a full understanding of any risks related to work, discovering technical defects, and knowing the potential impact of them, as safety depends on the access to use of these ropes greatly. High levels of efficiency.
She pointed to the need to examine and test the access system using ropes, before implementation, and to provide adequate and adequate supervision in the work environment, and to provide emergency and rescue arrangements, adding that it is necessary to have qualified supervisors in rescue techniques, and have the personal skills necessary to perform their duties effectively, and to have a certificate Rope access technician at the third level of the "International Rope Access Association". The municipality stated that the participants in the work must be at a medically appropriate height, with good health, and without heart disease, chest pain, high heart pressure, epilepsy, fear of heights or dizziness, poor limb function, diabetes, alcohol or drug addiction, In addition to mental illness.
She added that those who do this work must undergo a regular medical examination, to ensure physical fitness, and confirm the medical fitness certificate of the Dubai Health Authority, which indicates that the worker does not suffer from phobia.
She stressed that all the equipment used must be in line with the standards in the Emirates Authority for Standardization, Metrology and International Standards, while maintaining and properly storing it.
She noted that the most important equipment that makes up the access system using ropes is the anchor hook, anchor point, an ascending device, a support device, and a landing device, stressing that this device must be of the type that stops if the user loses control of it.
5 risk assessment factors
Dubai Municipality confirmed that when assessing the risks, the employer must consider five factors related to the work to be carried out:
1- Duration of work.
2- Cords and accessories used.
3- Existing electrical lines.
4- Weather condition.
5- The person used for the ropes.