Falling from height remains the most common cause of workplace injuries. Between April 2021 and March 2022 there were 123 fatalities caused by work at height activities. While it is the employers or owners of a site which are ultimately responsible for ensuring that the Work at Height Regulations 2005 are complied with, the workers also have a responsibility to make sure they are working safely. For the purpose of improving work at height safety knowledge, here are our top five most frequently asked questions regarding work at height activities.
1. How often should PPE be inspected?
According to the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER), amongst others, systems must be inspected and officially certified by a competent person every 6 months.
HFR Solutions ensure pre-use checks are done on each course by both the course participant and their peers as before use is a requirement under Lifting Operations & Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER).
2. Am I able to use both hands to perform a task when working at height?
You can use work position lanyards as fall arrest lanyards to enable hands free operations.
3. What qualifications are needed to work at height?
As part of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, you must ensure that those involved in work at height activities are competent at the level they will be expected to work at. The Regulations apply to all work at height, where there is risk of a fall. Employees have general legal duties to take reasonable care of themselves and others who may be affected by their actions, and to co-operate with their employer to enable their health and safety duties and requirements to be complied with.
4. At what height do you need fall protection?
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 have no minimum height requirement for work at height.
5. Who rescues personnel that have fallen from height?
You must plan work at height activities, which includes planning for emergencies and rescue. You must set procedures for evacuation and think about foreseeable situations. Make sure employees know the emergency procedures and rescue plans for your site. Don’t just rely entirely on the emergency services for rescue in your plan.
It's important that your rescue plan is suitable, sufficient, and effective so those that need to be rescued can be quickly and safely recovered without putting anybody else at risk. HFR Solutions are able to train your personnel to become competent and be able to take part in rescue operations.
Our Emergency Rescue Team will examine your rescue plans and assess whether the level of risk changes as a project develops. This will test if your organisation holds the competency levels to execute all phases of the rescue plan.
Contact us today to discuss your training needs and rescue plans.
We can help you to comply with the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
HFR Solutions offer numerous Working at Height courses for personnel at all levels. Understand the risks and hazards of working at height and obtain the specialist skills to deploy best practice methods for safely working at height. Learn how to select appropriate work at height equipment and perform periodic inspections of PPE.
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