SAFETY ALERT – DOUBLE SPAN DECK PACKS LANDED WITH LITTLE OR NO BEARING – JUNE 2022

What Happened?

During the installation of floor deck, an operative stood on a pack of double span sheets that had been landed with little or no bearing at one end. As the deck operative stood on the end of the last three sheets, they upended and both he and the sheets entered the net. Due to the angle and weight of the sheets, they punctured the net and landed on the concrete floor below. The operative that had fallen into the net, then fell through the hole created, onto the floor below.

Thankfully he sustained very minor injuries and was able to continue working, however this could have been very serious. The net was subsequently checked and confirmed as both compliant and within test.

On Site Action / Learning

Where any packs loaded out are found to look similar to the photos below (insufficient bearing and/or trapped ends) you should stop work immediately and undertake the following:

1. Inform both your line management and the on-site client representative of the issue.
2. Agree the best course of action with your line management and the Client. This may be one of several options which could include repositioning pack with crane/forklift and/or additional control measures on site.
3. Where necessary, the contract team should undertake a site specific risk assessment and method statement addendum of additional control measures that are being adopted.
4. Work is not to resume until ALL parties are happy that work can be undertaken safely.

                      

         

NEVER JUST CARRY ON AND HOPE IT WILL BE OK!

Off Site Learning / Action

When despatching packs from the supplier or when receiving packs on site, ensure that individual sheets are stacked on top of one another such that they are vertically aligned.  This means that when they are landed by the steel erector, they can be visually checked to ensure they have sufficient bearing on the steel.