Heightened awareness
August 1st 2006 All those who work at height, or manage others who work at height, need to be aware of their health and safety responsibilities, especially with the emphasis now on a risk-assessed approach.
Paul Barker of Bacou-Dalloz, explains Since the introduction of the latest Work at Height Regulations in April 2005, the issue of falls from height remains a priority, particularly for the construction industry where falls from height through roofs and roof lights, or from scaffolding and ladders, are the most common cause of fatal injury. However, working at height legislation affects other professions, as well as property managers who are responsible for the safety of people working in buildings managed by them.
To help employers and employees understand and comply with the Work at Height Regulations, the HSE has issued these key messages: Those following good practice for work at height previously will normally be doing enough to comply with the 2005 Regulations Follow the risk assessments carried out for work at height activities and make sure this work is planned, organised and carried out by competent people Follow the hierarchy for managing risks from work at height take steps to avoid, prevent or reduce risks Choose the right work equipment and select collective measures to a) prevent falls; b) mitigate the distance and consequences of any fall; c) provide personal protective equipment to prevent a fall.
Plan ahead
All work at height needs to be planned in advance and risk-assessed by the health and safety team. This includes selection of equipment and rescue procedures should a fall occur.
However, the emphasis of the 2005 regulations is, wherever possible, to prevent falls from happening. This can be done through the use of working platforms with guardrails or access equipment (cherry pickers, mast climbers and so on) and PPE such as work restraint systems and personal fall arrest systems, including: harnesses, scaffolding lanyards, self-retracting lifelines, and fall limiters.
Some of the most recent innovations in PPE product development have been in the use of lanyards and lifelines, where previously wearers were still subject to considerable fall arrest forces if they did fall.
Super-lightweight yet robust, selfretracting lifelines (SRLs) are available thanks to the use of stainless steel housings and aluminium components. New blocks that can be used horizontally with no anchorage points above the user have been introduced, together with quick activating braking systems that stop a fall within centimetres, minimising fall arrest forces on the wearer.
The HSE also specifies that as part of the work at height risk assessment procedure use of PPE should be supervised and regularly inspected for signs of wear and tear or damage.
Below is the HSE's summary of steps that should be taken before working at height:
- Check that there is a safe method of getting to and from the work area. Decide what particular equipment will be suitable for the job and the conditions on site.
- Make sure work platforms and any edges from which people are likely to fall have guardrails, toe boards or other barriers.
- Make sure that the equipment needed is delivered to site in good time and the site is prepared for it.
- Check equipment is in good condition.
- Make sure whoever assembles the equipment is trained and competent.
- Make sure those who are using the equipment are supervised and can use it properly.
- Check equipment provided by another company to make sure it is safe before it is used on site.
- Tell the appropriate supervisor if any equipment defects need to be remedied or modifications made.
When the use of PPE fall arrest equipment is required, the following rules apply:
- When fall arrest systems are used, a rescue method must be available should the user fall and be left suspended in their harness.
- If fall arrest systems are used, there should be sufficient clearance from the ground to allow the shockabsorbing lanyard or inertia reel to function.
B U L L E T I N Paul Barker is product manager, Miller, for Bacou- Dalloz, the company that manufactures and supplies the Miller fall arrest range. Bacou-Dalloz is organised around three core businesses: head protection, fall protection and body protection. Its aim is to provide men and women with the best possible protection against all types of hazards in the workplace. For more information: Paul Barker Bacou- Dalloz Osborn way Hook Hants RG27 9HX Tel: 01256 693200 Fax: 01256 693300 E: uksales@bacoudalloz.com www.bacou-dalloz.com More articles from Sperian Protection (UK) Ltd: | 
