Working at Height

Falls are a significant cause of workplace deaths and one of the most common causes of major injuries, but falls can be prevented by careful management of work at height.

Nature of the Problem

All industry sectors are exposed to the risks presented by work at height although the incidence varies considerably.

There are two main categories of fall:

• High falls (over 2m) mainly from ladders and roofs which occur most frequently in Agriculture and Construction

• Low falls (less than 2m and not including slips or trips at ground level) mainly from ladders and scaffolds which are more common in the Manufacturing and Service sectors.

Common Factors

Most accidents involving falls could have been prevented if the right equipment had been provided, if it had been adequately maintained and was properly used. But experience shows that as many falls arise due to poor management as are caused by equipment failure.

Key faults include a failure:

• to recognise a problem

• to ensure that safe systems of work are followed

• to provide safe systems of work

• to supply adequate information, instruction, training or supervision provided

• to ensure use equipment supplied

• to provide safe plant/equipment.

However, the best approach is to eliminate work at height if possible.

Causes

The main causes of falls are:

• Ladders

• Scaffolding

• Work area/platform

• Vehicles

• Roof edge

• Stairs

• Fragile roofs

• Gangways/catwalks.

The most common incidents involve overreaching, over-balancing, equipment failure, misuse of equipment, unexpected movement (particularly where ladders are involved) and the failure of a fragile surface.

Legal Requirements

The legal requirements governing work at height are:

• Work at height be avoided where possible

• All work at height is properly planned and organised;

• Those involved in work at height are competent;

• The risks from working at height are assessed and appropriate work equipment is selected and used;

• The risks from working on fragile surfaces are properly controlled; and

• Equipment for work at height is properly inspected and maintained.

The Regulations include Schedules that highlight requirements for existing places of work, and means of access for work at height, collective fall prevention (e.g. guardrails, working platforms), collective fall arrest (e.g. nets, airbags etc), personal fall protection (e.g. work restraints, lanyards) and ladders.

Duty holders must:

• Avoid work at height where they can;

• Use work equipment or other measures to prevent falls where they cannot avoid working at height; and

• Where they cannot eliminate the risk of a fall, use work equipment or other measures to minimise the distance and consequences of a fall should one occur.

When working at height the safest and most appropriate working platform must be used. When making the decision what equipment to use, you must look at what the job requires, how long will it last and where it needs to be done.

It is not illegal to use a ladder to work at height but other means of access such as fixed scaffold, tower scaffold or mobile elevated working platforms should be considered, before relying on ladders.

If you are considering using a ladder you must make sure that:

• The work is of short duration and involves only light work

• Three points of contact can be maintained at all times

• The work only requires one hand to be used

• The work can be reached without stretching

• The ladder can be fixed to prevent slipping

• A good handhold is available

• The ladder is safe to use and has been regularly inspected

When using a mobile elevated working platform is selected then you must ensure the following:

• Only a suitably trained and competent person operates the platform

• That fall arrest equipment is provided and used by the person or persons inside the platform

• No one in the platform will climb out over the guard rails unless the platform is specifically designed to allow this

• All hand tools are secured to the platform with safety ropes to prevent them falling should they be dropped

• A suitable means of decent from the platform is provided in case of an emergency

• Maintenance and test records (dated within the last 6 months) of the equipment are available for inspection.

When using a mobile scaffolding tower is selected then you must ensure the following:

• It has been erected by a suitably trained and competent individual

• The relevant components show no signs of rust or damage

• A suitable means of access is provided inside the tower

• Toe boards and guard rails are provided at the suitable heights (Toe board 150mm, intermediate guard rail 470mm and the top guard rail 950mm)

• That weather and ground conditions are properly considered as these may adversely affect the stability of the tower and also it suitability for the task

• Manufacturers guidelines are followed in relation to the height to base width ratio

• That an inspection regime is in place to ensure the tower remains safe at all times

If fixed scaffolding is selected then you must ensure the following:

• That it has been designed, erected, altered and dismantled by a competent person or the work is supervised by a competent person

• It is only erected on a firm level foundation that is capable of taking the load of the scaffold

• It is braced and tied to a permanent structure or otherwise stabilised

• If it is to be loaded then it must be appropriately altered to withstand the extra weight

• That platforms are fully boarded and wide enough for work and access

• That scaffold boards are properly supported and do not over hang excessively i.e. More than four times its thickness

• That there is a safe ladder or other means of access to the platform. If a ladder is used it must be tied off and extend at least one metre above the platform to provide a safe handhold

• It is regularly inspected and formal detailed inspections are made at least every 7 days or sooner if something occurs that may have affected its strength and/or stability.

Overview

Consider whether there are other, safer ways of doing the job. Can work at height be avoided?

Ensure that you have fully considered all of the ways in which you or your employees could be at risk of falling.

Don't underestimate the risks involved.

Simply 'taking care' is not enough. Proper precautions must be in place.

Don't start work at height until you have properly planned the work and assessed and controlled the risks involved.

Decide what equipment is required for the job. Ideally precautions should be designed to prevent a fall, for example using guard rails at a roof edge or crawling boards on a fragile roof. For some jobs it may be appropriate to use fall arrest equipment such as a safety harness and lanyard.

If you have not got the appropriate equipment then get it. Don't take a chance with a ladder if what you should be using is a tower scaffold. Making do without the right equipment to speed up the work or minimise expense can lead to injury or death, as well as prosecution if the law is broken.

Ensure that there are no defects in any equipment that you use.

Make sure that equipment is used safely and that any necessary training or supervision is provided.