Work at Height Regulations

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Health and Safety Executive
Work at Height Regulations Ian Greenwood Falls
from Height Team
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Summary

• The Work at Height Regulations
• Background
• Managing risks from work at height
• The Hierarchy
• HSEs Enforcement Position
• QA

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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)

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Background Objectives

• Temporary Work at Height Directive (2001/45/EC)
• Bring existing legislation together into risk
  based regulation
• Maintain and improve standards

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Implementation

• Came into force on 6 April 2005
• No transitional period proposed Regulations
  consolidate good practice

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WaH Regulations Overview

• Scope
• Risk assessment/organisation/planning
• Avoid Prevent Minimise
• Select the right work equipment
• Other precautions

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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

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Scope What sectors are covered?

• Covers all industries and activities 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

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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

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Risk Assessment

• Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and
  Safety at work Regulations
• Do a risk assessment

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Avoid - Prevent - Minimise

• Avoid work at height
• if you dont have to go up there DONT!
• Prevent falls
• use an existing place or means of access
• Use the most suitable way of working
• Select the most suitable equipment

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Avoid Prevent - Minimise

• Minimise the distance and consequences
• Minimise the consequences
• Take other measures to prevent injury eg
  instruction, information and training

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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

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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

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Practical Examples

• Immigration Officers searching vehicles Police
  and protestors Avoid?
• Firearms Officers on roofs Prevent?
• Tactical Firearms Units using abseils Mitigate?
• All information training etc.

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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

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Enforcement Heat of the moment situations

• Dynamic risk assessments based on the
  circumstances at the time
• Training/competence/pre planning and thorough
  inspection of kit
• We are unlikely to revisit with hindsight
  judgements you have made

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Enforcement Heat of the moment situations

• Some Thoughts
• Think through means of access (and escape)
• Think about the best and safest way of doing it
• Things are not always what they seem

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Enforcement all other situations

• Examples Scene of crime, routine fire
  inspection, planned vehicle checks
• These are no different from any other work at
  height activity where the Regulations will apply

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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