A Complete Guide to Working at Height Regulations by At-Height

1. A Complete Guide to Working at Height Regulations

2. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) defines work at height as any piece of work done at any such place where the absence of any precautions could make a person fall a distance liable to cause personal injury. A person is said to be working at height if he/she:    Works above the ground/floor level. Is at a risk of falling from an edge, through an opening or delicate surface. Is at a risk of falling from the ground level into a hole in the ground. A person is not said to be working at height is he/she slips or trips on the same level or walking up and down a permanent staircase in a building. The fall has to be from a higher level to a lower level. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 enlists a set of specific guidelines that aim to avert death and injury caused due to a fall from height. These guidelines have been setup specifically for the employers who either employ people to work at height or control the same. For instance, facilities managers or building owners who hire people on contract to work at height. It is the utmost responsibility of the employers and those managing the manpower to make sure that any work that is being carried out at height is well-planned, supervised and executed by competent people. This also includes making use of the right type of equipment for working at height. Email: Sales@At-Height.Co.Uk Tel: 0844 804 4190 Fax: 0844 804 4191 http://at-height.co.uk/ The Knoll Business Centre Old Shoreham Road Hove BN3 7GS

3. Hierarchy of Control Measures Level 1: Avoid working at height whenever possible. It is important for an individual to avoid working at height whenever feasible. This should be done to keep oneself safe as well as the employer from any complications. Meeting this requirement demands one to work as much as possible from the ground using extending tools. These tools can easily replace the use of a ladder, or the need to lower something to ground level before repairing it. Apart from this, it also requires one to avoid working on fragile surfaces that are probably enclosed, but still liable to cause a fall through them. Level 2: Work in an existing safe place when possible. To avoid falls, one must try and make use of an existing workplace. This should be done to prevent any falls and later deal with its consequences. One can execute the required work at such a place where there is no need of any additional protective equipment as well as there is no risk of falling since preventative measures are already in place. Common examples include a balcony or on machinery that has fixed guard rails. Level 3: Prevent falls by using the collective equipment. In case, a person is required to work at some other place and requires him/her to assemble or disassemble the framework, it is best to avoid falls by using the collective equipment. Making use of as external advance guardrails or collective protection units can be used to prevent falls and keep everyone safe. Email: Sales@At-Height.Co.Uk Tel: 0844 804 4190 Fax: 0844 804 4191 http://at-height.co.uk/ The Knoll Business Centre Old Shoreham Road Hove BN3 7GS

4. Level 4: UsePPE to prevent falls. The last way to prevent fall at a job is by using personal protective equipment (PPE). One of the common equipmentisbelts with short lanyards to restrict the worker’s movement. Making use of PPE helps prevent falls completely. Level 5:Minimise distance using collective equipment. Another way to prevent a fall is by reducing the distance between the person and the ground. It is important for a person on duty to make sure that the distance is minimized between him/her and the ground, which, in turn, helps reduce the risk of fall. Some of the easy ways to do so include placing netting or airbags beneath the work area, and close to it. Level 6: Mitigate distance using PPE. The purpose behind wearing a PPE is to make sure that in case a worker falls, the distance between their level and the ground level is minimal. For instance, if a worker is employed at a job location that involves a platform or framework, the distance is typically mitigated through the use of fall arrest harnesses. However, thereisstill arisk of causing serious injury and also, these are not much effective at lower heights. Moreover, the most important point to remember is that these harnesses are not suitable for every situation. For example, safety guidelines for tunnel workers suggest that workers remain unrestrained when working at aheight under these circumstances. Email: Sales@At-Height.Co.Uk Tel: 0844 804 4190 Fax: 0844 804 4191 http://at-height.co.uk/ The Knoll Business Centre Old Shoreham Road Hove BN3 7GS

5. Level 7: Minimise consequences using collective equipment. One can minimize the fatal consequences of fall by using collective equipment such as netting or airbags. But, the purpose behind using this equipment this time is not to reduce the distance of fall but to soften the impact. This level implies to the use of netting or airbags, however, the aim is a bit different. Their use has been advisednot to reduce the distance of a fall, but to soften its impact. Level 8: Minimise consequences through proper training & instructions. The best way to minimize the consequences of a risk is by imparting proper training and instructions to the workers who are working at height. This refers to educating workers about the best measures they can take to ensure their safety and prevent falls. Employers’ Responsibilities As per the regulations, an employer is responsible for the following: Assessing the potential risks in their workplace in order to make a plan to control the risks. Be ready with some suitable control measures such as issuing PPE, introducing machinery or training. Ensuring that no person engages in any activity related to working at height unless he/she is competent enough to do so or being supervised by a competent person. Ensuring that no one works around a fragile surface. Taking the most suitable steps to prevent falls of any material or object. Avoiding the fall or throwing of any material or object from height in case it is liable to cause injury to any person. Ensuring the proper storage of materials and objects so as to avoid any Email: Sales@At-Height.Co.Uk Tel: 0844 804 4190 Fax: 0844 804 4191 http://at-height.co.uk/ The Knoll Business Centre Old Shoreham Road Hove BN3 7GS

6.    Ensuring that no one works around a fragile surface. Taking the most suitable steps to prevent falls of any material or object. Avoiding the fall or throwing of any material or object from height in case it is liable to cause injury to any person. Ensuring the proper storage of materials and objects so as to avoid any sort of risk to a person ascending from them collapsing, overturning or moving unintentionally.  Employees’ Responsibilities As per the regulations, an employee working at height must: Update their manager or supervisor regarding any defects or activities that may cause them injury while working at height. Make use of the required work equipment or safety device provided by the employer to work at height. Follow the training provided to use any sort of work equipment. Ensure that their activities do not put others at risk. It is a combined responsibility of both employer and employee to ensure that each one of them stays safe and secure. None of the two can ensure the safety of all alone. After all, team work is the key. The Knoll Business Centre Old Shoreham Road Hove BN3 7GS Email: Sales@At-Height.Co.Uk Tel: 0844 804 4190 Fax: 0844 804 4191 The Knoll Business Centre Old Shoreham Road Hove BN3 7GS Email: Sales@At-Height.Co.Uk Tel: 0844 804 4190 Fax: 0844 804 4191 http://at-height.co.uk/