Work at Height Regulations 2005 Due 6th April
Following two periods of consultation, the Work at Height Regulations
2005 have been laid before Parliament and will come into force on
6th April 2005.
One of the most immediate changes brought about by this law will
be some very specific requirements aimed at the reduction of accidents
resulting from the use of ladders and steps (contained in schedule
5 of the regulation). Kingfisher access has already produced a revised
Ladders and Steps course which contains information about the
new requirements under the WAHR. The course includes a document
set on CD ROM aimed at simplifying the Risk Assessment and Inspection
requirements contained in the new law. An additional 'hands-on'
session can be added covering risk assessment and ladder inspection
using the Ladder Safety Document Set.
Elizabeth Gibby, Head of the Health and Safety Executive's
(HSE's) Injuries Reduction Programme, said:
"In 2003/4 falls from height accounted for 67 fatal accidents
at work and nearly 4,000 major injuries. They remain the single
biggest cause of workplace deaths and one of the biggest causes
of major injury. Preventing falls from height is a central
part of HSE's Injuries Reduction Programme and these Regulations
will provide the cornerstone for this programme to improve
standards for work at height and thereby reduce deaths and
injuries.
These Regulations set out a simple hierarchy for managing
and selecting equipment for work at height. 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
- 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
The Regulations cover a wide range of industries and activities
but we have developed some simple messages which we want to
communicate to all industries. Our key messages are:
- Those following good practice for work at
height now should already be doing enough to comply with
these Regulations
- Follow the risk assessments you have carried
out for work at height activities and make sure all work
at height is planned, organised and carried out by competent
persons
- 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 prevent falls (such as guardrails
and working platforms) before other measures which may only
mitigate the distance and consequences of a fall (such as
nets or airbags) or which may only provide personal protection
from a fall"
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The implications of this new law are not limited to ladders however,
and both IPAF and PASMA are currently working on revised courses,
guidance and working practices designed to take the detailed requirements
of this important new law into account.
Date: 24th March 2005 |
