Working at Height Regulations

KNOWLEDGE BASEDSOLUTIONS

Alliver RevillaScaffolding Trainer CITB

FALLS PROGRAMME

• Reduce death and major injuries from falls from height.

• HSC/ HSE targets 10% reduction in death and major injuries by 2010.

• Working with sectors were falls are an issue;

Caretakers

Facilities Management Companies

Maintenance fitters

SUMMARY

• The Work at Height Regulations

Background

Scope

Managing risks from work at height

Selecting the right equipment

Other Requirements

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)

Source; www.hse.gov.uk

BACKGROUND : OBJECTIVES

• Temporary Work at Height Directive (2001/45/EC)

• Bring existing legislation together into risk based regulation

• Maintain and improve standards

Source; www.hse.gov.uk

CURRENT POSITION

• Came into force on 6 April 2005

• No transitional period proposed – Regulations consolidate good practice

• Challenge to communicate the WAH message effectively

WAH REGULATIONS: OVERVIEW

• Scope

• Risk assessment/organization/planning

• Avoid – Prevent – Minimize

• Select the right Work Equipment

• Other Precautions

• Key message

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

SCOPE: WHAT SECTORS ARE COVERED?

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

ORGANISATION, PLANNING, COMPETENCE

Work at height should be;

•Properly planned

•Appropriately supervised

•Not carried out if weather conditions jeopardize health and safety

Those working at height should be;

•competent or if being trained supervised by a competent person

RISK ASSESSMENT

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

•Do a risk assessment

•Safe work method statement

•Follow the hierarchy of control

AVOID - PREVENT - MINIMIZE

• 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

• Minimize the distance of fall Minimize the consequences Take other measures to prevent injury e.g. instruction, information and

training

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO FALL?

WHAT IS FALL PROTECTION ?

• Fall protection is the backup system planned for a worker who could loose his balance at height, in order to control or eliminate injury potential.

• It is generally accepted by governing bodies that the hierarchy of fall protection should provide the starting point for considering what type of fall protection system is required.

GUARD THE HAZARD

TO SUMMARIZE ON FALL PROTECTION

SELECT THE RIGHT WORK EQUIPMENT

• Collective protection before personal protection

• Select guardrails/working platforms before personal fall prevention (e.g. 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

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

• Scaffolding• Edge protection• MEWP

COLLECTIVE FALL ARREST

Nets

Air bags

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

KEY MESSAGES

• If you follow good practice you should be doing enough to comply

• Do a risk assessment, plan and organize your work properly

• Follow the hierarchy: avoid – prevent – minimize

• Choose the right equipment - select collective protection before personal

• Guide supported by Industry Specific Guidance.

SAFETY PRINCIPLE WHEN WORKING AT HEIGHT

Fall of materials:•Preventive measures should be taken against the fall of workers and tools or other objects or materials.

Openings:•All openings through which workers are liable to fall should be kept effectively covered and indicated in the most appropriate manner.

Buying and issuing PPE are not enough ...

Training workers to use them is not enough ...

Supervision and inspection are essential!

COMMON MISTAKES IN SCAFFOLDING

COMMON MISTAKES IN SCAFFOLDING

COMMON MISTAKES IN SCAFFOLDING

COMMON MISTAKES IN SCAFFOLDING