St Bartholomew & All Saints

Parochial Church Council

Health & Safety Guidance

Section C.02 – Work at Height

Guidance No: SBC.04

Issue No: 02

Issue Date: July 2014

Review Date: Feb. 2017

Section C.01 – Work at Height – Issue 1

Page 2 of 5

Document Change Record

Change No.

Date Change Reason for Change

1 03/07/2014

Page 1, ‘Issue No.’ – delete 01, insert 02

Periodic Review Page 1, ‘Issue Date’ – delete February 2009, insert July 2014 Page1, ‘Review Date’ – delete Feb.2012, insert July 2017 Page 5, ‘References’ – delete ‘.....(as amended): A Brief Guide

Revised HSE Guidance

Page 5, ‘References’ –insert ‘The work at Height (Amendment) Regulations 2005’ Pages 5, ‘References’ – delete ‘Safe Use of Ladders and Stepladders: An Employers Guide’, insert ‘Working at Height: A Brief Guide: INDG401(Rev2)’ Page 5, ‘References’ – delete ‘Using Access Equipment Safely in Building Maintenance’, insert ‘Safe Use of Ladders and Stepladders: A Brief Guide: INDG455’

Section C.01 – Work at Height – Issue 1

Page 3 of 5

Section C.02 – Work at Height Introduction The Work at Height Regulations 2005 came into force on the 6th April 2005. The Regulations define ‘work at height’ as work in any place, including a place at or below ground level or obtaining access or egress from such a place while at work, except by a staircase in a permanent workplace where, if measures required by the Regulations were not taken, a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury.

Any work activity that involves access to places or positions that cannot be reached when standing on the ground should be regarded as ‘work at height’ and subject to a risk assessment.

Work must not be carried out at height where it is reasonably practicable to carry out the work in a safer way. Where work is carried out at height, reasonable measures must be taken to prevent any person falling a distance liable to cause personal injury.

The Regulations place duties on employers, the self-employed and any person who controls the work of others e.g. building owners who may contract others to work at height.

General Principles

It is an overriding principle that the dutyholders must do all that is reasonably practicable to prevent anyone falling.

Work at height must be properly planned and appropriately supervised. A competent person should undertake a suitable and sufficient risk assessment (see Health and Safety Policy – Risk Assessment), the findings of which should be documented using the form provided and reviewed on a regular basis. The Regulations set out a simple hierarchy for managing and selecting equipment for work at height and require dutyholders to:

ensure that no work is done at height if it is safe and reasonably practicable to do it other than at height e.g. can the item on which work is to be carried out be lowered to ground level?

ensure that the work is properly planned, appropriately supervised and carried out in as safe a way as is reasonably practicable

plan for emergencies and rescue

take account of the risk assessment carried out under regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations

A simple Flowchart for Work at Height is provided at Appendix A

For the purposes of this policy anyone working at height within the church should not undertake the task when alone in the building.

Section C.01 – Work at Height – Issue 1

Page 4 of 5

Use of Equipment

Assembly of equipment for work at height e.g. scaffolding must be carried out by a competent person. If ladders are to be used they must be fit for purpose, well maintained and manufactured to a recognised and appropriate standard. Prior to use ladders should be inspected visually and any defects rectified.

Ladders may only be used for work at height if the risk assessment has demonstrated that the use of more suitable work equipment is not justified because of the low risk and the short duration of use or existing features on site which cannot be altered. The HSE have indicated that “short duration of use” is anything up to thirty minutes. Fixed pews are examples of “existing features on site which cannot be altered.”

Ladders must be placed on firm surfaces to provide support so that the rungs remain horizontal and be so positioned to ensure stability during use.

Portable ladders must be prevented from slipping by securing the stiles at or near their upper or lower ends, by using an anti-slip or other effective stability device. The practice of “footing” a ladder whereby a second person places a foot on the bottom rung of the ladder is no longer accepted as good practice.

Ladders used for access must be long enough to protrude sufficiently above the place of landing unless other measures have been taken to ensure a firm handhold.

Training

Individuals working at height should be identified and be deemed competent. They should participate in the organisation, planning and supervision of the work and the inspection of equipment. They should be instructed in the safe storage of equipment whilst working at height to prevent the risk of injury to other persons. References

Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 – Approved Code of Practice & Guidance L21 (HSE Books ISBN 0-7176-2488-9)

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/735 - The Stationery Office 2005) The Work at Height (Amendment) Regulations 2007 Working at Height: A Brief Guide: INDG401(Rev2) (HSE)

Safe Use of Ladders and Stepladders: A Brief Guide: INDG455 (HSE)

Section C.01 – Work at Height – Issue 1

Page 5 of 5

Appendix 1 - Work at Height Flowchart

Can work at height be

avoided?

Carry out work safely at

ground level.

Yes

Identify who will carry out the task

(competent person)

No

Is a Risk Assessment available?

Can it be modified to suit your needs?

Complete a Risk Assessment

Yes

No

No

Inform, instruct, train and supervise staff.

Monitor effectiveness of controls to ensure protection of all persons that

may be affected e.g. by inspection, spot checks, reviewing accidents and

near-miss incidents.

Review e.g. after a set period, when new technology is introduced, where

the situation or legislation changes or following an accident or near-miss.

Yes