INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT
CASE STUDY
FALLING FROM HEIGHT
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Abstract
Accidents in factories are common and take place loads in this modern age. Many cases
concerning death falling from top is pronounced. Additionally, accident research is essential,
and the steps taken are proven. Preventions from such cases are presented. To prevent such
accident takes place, professional ethics are broken and analyse to ensure the issues can be
solved. Therefore, the ethical principles, professional ethics, responsibilities, norms of
engineering practice accompanied and committed to make sure protection to all worker.
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TABLE CONTENTS:
1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 5
2 PART A: ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION ................................................................................................ 7
2.1 Dealing with immediate risk ................................................................................................... 7
2.2 Select level of investigation .................................................................................................... 7
2.3 Investigation event ................................................................................................................. 7
2.3.1 Develop a plan ................................................................................................................ 8
2.3.2 Assemble an investigation kit ......................................................................................... 8
2.3.3 Investigate all incidents and accidents immediately ...................................................... 9
2.3.4 Collecting the facts ........................................................................................................ 10
2.3.5 Interview witnesses ...................................................................................................... 10
2.4 Record and analysis result .................................................................................................... 14
2.4.1 Analyse from the interview data ................................................................................... 15
2.4.2 Chronology of the accident from the witness story: ..................................................... 16
2.4.3 Result from the investigation ........................................................................................ 17
2.4.4 Completed report form of accident at the factory of PIPELINEZ .................................. 18
2.5 Review process...................................................................................................................... 22
3 PART B (SUGGESTION FOR PREVENTIVE ACTIONS) ...................................................................... 23
3.4 Administrative control to prevent height accident .............................................................. 23
3.4.4 Awareness ..................................................................................................................... 23
3.4.5 Safety instructor on working and observing the mobile crane..................................... 24
3.4.6 Alerting using siren and speaker ................................................................................... 24
3.5 Engineering hierarchy of control .......................................................................................... 25
3.5.4 Barrier ........................................................................................................................... 25
3.5.5 sperate flow path ........................................................................................................... 25
3.5.6 PPE for working on heights .......................................................................................... 25
4 PART C (ETHICAL PRINCIPLES AND PROFESSIONAL ETHICS) ......................................................... 27
4.1 No supervisor support on controlling the crane and legal license ....................................... 27
4.2 No proper Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) ................................................................. 27
4.3 The ignorance of preparing the PPE ..................................................................................... 27
4.4 bribery and corruption........................................................................................................... 27
5 Discussion...................................................................................................................................... 28
6 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 29
7 Reference ...................................................................................................................................... 30
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LIST OF FIGURES:
Figure 4: Shows the workers handle the beam steel while crane on performing lifting the
beam ......................................................................................................................................... 16
Figure 6: scene worker working near to crane moving steel pipe. ......................................... 16
Figure 15: instructor observing the crane and monitoring the movement of steel pipe.......... 24
Figure 17: sirens, speaker and camera to alert the workers ................................................... 24
Figure 18: barrier add at the second level of the factory ........................................................ 25
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1 Introduction
Accidents are an event that occur unplanned and unwantedly that disrupts the working process
and results in injuries and damage properties. Especially in sectors where a lot of machines and
human are crowded in a place like factories. In factories where many process and moving
objects and workers are involve accidents are waiting to happen. However, accidents are
predictable and preventable events if the activities and process flow of humans and machines
are organized in a proper and safety manner. This is where Department of occupational safety
and health comes in, providing rules and regulations that was published for employee or
employer in any occupation to follow. This minimize and prevent safety issues that is possible
in any sector of the occupation whether factory, shopping complex, hotels or workshops. In
addition, safety officer is crucial in any occupation to monitor and creating the safety of
working environment.
Hence, as a safety officer, the case study chosen is died falling from height. Victim died due
to a serious injury to the head from falling at a height of 33 feet. He was working on the mobile
scaffold during the time.
Accident information:
38-year-old man Muhammad bin Abdullah a was caught in a fatal accident at Johor Bharu
factory. The victim fell from the 3𝑟𝑑 floor in the factory of supplying pipes. Muhammad was
delivering tools to an engineer and suddenly a steel pipe lifted by a mobile crane accidently
structed the victim, which lead the man to unconsciously fell to the ground floor from the 3 rd
floor. He was treated in a hospital and died 2 days after unconsciousness.
The fall causes him severe injuries in his body and especially his head. This made him in an
unconscious state and died after 2 days. The case classified as serious accident which requires
a proper investigation to be carried out.
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case Information
Victim profile
NAME Muhammad bin Abdullah
AGE 38
CITIZEN Malaysian
STATUS Married
COMPANY Pipelinez
POSITION Operator
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2 PART A: ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
Main steps of accident investigation
In this case of accident planning whom to meet up with, from the factory and seek for
permission to operate an investigation.
