Preparation is work at height too: the Shaheen painting-related fall
A worker died after falling while preparing for painting at the Shaheen project on 3 September 2026. Protection needs to cover setup and movement, not only the painting itself.
The known activity
Reporting identified preparation for painting on a steel structure and an investigation into the circumstances. It did not establish the worker’s connection status or a specific hose-related cause.
Protect the setup phase
Moving materials, routing hoses and reaching the work position are part of the task. If setup requires defeating protection, change the sequence or equipment arrangement before starting.
HSE · 높은 곳 작업 / Working at height
Check your workplace
- Can preparation stay within the protected platform?
- Could a snagged hose encourage overreaching?
- Is protection maintained during repositioning?
Plan hose routing
A snag or sudden pull can affect balance. Agree how the hose is routed and supported.
Stop the equipment and resolve the snag from a protected position rather than reaching outside the guardrail.
Include movement and rescue
Where personal protection is required, assess the anchor, compatible connection, movement and rescue plan together. A handrail is not automatically an approved anchor.
Putting it into practice
On a hose snag, stop and remain within protection. Adjust the method instead of leaning out and pulling.
The HSE reference supplies UK principles, not a finding about the cause of this accident.
Technical insight
Include preparation in the work-at-height plan
Access, masking and tool placement can expose people before painting begins. Controls planned only for the main task can miss preparation and cleanup.
Review preparation, movement, painting and clearing separately. Check the platform and protection at each stage rather than treating a brief setup task as outside the plan.
Korean safety resources
- KOSHA · Scaffold work handbook: System scaffolds
Korean e-book, viewer p.172: loading, ties/bracing and movement between scaffold sections.
- KOSHA GUIDE A-G-12-2026 · Use and maintenance of personal protective equipment
Korean-language technical recommendations on PPE selection, training and maintenance; use alongside the product manual.
Sources
- 경향신문 · 샤힌 현장 도장 준비 중 추락대한민국 / South Korea
- HSE · 높은 곳 작업 / Working at height영국 지침 / UK guidance