Worker Survives 7m Fall into Water Tank (4 August 2009 - Launceston, Australia)
Incidents like this are a reminder of the importance of fall prevention around openings to tanks and pits. I often see photos in catalogues and brochures advertising the latest tripods and retrieval systems for confined space entrants, while the winch operator is leaning over an open pit without any fall prevention!
An open pit or tank also seems to draw in on-lookers. The best way to prevent on-looks and winch operators from ending up in the bottom of the pit is to install temporary edge rails. Bolt them in where possible, otherwise tie off and secure portable rails to some other fixed structure.
Maybe we could start a media watch? Send me photos of safety advertisements that also contain safety breaches!