Transcript Document

Health and Safety
Executive
Work at Height
Regulations
Ian Greenwood
Falls from Height Team
Summary
• The Work at Height Regulations
• Background
• Managing risks from work at height
• The ‘Hierarchy’
• HSE’s Enforcement Position
• Q&A
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)
Background : Objectives
• Temporary Work at Height Directive
(2001/45/EC)
• Bring existing legislation together into
risk based regulation
• Maintain and improve standards
Implementation
• Came into force on 6 April 2005
• No transitional period proposed –
Regulations consolidate good
practice
WaH Regulations: Overview
• Scope
• Risk assessment/organisation/planning
• Avoid – Prevent – Minimise
• Select the right work equipment
• Other precautions
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 and activities:
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
jeopardise 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
Avoid - Prevent - Minimise
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
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
Practical Examples
• Immigration Officers searching vehicles;
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•
•
Police and protestors [Avoid?]
Firearms Officers on roofs [Prevent?]
Tactical Firearms Units using abseils
[Mitigate?]
All – information training etc.
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
Enforcement: Heat of the
moment situations
• Dynamic risk assessments based on
•
•
the circumstances at the time
Training/competence/pre planning and
thorough inspection of kit
We are unlikely to revisit with hindsight
judgements you have made
Enforcement: Heat of the
moment situations
Some Thoughts
• Think through means of access (and
escape)
• Think about the best and safest way of
doing it
• Things are not always what they seem
Enforcement: all other
situations
• Examples : Scene of crime, routine fire
inspection, planned vehicle checks
• These are no different from any other
work at height activity where the
Regulations will apply
KEY MESSAGES
• 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