Health and Safety

Executive

Work at Height
Regulations
FALLS PROGRAMME

• Reduce death and major injuries from falls

from height.
• HSC/ HSE targets 10% reduction in death
and major injuries by 2010.
• Working with sectors were falls are an issue;
• Caretakers
• Facilities Management Companies
• Maintenance fitters
Summary

• The Work at Height Regulations

• Background
• Scope
• Managing risks from work at height
• Selecting the right equipment
• Other Requirements
Background: Statistics

• Biggest Killer 67 Fatal Accidents

2003/04
• 3884 Major Accidents 2003/04
• Until this year always 2nd biggest
cause of major accidents
• 2/3 of all major injuries caused by
‘low falls’ (below 2mtrs)
Background : Objectives

• Temporary Work at Height

Directive (2001/45/EC)
• Bring existing legislation together
into risk based regulation
• Maintain and improve standards
Current position

• Came into force on 6 April 2005

• No transitional period proposed –
Regulations consolidate good
practice
• Challenge to communicate the WAH
message effectively
WaH Regulations: Overview

• Scope
• Risk assessment/organisation/planning
• Avoid – Prevent – Minimise
• Select the right Work Equipment
• Other Precautions
• Key messages
 Scope: What is work at height?

• Work in any place from which a person

could fall a distance liable to cause
personal injury
• Includes
• access and egress
• work at or below ground level;
• but not stairways or slips or trips on
the level
Scope: What Sectors are covered?

• Covers all industries: e.g. construction,

agriculture, manufacturing, retail,
maintenance,warehouse etc; but not those
paid to lead or train climbing and caving
• Duty holders are:
• employers;
• self-employed; and
• those in control of people at work, to the extent
of their control
Organisation, Planning, Competence

Work at height should be

• Properly planned
• Appropriately supervised
• Not carried out if weather conditions
jeopardise health and safety
Those working at height should be
• competent or if being trained
supervised by a competent person
Risk Assessment

• Regulation 3 of the Management of

Health and Safety at work
Regulations
• Do a risk assessment
Avoid - Prevent - Minimise

Avoid work at height

• if you don’t have to go up there DON’T!
Prevent falls
• use an existing place or means of access
• Use the most suitable way of working
• Select the most suitable equipment
 Avoid – Prevent - Minimise

Minimise the distance and

consequences
• Minimise the consequences
• Take other measures to prevent injury
eg instruction, information and training
Select the right work equipment
Select the right work equipment

• Collective protection before

personal protection
• Select guardrails/working
platforms before personal fall
prevention (eg work restraint)
• Select nets/airbags before
personal fall arrest
Select the right work equipment

• Working conditions
• Access and Egress
• Distance and consequences of a fall
• Duration and frequency of use/task
• Ease of rescue/evacuation
• Risk of use, installation and removal
of equipment
Types of Work Equipment

• Guardrails
• Working platforms
(scaffolds/MEWPS etc)
• Nets/Airbags
• Personal Fall Protection systems
• Ladders
LADDERS USE

• Risk assessment must justify use;

• Low risk,
• Short duration,
• Or Site conditions dictate
• Follow good practice
Examples of Work Equipment
.

Avoiding work at height

Collective Prevention
.
Scaffolding

Edge protection

M.E.W.P
Collective Fall arrest

Nets

Air bags
Personal Fall Arrest

Fall Arrest

Work Positioning
Other Requirements
• Avoid risks from Fragile Surfaces
• Prevent Falling Objects
• Warn about Danger Areas
• Inspect work equipment
• Persons at work should
• Follow instructions and training
• Advise employer of hazards/risks to
health and safety
Communication

• What HSE have done

• What HSE would like you to do

• How will HSE know if they are getting

it right?
KEY MESSAGES
• If you follow good practice you should be
doing enough to comply
• Do a risk assessment, plan and organise
your work properly
• Follow the hierarchy: avoid – prevent –
minimise
• Choose the right equipment - select
collective protection before personal
• Guide supported by Industry Specific
Guidance.