The performance of Work at Height brings a series of risks, responsibilities, commitments and obligations for the company, employers and the worker himself. All these responsibilities must be taken and treated seriously so that the any Work at Heights can be performed safely and in the best way possible. To guarantee that everyone is on the same page during this execution, NR-35 establishes the norms, duties and parameters for a safe work, executed with responsibility.
Work at Height is any activity performed at a minimum height of 2 meters from the main base. In other words, after this minimum altitude, the worker must be protected by adequate PPE, the risk analysis must have been done, the employer has provided the recommended training and the safety equipment that his employees need. In short, all the points raised by NR-35 have been respected so that everything runs smoothly during the execution of the activities.
NR-35: Employer’s Responsibilities
The employer plays a very important role in the execution of Work at Height and in the compliance with the NR-35 guidelines and norms. Therefore, it is essential that they are aware of their responsibilities and comply with them whenever the worker is exposed to activities suspended above 2 meters high.
NR-35 establishes a series of rules for the employer:
Guarantee the implementation of the protection measures established in NR-35.
Ensure the completion of Risk Analysis and issue of Work Permit, when necessary.
Develop operational procedures for routine activities of work at height.
Ensure that workers have up-to-date information on risks and control measures.
Ensure that activities are initiated only after all NR-35 measures have been adopted.
Suspend the activities whenever an unexpected risk arises.
NR-35: Workers’ Responsibilities
The worker is the major beneficiary of the norms established in NR-35. But if the information contained in it is not respected, he/she can also be the most harmed. Therefore, it is important that the employer provides all the information his employees need, make sure they are trained and certified for Work at Height.
According to NR-35, the worker’s responsibilities are:
Comply with the legal and regulatory provisions on Work at Height, including the procedures issued by the employer.
Collaborate with the employer in the implementation of the provisions contained in NR-35.
Stop their activities, exercising the right of refusal, whenever there is evidence of serious and imminent risks to their safety and health or to other people’s, immediately informing their supervisor, who will take the appropriate measures.
Ensure your own safety and health and that of others who may be affected by your actions or omissions at work.
Other rules that must be respected
Qualification and training: workers and supervisors must participate in the qualification training for Work at Height. In the case of professionals, the minimum hourly load is eight hours and covers the main information about this activity. For supervisors, the minimum workload is 40 hours, because it needs complementary information.
Risk analysis: According to NR-35, it is essential to do a risk analysis before working at height. This risk analysis must take into account the place where the work will be done and its surroundings, the isolation and signaling around the work area, the establishment of anchoring systems and points, the risk of materials and tools falling, and impeditive conditions, among others.
Work Permit: non-routine Work at Height activities should be previously authorized by means of a work permit. It should be approved by the person responsible for the authorization of the permit, made available in the place where the activity is executed and, at the end, concluded and filed in a way that it can be easily located. The work permit must be valid according to the activity to be performed.
PPEs: like every activity that presents some kind of risk to the worker, NR-35 determines that the professional who performs Work at Height must be properly equipped with the necessary PPEs to perform his work. It is essential to make sure that they are in ideal conditions of use and that they are replaced whenever they show signs of wear or defects.
The importance of NR-35 for Work at Height
Knowing NR-35 and all its guidelines and information is essential for the safe execution of Work at Eights. Employers and workers need to be aware of their responsibilities so that everything runs perfectly and safely. It is always good to keep up to date with this norm, because the safety market is very dynamic.
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