Safe in The Knowledge...
June 1st 2006

The Work at Height Regulations were introduced in 2005. In the previous 12 months, 67 fatal accidents and nearly 4000 major injuries occurred as a direct result of falls from height in the work place.

Accidents of this type are the biggest single cause of fatalities and the second biggest cause of major injuries at work. Disturbingly, falls from a low height (less than 2m) accounted for more than 2000 of those incidents and these were just the reported cases.

Youngman, in partnership with the HSE and access equipment trainer, Safety and Access, has come up with a new initiative designed to reduce such accidents

The Knowledge is an objective work at height training programme designed to be a practical course on how to make sense of and work within the new regulations. It is in effect a oneday off-site training course. It not only explains the Work at Height Regulations and the effects of the new rules on industry, but encourages the participants on how to select the safest equipment for their specific needs, ensuring more compliance and greater safety in the work place. Topics covered include:

Risk assessment

The risks associated with working at height must always be assessed before any work is undertaken. When people are required to work at height, how is that best going to be carried out, who might come to harm and how? What will they be working on ladders, platforms, scaffolds, even a fragile roof? Review the measures already in place to deal with possible risks and plan for regular inspections to be carried out. The Knowledge programme takes you step by step through the process simply and clearly and explains how, once this is complete, you move to select your equipment.

Equipment selection

While it may seem obvious, preventing a fall is the best route to safe working and this has a lot to do with the equipment used. In fact, the Work at Height Regulations set legal requirements for the safe selection of equipment for work at height and a great deal of evidence points to the fact that well designed and installed equipment, coupled with fall prevention equipment saves lives.

Specifically, the Regulations require that collective protection is given priority over personal protection and equipment that prevents falls from height must be given priority over equipment that arrests falls. The Knowledge leads delegates through the types of equipment available and explains how to determine the most suitable product via the hierarchy method.

Maintaining and inspecting equipment

Once you have a piece of access equipment ensuring that the product remains 'fit for purpose' is almost as important as selection for the purpose. Also, being able to identify when a product is no longer safe to use (either via wear and tear or by being damaged), via hands-on practicals, the Knowledge course installs the delegate with the skills to examine products.

In addition to the topics mentioned, the course concentrates on: an overview of the Work at Height Regulations, including the hierarchy; training on the correct selection of products; Training on equipment inspection; advice on how to complete a risk assessment form, including relating this to case studies; practical equipment inspection; question and answer session; and a written exam. Knowledge is designed to be on-going and to help participants develop their advice and guidance skills Youngman has produced a suite of Support Tools for post-course reference. These are provided free to all successful delegates.

Launched in January this year, the Knowledge received a lot of interest at the recent Safety and Health show with more than 100 safety officers signing up to attend the course. Lord Hunt, Minister with responsibility for health and safety issues, congratulated Youngman on making a major contribution to the understanding of these new laws via this programme.