They consolidate previous legislation on working at height and implement European Council Directive 2001/45/EC known as the Temporary Work at Height Directive (TWAHD).
The regulations apply to all work at height where there is a risk of a fall liable to cause personal injury. They place duties on employers, the self-employed, and any person that controls the work of others, to the extent of their control (for example facilities managers or building owners who may contract others to work at height). (They do not apply to the provision of instruction or leadership in caving or climbing by way of sport, recreation, team building or similar activities.)
The 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 from work at height are assessed and appropriate work equipment is selected and used
- the risks from fragile surfaces are properly controlled, and
- equipment for work at height is properly inspected and maintained.
They include schedules with requirements for existing places of work and means of access for work at height, collective fall prevention (e.g. guardrails and working platforms), collective fall arrest (e.g. nets, airbags etc), personal fall protection (e.g. work restraints, fall arrest and rope access) and ladders. According to HSE, in 2003/4, falls from height accounted for 67 fatal accidents at work and nearly 4,000 major injuries.
HSE's messages to those responsible in the industry sectors and activities covered 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; and
- 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."
HSE has published a simple guide to the Regulations: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ indg401.pdf as well as a Q&A guide for the construction industry: www.hse.gov.uk/construction/ pdf/fallsqa.pdf. Both are also available from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA, tel: 01787 881165 or fax: 01787 313995.
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 (SI 2005 No 735) are available on the HMSO website: www.hmso.gov.uk/si/ si2005/20050735.htm. Printed copies of the regulations are published by The Stationery Office Ltd (TSO). For further details, please contact TSO, tel: 0870 6005522; fax: 0870 600 5533; email cust