Working at Height

Regulations 2005
• Statistics 2003 / 2004 (HSE)

• 67 Fatalities

• 3,884 major injuries (2/3 of which were falls from

below 2 metres
 Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
Key Messages

• Those following good practice for work at height now,

should already be doing enough to comply with WAHR

• Those who plan and organise work at height and follow

risk assessments will generally already be compliant with
WAHR

• Those choosing the right equipment for the job will

already comply with WAHR
2005 Working at Height Regulations

• All work at height is covered regardless of what

height it is performed at
• Precautions need to be taken where there is a
risk of injury
• Use risk assessment to decide whether
precautions are needed and in what form
• Precautions are ‘expected’ with work above ‘2
metres’, but also assess risks from falls below
this height and take sensible precautions which
reflect the risk
 Key Requirements

– Organise and plan work at height

– Ensure staff are competent
– Avoid risk from work at height
– Select suitable work equipment to perform work at
height
– Avoid work on fragile surfaces
– Ensure work equipment is inspected
– Prevent any person falling a distance liable to cause
personal injury
Common Myths
HSE have banned the use of ladders on
building sites

No, this isn’t the case. Ladders and

stepladders can be a sensible and practical
option. They can be used for work at height
when the use of other work equipment is
not justified because of the low risk and
short duration (short duration means
working on a ladder for no more than 30
minutes at a time); or when there are
existing workplace or site features which
cannot be altered.
You need to be formally ‘qualified’
before using a ladder at work

No, you do not. You need to be

competent. This means having the
necessary skills, knowledge and
experience to use a ladder properly for
the work you will carry out, or, if you are
being trained, you work under the
supervision of somebody who can perform
the task competently. Training often takes
place on the job and does not always have
to take place in a classroom. What matters
is that an individual can apply what they
have learned in the workplace.
I am working at height if I’m walking up
and down a staircase at work

No, you are not. Work at height does not

include walking up and down a permanent
staircase in a building.
You need to have two feet and one hand
on a stepladder at all times when
carrying out a task

No, this isn’t true. When you need to have

both hands free for a brief period to do a
job using a stepladder (eg putting a box on
a shelf, hanging wallpaper, installing a
smoke detector on a ceiling) you need to
maintain three points of contact at the
working position. This is not just two feet
and one hand, it can be two feet and your
body (use your knees or chest to help with
stability) supported by the stepladder.
Ensure a handhold is available to steady
yourself before and after.
HSE has banned the use of ladders to
access scaffolds and you will be fined if
you ignore this ban

No, this isn’t true. Ladders can be used for

access as long as they are of the right type
(ie a suitable grade of industrial ladder), in
good condition and effectively secured
(tied) to prevent movement. You should
ensure they extend at least one metre
above the landing point to allow for a
secure handhold when stepping off
 Risk Assessment Exercise
• Retrieving balls from a flat roof

• Gutter cleaning

• Maintenance work indoors using a step ladder

• Changing light fittings in an office / corridor

• Mounting work on a wall display

 Ladders

Toolbox Talks
 Ladders

Questions and Answers

Q: The surface beneath a ladder should be:

A: Firm, level, clear, dry, not slippery.

Q: How many points of contact should there be with the ladder?

A: Three.
If you are not sure that it is safe to use a ladder speak to your
supervisor or the safety representative.
Disclaimer
Toolbox Talks are provided by Barbour for general guidance on matters of interest. In making these documents available to a general and diverse audience it is not possible to anticipate the
requirements or the hazards of any particular subscriber's business. Users are therefore advised to carefully evaluate the contents and adapt the Toolbox Talks to suit the requirements of each
situation or activity. Barbour does not accept any liability whatsoever for injury, damage or other losses which may arise from reliance on this information and the use of these documents.
Copyright of these documents remains with Barbour and whilst subscribers are permitted to make use of them for their own purposes, permission is not granted for resale of the intellectual
property to third parties.

Revised: 2010
 Ladders

Legislation and resources

• Work at Height Regulations 2005

• The Work at Height (Amendment) Regulations 2007

• INDG401: The Work at Height Regulations

• INDG402: Safe Use of Ladders and Stepladders

• INDG405: Top Tips for Ladder and Stepladder Safety.

 Ladders

In use:

• only work on a ladder for a maximum of 15 - 30 minutes at a time

• only carry light materials and tools (up to 10 kg)

• always grip the ladder when climbing

• do not overreach - make sure your belt buckle (navel) stays within the stiles

• keep both feet on the same rung or step throughout the task

• do not work off the top three rungs - this provides a handhold

• try to keep three points of contact with the ladder.

 Ladders

A leaning ladder in a good position: Always

consider:
position
• is at an angle of 75° - condition
competency
one unit out for every four units up
• stands on a surface that is:
firm
level
clear
dry 75 °
not slippery
• will not move at the bottom or top
• rests on a strong upper resting point (not plastic guttering or
a window)
• has horizontal rungs (use a spirit level).
 Ladders

A leaning ladder in good condition has:

• both feet firmly attached and with a good tread

• clean rungs

• undamaged stiles (the side pieces that the rungs are

attached to)

• secure fastenings when it is extended.

 Ladders

INTRODUCTION

Before using a ladder, consider the following:

• are you fit to work at height?

• the condition of the ladder

• the position of the ladder.

 Reference

Working at height guidance available from

RMBC Intranet and RGFL.