Health and Safety Executive

Health and Safety Executive

Working at Height

Phill Leonard

Health and Safety Executive

Fall from height statistics

• 2008/09 – 35 Fatal accidents– Over 4500 major injuries– Over 7000 3+ day injuries

• 09/10 39 Fatal accidents

Work at Height Regulations 2005

• Hierarchy: Avoid > Prevent > Minimise

• Select appropriate work at height equipment

– Collective over personal

• Risk assess

Avoid

Avoid > Prevent (collective) >

Avoid > Prevent (collective) > Prevent (personal) >

Plan and side view of personal fall-restraint system from BS 8437:2005

Nets

Air bags

Avoid > Prevent (collective) > Prevent (personal) > Minimise (collective) >

Avoid > Prevent (collective) > Prevent (personal) > Minimise (collective) > Minimise (personal)

Fall Arrest

Work Positioning

Select the right work equipment

• Working conditions

• Access and Egress

• Distance and consequences of a fall

• Duration and frequency of use/task

• Ease of rescue/evacuation

• Risk of use, installation and removal of equipment

Selection - ladders

Health and Safety Executive

Health and Safety Executive

Inspection and maintenance

Health and Safety Executive

Health and Safety Executive

Harness = Yes

Lanyard = Yes

Clipped on = No!

Summary

• Hierarchy: Avoid > Prevent > Minimise

• Select appropriate work at height equipment– Collective over personal

• Risk assess

Don’t be one of the statistics

Thanks

• HSE Infoline 0845 345 0055

• www.hse.gov.uk

• www.rail-reg.gov.uk

• phill.leonard@hse.gsi.gov.uk