Work at Height

Regulations 2005

Health and Safety Executive

Summary

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 (WAHR)

• Background

• Scope

• Managing risks from work at height

• Selecting the right equipment

• Other Requirements

• Biggest cause of workplace fatalities

• 35 fatal incidents in 2008/09 and a total of 421 since 2001

• Cause of 4589 major injuries 2008/09

• 87% of all major injuries are caused by ‘low falls’ (i.e below 2 mtrs)

Background: Statistics

• The WAHR came into effect on 6 April 2005

• They consolidate all the earlier regulations about working at height and implement European Council Directive 2001/45/EC. (the Temporary Work at Height Directive).

• Challenge to communicate the WAHR message effectively as there has been confusion over the ‘2m’ rule

Background: History

• The WAHR also revoked the earlier construction regulations which specified the "2 metre rule“

• The WAHR place a duty on the dutyholder:

‘Where work has to be carried out at height, then the dutyholder shall take suitable and sufficient measures to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, any person falling a distance liable to cause personal injury’

• This duty recognises that injury can occur from a fall of any height, not just from above 2 metres.

Background: The ‘2m’ rule

• Scope

• Risk (assessment / organisation / planning)

• Hierarchy (avoid – prevent – minimise)

• Select the right work equipment

• Other precautions

• Key messages

The Regulations: Overview

• Work at height means work in any place, including at or below ground level, where a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury.

• This includes access to and egress from that place of work.

• Does not include stairways or slips or trips on the level

Scope: What is work at height?

• 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

Scope: What Sectors are covered?

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

Organisation, Planning, Competence

• Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at work Regulations

• Do a risk assessment

Risk Assessment

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

Avoid – Prevent - Minimise

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

Select the right work 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.

M.E.W.P

Scaffolding

Edge protection

Nets

Air bags

Collective Fall arrest

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?

• 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.

KEY MESSAGES