Identify possible fall paths
Starter bars for columns, walls and foundations may be close to walkways, edges, excavations or working platforms. Assessment considers where a person could fall from and how they would contact the bar, not merely the height of its tip above the ground.
A same-level trip can also have serious consequences. Organised storage and separate walking routes reduce exposure but do not remove a reachable projection. This situation needs more than the general precautions for Strikes, cuts and flying particles at work. Nearby temporary work platforms should be considered in the assessment.
A visible cap may not prevent penetration
Some plastic caps provide visual warning or protection against scratches and minor cuts. Do not assume they can withstand the impact of a falling person. Product information must identify the intended use, compatible bar sizes and limitations.
Continuous covers and trough systems also need adequate strength and secure positioning. A loosely placed board or a cup over the tip is not evidence of protection. Selection should reflect the foreseeable impact and technical evidence, rather than the apparent size or colour of the covering.
Separate and protect from installation
Where possible, avoid work and pedestrian movement beside exposed ends. Guardrails, screens and protected routes can prevent people reaching them. When nearby scaffolds are used, their protective arrangements must account for the hazard below or alongside the platform.
Site planning should provide protection as the reinforcement is installed, rather than waiting for a later inspection. Workers must not cut or bend reinforcement on their own initiative to remove projections: any alteration has to be authorised and compatible with the structural design.
Maintain control as construction changes
Caps can become displaced, damaged or removed during subsequent activities. Check their presence, fit and condition while maintaining lighting and housekeeping. A new work phase can create another fall path or make previously inaccessible bars reachable.
If a task requires temporary removal of protection, plan an effective alternative and control access throughout that stage. Information and supervision are particularly important for unfamiliar workers. Emergency arrangements should allow access for specialist assistance; improvised responses can expose further people to the same hazard.