1. Develop a plan
2. Assemble an investigation kit
3. Investigate all incidents and accidents immediately
4. Collect the facts
5. Interview witnesses
6. Write a report
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2.3.1 Develop a plan
The purpose of planning is to address situations timely, reducing the chance for evidence to
be lost and witnesses to forget. All procedures, forms, notifications, etc. need to be listed out
as step-by-step procedures. A flow chart is developed to quickly show the major components
of program and can be inform and request an investigation to the head of the company’s
management.
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2.3.3 Investigate all incidents and accidents immediately
It’s crucial to collect evidence and interview witnesses as soon as possible because evidence
will disappear, and people will forget. To start a safety officer must acknowledge on whom is
involve and aware to them on the program held in the investigation. The first step is to notify
all personnel that will be involve such as the:
1. All witness.
2. the person driving the mobile crane.
3. the employer.
4. employee representative
5. immediate supervisor
First, make sure you and others don’t become victims! Always check for still-present
dangerous situations. Then, help the injured is necessary. Secure the scene and initiate chains
of custody for physical evidence. Identify witnesses and physical evidence. Separate witnesses
from one another If physical evidence is stabilized, then the investigation begin as quickly as
possible with interviews.
One of critical steps is isolating the scene put the cross-line sign around the location of
accident. It is very important because to ensure the evident remain save and facilitate the
process of investigation run. Other than that, to restrict unauthorized people from
interrupting the investigation.
Inspection of the site scene and look for any hazardous working environment. In this case
it is found that the level 3 floor has no barrier.
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2.3.4 Collecting the facts
Collect the maximum sources of information that relate to accident by taking photos, videos,
and writing notes about the condition of victim’s body and location of accident. Thus, do
investigation the path that victim went through before, during and after the accident. Action
when collecting the fact of the accident are:
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Safety Officer:
CITIZEN MALAYSIAN
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Witness 1:
INTERVIEW FORM
NAME AHMED
AGE 33 YEARS OLD
CITIZEN MALAYSIAN
STATUS MARRIED
COMPANY PIPELINEZ SDN BHD
POSITION SUPERVISOR
Witness 2:
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INTERVIEW FORM
NAME YUSUF TAIYOB
AGE 37 YEARS OLD
CITIZEN MALAYSIA
STATUS MARRIED
COMPANY PIPELINEZ SDN BHD
POSITION Technician
Witness 3:
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INTERVIEW FORM
NAME YUSUF TAIYOB
AGE 37 YEARS OLD
CITIZEN MALAYSIA
STATUS MARRIED
COMPANY PIPELINEZ SDN BHD
POSITION Crane driver
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2.4.1 Analyse from the interview data
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2.4.2 Chronology of the accident from the witness story:
a mobile crane was lifting a steel pipe. A worker
at third floor was walking and carrying load not
aware of the pipe and the pipe hit him
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falling_(accident)
Sources: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-10/self-
regulation-failing-to-prevent-deaths-from-building-
falls/5382038
Sources:
http://www.globaltrademag.com/global-trade-daily/commerce-
submits-steel-imports-report-trump
After being hit by mobile crane the worker lost his balance
and conscious cause him to fall. The was around 3 storeys
high and falling unconsciously is very severe.
Figure 7: Scene workers unbalance and fall
Sources:
http://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/Fall_fr_Height_English_ta
g-FW.pdf
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2.4.3 Result from the investigation
1. The victim had not wear a safety helmet in the factory and a safety reflector bid as a
PPE during working hours in the factory
2. The victim accessed the 3rd floor that has no barrier without wearing fall protection to
carry tools. No policy had been in place requiring the need for fall protection when accessing
the high ground with no barrier.
3. No barriers or warning signs were provided at access points at the 3rd floor to warn
employees of possible hazards such as don’t step on the ledge or don’t walk near unfenced
floor edge.
4. Safe procedures had not been established relative to performing work on the high
ground.
As a conclusion the cause of the accident was on both side that is conjunction to fault of human
careless. The victim not wearing PPE which is safety helmet and reflector bid. Supervisor and
the company itself did not inform on the activity of mobile crane lifting the steel pipes. The
crane driver not alert and no one to monitor the area of lifting the steel pipe. Thus, they both
are the cause that lead to the collision and made the victim fell from third floor.
Other than that, it is an unsafe act for the company not creating any barriers on the third floor
due to it is more than 2 meters high and must put any signs and safety barriers. Addition there
are no separate path for the mobile crane activity area and other workers. Which lead to the
accident as the crane activity of lifting huge loads is a hazard itself.
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2.4.4 Completed report form of accident at the factory of PIPELINEZ
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2012
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Figure 10: OSHA 301 form
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Figure 11: OSHA 300A form
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Figure 12: Barrier for height more than 3 meters Figure 13: Full PPE for working at height
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3 PART B (SUGGESTION FOR PREVENTIVE ACTIONS)
Working at height or work carried out from 2 metres or more in height, in places of work except
a staircase in a permanent workplace where a person could be injured by falling from it, even
if it is at below ground level. It is responsibilities under the Factories and Machinery Act 1967
(Act 139) and Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (Act 514) to prevent falls.
