Work at Height
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require employers 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.
These Regulations set out a simple hierarchy for managing and selecting equipment for work at height. Employers must:
- avoid work at height where they can;
- use work equipment or other measures to prevent falls where they cannot avoid working at height; and
- 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.
Ladder safety
Falls are the main cause of fatal injuries and one of the main causes of major injuries in the workplace. Falls from ladders account for around a third of the major injuries. There is evidence of increased awareness of the risks associated with work at height following the introduction of the Work at Height Regulations and the campaigns and awareness work conducted to date. However there is also evidence that the number of fatal and major injuries from falls is increasing.