Important Working at Height Reminders

Common causes are falls from ladders and through fragile roofs. The purpose of WAHR is to prevent death and injury from a fall from height. Work at height means work in any place where, if there were no precautions in place, a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury. For example, you are working at height if you: are working on a ladder or a flat roof; could fall through a fragile surface; or you could fall into an opening in a floor or a hole in the ground.

The Law

The purpose of The Work at Height Regulations 2005 is to prevent death and injury caused by a fall from height. If you are an employer or you control work at height (for example facilities managers or building owners who may contract others to work at height) the Regulations apply to you.
Employers and those in control of any work at height activity must make sure work is properly planned, supervised and carried out by competent people. This includes using the right type of equipment for working at height. Low-risk, relatively straightforward tasks will require less effort when it comes to planning

Employers and those in control must first assess the risks. Employees have general legal duties to take reasonable care of themselves and others who may be affected by their actions, and to co-operate with their employer to enable their health and safety duties and requirements to be complied with.

Examples of collective measures include: Safety nets and soft-landing systems.
Examples of  personal  protection  measures  include: Fall arrest systems, anchorage points and physical barriers.
Remember when utilising ladders that they must be fit for purpose and used for a minimal amount of time <30 minutes and they must be inspected on a regular basis and if required be entered onto a ladder tag system.

The HSE have produced guidance to help you comply with the law (follow the link below)

Useful Links:

1. Work at height - The law
2. Working at height: A brief guide