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Working at Height
Regulations
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) defines work at height as any piece of work
done at any such place where the absence of any precautions could make a person
fall a distance liable to cause personal injury. A person is said to be working at
height if he/she:
A person is not said to be working at height is he/she slips or trips on the same level
or walking up and down a permanent staircase in a building. The fall has to be from
a higher level to a lower level.
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 enlists a set of specific guidelines that aim to
avert death and injury caused due to a fall from height. These guidelines have been
setup specifically for the employers who either employ people to work at height or
control the same. For instance, facilities managers or building owners who hire
people on contract to work at height.
It is the utmost responsibility of the employers and those managing the manpower to
make sure that any work that is being carried out at height is well-planned,
supervised and executed by competent people. This also includes making use of the
right type of equipment for working at height.
Meeting this requirement demands one to work as much as possible from the ground
using extending tools. These tools can easily replace the use of a ladder, or the need
to lower something to ground level before repairing it. Apart from this, it also
requires one to avoid working on fragile surfaces that are probably enclosed, but still
liable to cause a fall through them.
To avoid falls, one must try and make use of an existing workplace. This should be
done to prevent any falls and later deal with its consequences. One can execute the
required work at such a place where there is no need of any additional protective
equipment as well as there is no risk of falling since preventative measures are
already in place. Common examples include a balcony or on machinery that has
fixed guard rails.
In case, a person is required to work at some other place and requires him/her to
assemble or disassemble the framework, it is best to avoid falls by using the
collective equipment. Making use of as external advance guardrails or collective
protection units can be used to prevent falls and keep everyone safe.
The last way to prevent fall at a job is by using personal protective equipment (PPE).
One of the common equipmentisbelts with short lanyards to restrict the workers
movement. Making use of PPE helps prevent falls completely.
Another way to prevent a fall is by reducing the distance between the person and the
ground. It is important for a person on duty to make sure that the distance is
minimized between him/her and the ground, which, in turn, helps reduce the risk of
fall. Some of the easy ways to do so include placing netting or airbags beneath the
work area, and close to it.
The purpose behind wearing a PPE is to make sure that in case a worker falls, the
distance between their level and the ground level is minimal. For instance, if a
worker is employed at a job location that involves a platform or framework, the
distance is typically mitigated through the use of fall arrest harnesses. However,
thereisstill arisk of causing serious injury and also, these are not much effective at
lower heights.
Moreover, the most important point to remember is that these harnesses are not
suitable for every situation. For example, safety guidelines for tunnel workers
suggest that workers remain unrestrained when working at aheight under these
circumstances.
One can minimize the fatal consequences of fall by using collective equipment such
as netting or airbags. But, the purpose behind using this equipment this time is not to
reduce the distance of fall but to soften the impact.
This level implies to the use of netting or airbags, however, the aim is a bit different.
Their use has been advisednot to reduce the distance of a fall, but to soften its
impact.
The best way to minimize the consequences of a risk is by imparting proper training
and instructions to the workers who are working at height. This refers to educating
workers about the best measures they can take to ensure their safety and prevent
falls.
Employers Responsibilities
As per the regulations, an employer is responsible for the following:
Employees Responsibilities
As per the regulations, an employee working at height must: