The majority of falls from height result in dangerous and serious injuries every year.
Generally, if a worker falls from a height which is above two metres there is a seriously likelihood that they WILL sustain a serious injury.
Many working environments involve working from height and generally the use of ladders, scaffolding and platforms.
Workers may find themselves exposed to dangerous scenarios when working on a roof, working over tanks and pits, at the edge of elevated structures, or on top of vehicles or trailers.
General Health and Safety Legislation covers all employers and workplaces.
There are some general requirements contained in other regulations relating to working at height.
The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
This legislation covers every area of the workplace. This ensures employers take every needed precaution and ensure that:
“..all areas where people could fall from a height are properly guarded or covered.”
Scaffold Safety – The Work at Height Regulations 2005 Act
The imperative point to consider regarding these regulations is to encourage the avoidance of working at height where possible and where it cannot be avoided to “use the best practicable means of ensuring the safety of those working at height.”
For more information regarding this please see please see The UK Government’s The Work at Height Regulations 2005 – UK Government.
What type of training is required to manage scaffold safety and to what height am I allowed to go?
“Anyone erecting scaffolding should be competent (or in the case of trainees, supervised by a competent person) for the type of scaffolding work which they are carrying out.”
Workers or employees MUST have had the correct training for the particular form of scaffolding which they are working on.
What does my business need to consider?
Any scaffolding which is over five metres must be erected, changed or taken down under direct supervision of a worker which has received a certificate of competency.
By doing so, falls from height are prevented.
In addition, to follow law, a scaffold register MUST be kept on site for regular inspection.
Scaffolding Safety & Protective Equipment / Devices
Scaffolder’s need to wear the following minimum safety equipment at all times whilst working on site:
- Safety helmet
- Safety footwear
- High visibility vest
- Gloves
- Fall arrest harness with rear dorsal ring, a fall arrest lanyard and 55mm
It is also advised to implement the following scaffolding safety measures:
Do l need a rescue / scaffolding safety plan when working from height?
Emergency procedures need to be carefully considered for reasonably foreseeable circumstances, such as stuck access equipment or rescue following a deployed fall arrest.
The strategy used must be proportioned to the risk involved.
There should never be a reliance on the emergency services.
The method of rescue may be simple, for example, putting a ladder up to a net and allowing the fallen person to descend, or pulling a worker hanging on a deployed lanyard onto the surface below.
Obviously, anyone involved in a rescue must be properly trained in the correct procedures and learn how to use the equipment required.
How often does scaffolding need to be inspected?
A scaffold system, such as cuplock scaffolding or kwikstage scaffolding, should be inspected prior to it being used for the first time and then, thereafter, every seven days, until it is removed.
Scaffolding systems should also be inspected each time it is exposed to conditions likely to cause deterioration, for example, following bad weather conditions or following substantial changes.
Other scaffolding safety measures to consider
The HSE Act does not specify heights, however, the selection of the most appropriate access equipment for a particular task is a requirement of the law
This act stipulates that workers also have a responsibility and duty, where working at height cannot be avoided, to take all reasonable steps to prevent any harm that would result from a fall. Common examples
Safety measures such as work platforms and towers do offer protection from a fall occurring.
Ladders and step ladders do not offer fall protection, so these measures should be the last form of work access equipment to be used.
You should only use regulated scaffolding companies to erect your scaffold. Please remember that using second hand scaffolding is advised against and can cause serious consequences.
For more information please see this article.
Note: For further information on scaffolding safety please visit National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) – http://www.nasc.org.uk/
Alternatively, see the video below:
Responsibilities & duties of workers
Every worker must, where working under the control of another person, report to that person any activity or defect relating to work at height which is likely to endanger the safety of themselves or other persons.
Every person must use any work equipment or scaffolding safety measures provided for work at height “by their employer, or by a person under whose control they work, in accordance with any training in the use of the work equipment or device concerned”.
Scaffolding Safety Advice
If you would like further information regarding scaffolding for sale, scaffolding supplies any of our scaffolding safety products please contact St Helen’s Plant Ltd. on 01744 850 300 or e-mail [email protected]
