Part of the Arco family

Part of the Arco family

Presented by:

Mike Clayton Grad IOSHTechnical Development Manager

Total Access (UK) Ltd has been established as the

leading provider of height safety and confined space

services for over 23 years and has built up an enviable

clientele portfolio undertaking major contracts for

numerous blue chip organisations and PLC’s.

Total Access (UK) Limited was acquired by Arco in

November 2014. Working together this gives us the

opportunity to continue our growth whilst offering our

customers further high quality support, equipment,

training and site services.

Falls from height 2013/14 (Great Britain)

• 136 Fatal injuries in 2013/14

– 8 in Northern Ireland

• 39 due to fall from height

• Construction industry having 31 of the 39 fatal falls,

plus 581 major injuries (RIDDOR)

The Work at Height Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005

Regulation 6:

“Where work is carried out at height, every employer shall take suitable and sufficient measures to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, any person falling a distance liable to cause personal injury”

The Work at Height Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005

Regulation 4: (Organisation & planning)

Every employer shall ensure that work at height is –

• Properly planned (to include rescue and emergencies).

• Appropriately supervised.

• Carried out in a safe manner

Developing policies and procedures

• Do you know what work at height takes place within your business?

• Who is permitted to work at height on behalf of your company?

• What access equipment or personal fall protection equipment is owned by your business?

Permit to Work system

“A permit to work is a formal recorded process used to control work which is identified as potentially hazardous” (HSE)

A PTW system is usually operated for high risk jobs.

It is NOT a replacement for a robust risk assessment

Is working at height a high risk job?

Permit to Work system

The Work at Height Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005

Sets out a simple hierarchy for managing work at height;

1. AVOID working at height.

2. Use equipment to PREVENT falls occurring.

3. Use equipment to MINIMISE the distance and consequences of a fall.

The Work at Height Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005

Collective vs Personal measures

Competent Person

• A competent person is someone who has sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities (HSE)

• Regulation 5 (WaHR 2005)

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

Competent Person

Training

• There are some trade associations that have training schemes and are nationally recognised e.g.

• IPAF International Powered Access Federation

• PASMA Prefabricated Access Suppliers’ and Manufacturers’ Association

• IRATA Industrial Rope Access Trade Association

• NASC National Access & Scaffolding Confederation

Competent Person

PASMA Prefabricated Access Suppliers’ and Manufacturers’ Association

Offers various training courses for

mobile access towers;

• Towers for users

• Towers for managers

• Low level access

Selection of Personal Fall Protection Equipment

• Regulation 4(1)

Every employer shall ensure that suitable personal protective equipment is provided to his employees who may be exposed to a risk to their health or safety while at work except where and to the extent that such risk has been adequately controlled by means which are equally or more effective.

PPE at Work Regulations 1992

Correct PPE

• If fall arrest techniques need to be used;

– Does it comply with a relevant standard (Class III PPE)?

– What clearance distance is available?

– Is the fall arrest equipment suitable for the working height?

– What anchor points are available?

– Is there a compatible rescue system available?

Formal inspection of PPE

Formal inspection of PPE

• Regulation 12(10) (WaHR 2005)

In this regulation “inspection”…..

……means such visual or more rigorous inspection by a competent person as is appropriate for safety purposes.

A competent person is someone who has sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities (HSE)

Formal inspection of PPE

The competent person must be sufficiently independent and impartial to

allow objective decisions to be made. This does not mean that

competent persons must necessarily be employed from an external

company. If employers and others within their own organisations have

the necessary competence then they can use it. However, if they do,

they must ensure that their ‘in-house’ examiners have the genuine

authority and independence to ensure that examinations are properly

carried out and that the necessary recommendations arising from them

are made without fear or favour.

L113 LOLER ‘98 ACoP

Rescue

• An emergency plan must be in place for work at height.

• The rescue plan should be practiced regularly.

• Sufficient trained personnel must be available whilst work at height is taking place.

– Consider shift patterns, holidays, sickness etc.

• If using a MEWP there should be trained personnel on site who could lower the work platform using the ground controls or emergency descent system.

Safe use of portable ladders

Low Level Working Platform (Podium)

PAS 250 : 2012

PAS 250 is a Publically Available Specification

for a low‐level work platform with one working

platform with side protection for use by one

person with a maximum working platform

height of less than 2.5 m.

This PAS specifies requirements for;

Materials, Design loads, Dimensions, Strength &

Stability tests, Marking and User instructions.

Scaffolding

• Suitably designed, constructed and maintained scaffolding is the method of accessing height where a PMA (permanent means of access) is not available.

• Ensure the scaffolding has been properly designed, erected and inspected by persons competent to do so.

www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/scaffoldinginfo.htm

Scaffolding

• Scaffolding should be inspected by the constructor before they hand it over for use.

• The user must ensure that a competent person inspects it weekly and record the findings.

• An inspector must be competent to inspect the type of scaffold and should check that the scaffold is;

– Properly constructed

– The right type for the planned duty

– Provided with adequate foundations that are not likely to be disturbed

– The correct height, width and length

– Provided with safe access and egress

– Correctly tied, anchored and braced

Part of the Arco family

Total Access (UK) LtdUnit 5Raleigh Hall Industrial EstateEccleshallStaffordshireST21 6JL

Phone: 01785 850333FAX: 01785 850339Email: sales@totalaccess.co.uk