There are a lot prevention actions that can be taken for working at height but for this case study
it will be specific to certain level of prevention. It is important to save off employees fall from
height. Other than that, to prevent any more future accident is by using hierarchy of control.
3.4.4 Awareness
Alerting worker about working at height and its hazard, workers are aware and prepare for any
incoming incidents. Awareness on moving mobile cranes that are carrying steel pipes stocks in the
factory.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3557310/Inside-secretive-Chinese-iPhone-factory.html
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3.4.5 Safety instructor on working and observing the mobile crane
When dealing with lifting using mobile cranes must have a safety instructor that observe the
area when lifting steel pipes. Preventing any incident of colliding with other workers
Figure 15: instructor observing the crane and monitoring the movement of steel pipe
http://www.heavyliftnews.com/heavy-lift-articles/5415
Figure 16: officer monitoring and alerting working Figure 17: sirens, speaker and camera to alert the workers
environment
A safety officer monitoring and alerting other workers to be cautious on a moving crane
Source: Source:
http://www.valishatech.com/Case-Study- https://www.completealarms.com.au/business-
Factory.html security/warehouse-security-package/
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3.5 Engineering hierarchy of control
3.5.4 Barrier
Creating barrier as an engineering safety controls that would isolate the path of the incident and
minimizing the hazard of the working in height. Even if hit by any obstacle the barrier will act as a
protector to the worker from falling.
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Figure 20: instruction how to wear the PPE and benefits
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4 PART C (ETHICAL PRINCIPLES AND PROFESSIONAL ETHICS)
4.1 No supervisor support on controlling the crane and legal license
The employer that is in charge of the operation of lifting steel pipes purposely did not put a
supervisor at the scene to monitor the moving crane due to shortage of staffs. Other than that,
the company want to cut budget on hiring more staff. It is wiser to hire more staffs to aid in
such hazardous occupation.
The factory does not have a required safety features that will help the worker to perform the
operation of lifting heavy loads using crane. More importantly the company hired a driver that
has no crane driver license. This unethical manner is illegal and is one of the major cause of
the accident. It is under the act of OSHA that employer must train and acquire driver of with
only with license for their workers.
The company did not have a written proper SOP to guide the employees on how to perform
their job efficiently. This is very important in this line of work because it involves the life and
safety of the workers and the people nearby. Such as what to wear and act when working at a
height. Even if the working at height is only to grab a tool without the safety measure it’s a
high risk. SOP for working on mobile crane are not adapted
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5 Discussion
Many accidents involving falls from height happen usually at construction site but in this case,
it is at a factory. Falls frequently occur because no precautions are taken, or any equipment that
is used is defective, not appropriate, or is used incorrectly. Often people about to do a job
believe it will 'only take a few minutes’ and take a risk in the hope that simply being careful
will be enough.
However, in this case it is caused by the unaware victim of the incoming steel pipe carried by
the crane. The victim Muhammad is not to blame even without wearing an PPE, as the company
it self not providing any PPE. Thus, he still chooses to work on the company and have a conflict
of interest either to report the matter to Department Of Safety And Health (DOSH).
The other issue is the company hiring an unlicensed person to control a crane with heavy pipe
load, the company really have safety issue in the factory and ethical professional issue.
As a safety officer, we need to take care of the workers and company safety and health. It is
in our hands to maintain the safety working environment. The collaboration between workers,
employers and safety officer is crucial in ensuring that company comply with their risk
assessments, policies and procedures so we protect each other’s as much as possible.
Prior to any work being undertaken, a jobsite evaluation should be performed by a competent
person. An OSHA "competent person" is defined as "one who is capable of identifying existing
and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary,
hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective
measures to eliminate them such as the house wiring in proximity to the area where drilling
was being performed. Once potential hazards are identified, appropriate control measures must
be implemented, and corresponding employee training also must provide in order to avoid
hazardous.
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6 Conclusion
In this project, as an safety officer at the PIPELINEZ SDN BHD ensure the safety, health and
welfare of person at working place against harm because of the work activities. Besides,
Occupational safety and health (OSHA) is the one of the organization that will protect persons
at a place of work other than persons at work against risk to safety or health arising out of the
activities of persons at works. Moreover, they also have become more mature and always
striving to improve the level of occupational health and safety in making a safe and healthy
work practices part of the Malaysian culture.
In conclusion as a safety officer have successfully achieved the objective of the project which
are identify ethical principles and commit to professional ethics and investigate on the reported
fatal accident and finding it causes which is the factory owners fault due to lack of safety in the
factory.
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7 Reference
http://www.dosh.gov.my/index.php/en/fatal-accident-case
https://www.wshc.sg/files/wshc/upload/event/file/1(3).pdf
http://www.lni.wa.gov/SAFETY/TRAININGPREVENTION/ONLINE/courseinfo.asp?P_ID
=145
https://www.osha.gov/dcsp/products/topics/incidentinvestigation/index.html
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