The new Work at Height Regulations 2005 came into force on 6 April. Designed to consolidate previous legislation, they implement the European Council Directive 2001/45/EC and will apply to all work at height where there is a risk of a fall liable to cause injury.

The new regulations require duty holders to ensure:

  • all work at height is properly planned and organised;
  • those involved in work at height are competent;
  • the risks are assessed and appropriate equipment is used;
  • the risks from fragile surfaces are properly controlled;
  • equipment for work at height is properly inspected and maintained.

Elizabeth Gibby, head of the HSE injuries reduction programme, said: “In 2003/04 falls from height accounted for 67 fatal accidents at work and nearly 4000 major injuries…These regulations will provide the cornerstone for this programme to improve standards for work at height and so reduce deaths and injuries.”

The regulations set out a hierarchy for managing and selecting equipment for work at height. Duty holders must avoid work at height, wherever possible; use equipment or other measures to prevent falls; and where they can not eliminate the risk of falls, use all means to minimise the distance and consequences should a fall occur. The HSE has published a guide to The Work at Height Regulations 2005 which is available to download free from www.hse.gov.uk.

HSE principal inspector Dave Redman spoke on the introduction of the new regulations at a recent safety day held in Sheffield to highlight safe ways of working at height.

The event was sponsored by MJ Gleeson, Powerminster, Birse, Clugston and Henry Boot.

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor