Weekly Toolbox Talk

Topic: WORK AT HEIGHT

If you often work at height, you'll know that taking safety seriously is an important
priority. Working at height is the leading cause of
injuries and fatalities in the construction industry
and this is no surprise with workers commonly
working on rooftops, ladders, and fragile
surfaces. The HSE (Health and Safety Executives)
are fully aware of the risk involved with such tasks
and have put a number of regulations that must be
adhered to in order to ensure safety when working
at height.

What is classed as working at height?

Working at height is when an individual is working at a height that could cause injury if
said individual fell from that height. This is the case even if the drop is below ground
level. Common examples of working at height involve work that is carried out upon
roofs, scaffolding, ladders or any ledge above ground level.

This does not include going up and down on permanent staircases in a building or trips
and falls on one level. A fall from height must involve falling from one level to another
level. 

What does an employer have to do to comply with working at height

regulations?

There are a number of regulations that apply to working at height, many of which are
concern how an employer is responsible (to a reasonable extent) for their employee's
safety when working at height. If you control any work that will take place at height
because you are a building owner or facility manager meaning that you are contracting
people to do such jobs, you must ensure the following things: 

 Avoid setting jobs that involve working at a dangerous height when possible
 Do what you can to minimize the distance and consequences of a fall
 Use equipment which prevents falls (Harnesses, etc)

Employers who are planning the work must be sure to:

 Ensure that employees are instructed and trained to work at height

 Ensure the work is planned, organized and supervised at all times
 The risks from fragile surfaces have been properly controlled
 Take weather conditions into account each time working at height needs to be
done
 Check that all equipment for working at height is checked and inspected
 Check the place where working at height take will take place is safe
 Take care to take any precautions that minimize the risk of falling objects