The presentation is from The presentation is from Mark SuttonMark Sutton

For SAFEHANDS For SAFEHANDS Health & Safety Consultants Health & Safety Consultants

LtdLtdA Free Resource From A Free Resource From www.safetyphoto.co.ukwww.safetyphoto.co.uk

Working at HeightWorking at HeightHow to comply with the new RegulationsHow to comply with the new Regulations

Mark SuttonMark SuttonFor SAFEHANDS Health & Safety Consultants LtdFor SAFEHANDS Health & Safety Consultants Ltd

Why introduce these New Why introduce these New Regulations?Regulations?

Biggest Killer 67 Fatal Accidents 2003/04Biggest Killer 67 Fatal Accidents 2003/04 3884 Major Accidents 2003/043884 Major Accidents 2003/04 The single biggest cause of Workplace The single biggest cause of Workplace

DeathsDeaths One of the biggest causes of major One of the biggest causes of major

accidentsaccidents 2/3 of all major injuries caused by ‘low 2/3 of all major injuries caused by ‘low

falls’falls’

Why are these rules important?Why are these rules important? These regulations have been made to These regulations have been made to

prevent the prevent the DeathsDeaths and and InjuriesInjuries caused caused each year by falls at workeach year by falls at work

They They REPLACE REPLACE all the earlier regulations all the earlier regulations about working at height and implement about working at height and implement European Council Directive 2001/45/EC European Council Directive 2001/45/EC concerning safety and health for use of concerning safety and health for use of equipment for work at height (the equipment for work at height (the Temporary Work at Height Directive). Temporary Work at Height Directive).

What is Work at Height?What is Work at Height?Regulation 2Regulation 2

Explains for the purposes of the Regulations, certain words and phrases that will crop up throughout the document which unless defined could be interpreted differently from one industry to another.

Work at HeightWork at Height

Work in any place, including a Work in any place, including a place in:place in:

the course of obtaining the course of obtaining access to or egress from any access to or egress from any place except by a staircase place except by a staircase in a permanent workplace or;in a permanent workplace or;

At or below ground levelAt or below ground level from which a person could from which a person could fall a distance liable to cause fall a distance liable to cause personal injury and any personal injury and any reference to working at reference to working at height will include access to height will include access to or egress from such places or egress from such places whilst at work.whilst at work.

Working at heightWorking at height Working on a scaffold or Working on a scaffold or

MEWPMEWP Working on the back of a Working on the back of a

lorrylorry Using cradles or ropes to Using cradles or ropes to

gain accessgain access Climbing permanent Climbing permanent

structures such as gantriesstructures such as gantries Working close to Working close to

excavations, cellars or other excavations, cellars or other openings.openings.

Staging or trestles (concerts Staging or trestles (concerts filming etc)filming etc)

Not working at heightNot working at height Activities carried out by Activities carried out by

private individuals (even if private individuals (even if the equipment used is from the equipment used is from work). Trips and slips on the work). Trips and slips on the level surfacelevel surface

Falls on permanent Falls on permanent stairways (unless under stairways (unless under structural maintenance)structural maintenance)

Working in a building (e.g. Working in a building (e.g. office) with multiple floors office) with multiple floors where there is no risk of where there is no risk of falling (except if the staff falling (except if the staff use a stepladder to change use a stepladder to change the bulbs within the office)the bulbs within the office)

““Access and egress”Access and egress”

““Working Platform”Working Platform”

Includes ascent and descentIncludes ascent and descent

Any platform used as a Any platform used as a place of work, or as a means place of work, or as a means of access to or egress from of access to or egress from a place of work.a place of work.

Any scaffold, suspended Any scaffold, suspended scaffold, cradle, mobile scaffold, cradle, mobile platform, trestle, gangway, platform, trestle, gangway, gantry or stairway which is gantry or stairway which is so usedso used

But does not include a But does not include a building or otherbuilding or other

permanent structurepermanent structure

““Work equipment”Work equipment”

““Ladder”Ladder”

““Line” Line”

Any machinery, appliance, Any machinery, appliance, apparatus, tool or apparatus, tool or installation for use at work installation for use at work and includes anything to and includes anything to which Regulation 8 and which Regulation 8 and schedules 2 to 6 of the schedules 2 to 6 of the WAHR apply. WAHR apply.

Includes a fixed ladder and Includes a fixed ladder and a step ladder a step ladder

Includes rope, chain or Includes rope, chain or webbingwebbing

““Competence”Competence”

““Personal fall protection”Personal fall protection”

““Fragile surface”Fragile surface”

Every employer shall ensure that no Every employer shall ensure that no person engages in activity, including person engages in activity, including organisation, planning or organisation, planning or supervision, in relation to work at supervision, in relation to work at height or work equipment for use in height or work equipment for use in such work unless he is competent to such work unless he is competent to do so or, if being trained, is being do so or, if being trained, is being supervised by a competent person supervised by a competent person

A fall prevention, work restraint, A fall prevention, work restraint, work positioning, fall arrest or work positioning, fall arrest or rescue system other than a system rescue system other than a system in which the only safeguards are in which the only safeguards are collective safeguards or:collective safeguards or:

Rope access and positioning Rope access and positioning techniques.techniques.

