Work at height has always been hazardous and in spite of everything that has been done over recent decades to improve this record, it is still a major cause of death and serious injury in the workplace.

With the introduction of new Work at Height Regulations in 2005, the definition of the term “at height” was changed to mean any place from which a worker could injure themselves from falling – even if the workplace is at or below ground level.

A couple of recent cases in the media highlight the issues around working at height:

• In one incident, a worker was standing on the roof of a house without any form of scaffolding, edge protection or other safety equipment. The person was using a power washer to clean the roof, creating a particularly hazardous surface. The man’s employer was prosecuted and had to pay more than £17,000 in fines and costs.More information about this case is available at
  http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2011/coi-nw-84mdroofcoatings.htm
• In another case, a member of the public was seriously injured by scaffolding that collapsed on top of her because it was not properly secured to the building where it was being used. Part way through the work, the scaffolding had been lowered in height but no inspection carried out to ensure it was still secure. This was in contravention of the Work at Height Regulations. Both the scaffolding company and the construction company were found guilty and between them paid £19,000 in costs and fines.More information about this case is available at
  http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2011/coi-ne-04211.htm

Who is Responsible?

The Work at Height Regulations define duties that apply to employers and to anyone else who controls the work of people who are working at height including, for example, the owners of buildings where work is being carried out.

Employees are also responsible for their own health and safety and, under the Work at Height Regulations, they have a specific duty to use safety equipment correctly and to report any safety issues that they notice.

How are You Required to Discharge these Duties?

Work at height needs to be properly managed. The risks are far too high and the history of accidents is too grim for a careless attitude.

The overriding priority is to do everything that is reasonably practicable to avoid someone falling and injuring themselves. Consequently, if possible, the job should be planned to avoid the need for working at height. If this is not practicable then everything should be done to minimise the risks, including:

Training

First of all everyone who is required to work at height must be trained and competent to do so in a safe manner. If not yet fully competent then they must be supervised by someone who is. Training must cover the risks, the safety precautions and how to avoid or minimise injury.

Planning

Risk assessments should be carried out and the work planned so that it can be undertaken safely. Planning includes an appropriate level of supervision and the procedures to follow should an emergency arise.

If the work is outdoors, planning must also take account of the weather, including the possibility of interrupting work should weather conditions be such as to endanger health and safety.

Safe Place of Work

Use work equipment and safety procedures that are designed to prevent anyone falling. When selecting equipment, take account of the nature of the work and the working conditions. All safety equipment must be inspected by a competent person before work begins and at regular intervals during the project to ensure there is no deterioration.

It is also important to manage the risk of people being injured from items of equipment falling from above. Safety precautions must take account of everyone who may be present on site as well as those who are actually working at height.

Individual Safety

If it is not practicable by general safety precautions to eliminate the risk of a fall, other measures should be put in place to minimise the consequences should there be a fall. There’s a wide range of equipment that can be used for this purpose including, for example, nets, airbags and fall arrest systems.

Fragile Surfaces

Fragile surfaces, such as glass roofs, skylights or old brittle roofing materials are a particular hazard for the unwary. Whenever practicable, avoid anyone going onto or even near a fragile surface and ensure everyone is aware of the dangers by posting prominent notices, for example.

If work on a fragile surface is unavoidable, then additional precautions should be put in place to minimise the specific risks associated with the work.

Additional Help

Whilst the general advice in this article applies to all situations where people are required to work at height, the variety of circumstances is such that there are always risks that are specific to each workplace.

If you are responsible for people working at height but you are not confident that you have all necessary precautions in place, then give us a call to discuss your situation with one of our consultants.