(terminology adopted from BS (terminology adopted from BS 7985:2002 Code of Practice for the 7985:2002 Code of Practice for the use of rope access methods for use of rope access methods for industrial purposes)industrial purposes)

A surface which would be liable to A surface which would be liable to fail if any reasonably foreseeable fail if any reasonably foreseeable loading were to be applied to itloading were to be applied to it

What do the Schedules to the regulations What do the Schedules to the regulations cover?cover?

Schedule 1Schedule 1 Existing places of work and means of access for work at heightExisting places of work and means of access for work at height Schedule 2Schedule 2 Collective fall prevention (e.g. guard rails and toe boards)Collective fall prevention (e.g. guard rails and toe boards) Schedule 3Schedule 3 Working platformsWorking platforms Schedule 4Schedule 4 Collective fall arrest (e.g. nets, airbags etc)Collective fall arrest (e.g. nets, airbags etc) Schedule 5Schedule 5 Personal fall protectionPersonal fall protection Schedule 6Schedule 6 Ladders and step laddersLadders and step ladders Schedule 7Schedule 7 Inspection reportsInspection reports Schedule 8Schedule 8 Revocations (cancellations, dissolution)Revocations (cancellations, dissolution)

Do the Rules apply to you?Do the Rules apply to you? The Regulations apply to The Regulations apply to allall work at height where work at height where

there is a risk of a fall liable to cause personal injury. there is a risk of a fall liable to cause personal injury. They place duties on employers, the self-employed, They place duties on employers, the self-employed, and any person who and any person who controlscontrols the work of others. the work of others.

If you are an employee or working under someone If you are an employee or working under someone else's control, regulation 14 says you must:else's control, regulation 14 says you must: Report any safety hazard to them.Report any safety hazard to them. Use the equipment supplied (including safety Use the equipment supplied (including safety

devices) properly, following any training and devices) properly, following any training and instructions (unless you think that would be instructions (unless you think that would be unsafe, in which case you should seek further unsafe, in which case you should seek further instructions before continuing).instructions before continuing).

What you must do if you as an What you must do if you as an EmployerEmployer

Duty holders must:Duty holders must: Avoid work at height where they canAvoid work at height where they can Use work equipment or other measures Use work equipment or other measures

to prevent falls where they cannot avoid to prevent falls where they cannot avoid working at height; andworking at height; and

Where they cannot eliminate the risk of Where they cannot eliminate the risk of a fall, use work equipment or other a fall, use work equipment or other measures to minimise the distance and measures to minimise the distance and consequences of a fall should one occurconsequences of a fall should one occur

Duty Holders ResponsibilitiesDuty Holders Responsibilities The regulations requireThe regulations require

All work at height is properly planned & organisedAll work at height is properly planned & organised All work at height takes account of weather conditions that All work at height takes account of weather conditions that

could endanger health & safetycould endanger health & safety Those involved in work at height are trained and Those involved in work at height are trained and

competentcompetent The place where work at height is done is safeThe place where work at height is done is safe Equipment for work at height is appropriately inspected Equipment for work at height is appropriately inspected

and controlledand controlled The risks from fragile surfaces are properly controlled; and The risks from fragile surfaces are properly controlled; and The risk from falling objects are properly controlled.The risk from falling objects are properly controlled.

Just remember a risk assessmentJust remember a risk assessment is is to be written to control to be written to control the hazards.the hazards.

Do the Work at Height Regulations ban Do the Work at Height Regulations ban the use of Ladders?the use of Ladders?

Short answer for that is Short answer for that is NO!NO! But they require that ladders should But they require that ladders should only only

be considered where a risk assessment be considered where a risk assessment has shown that the use of other more has shown that the use of other more suitable work equipment is not suitable work equipment is not appropriate because of the low risk, and appropriate because of the low risk, and short duration of the task or consideration short duration of the task or consideration of where the work is locatedof where the work is located

A few Correct ways of A few Correct ways of Working at HeightWorking at Height

Why is this correct?Why is this correct?

AgainAgain

A piece of Equipment that can A piece of Equipment that can be usedbe used

Bosun`s ChairBosun`s Chair

Any Questions?Any Questions? If you are unsure about anything now, If you are unsure about anything now, it will be far to late to come and ask me it will be far to late to come and ask me when you are 30ft up or 30ft below the when you are 30ft up or 30ft below the surface and you don't have a Harnesssurface and you don't have a Harness

RememberRemember

There is no such thing as a There is no such thing as a “stupid”“stupid” or or “daft”“daft” Health and Safety Question! Health and Safety Question!

The presentation is from The presentation is from Mark SuttonMark Sutton

For SAFEHANDS For SAFEHANDS Health & Safety Consultants Health & Safety Consultants

LtdLtdA Free Resource From A Free Resource From www.safetyphoto.co.ukwww.safetyphoto.co.uk