Occupational health and safety have come a long way since the first piece of legislation was passed over 200 years ago. While fairly rudimentary in today’s standards and poorly enforced, it set into motion a culture of care and ethical responsibility that, over the course of centuries, morphed into the standards we’re more familiar with. Skip forward to 2005 and we hit another landmark with the Working At Height Regulations, the legislation designed to reduce work-related falls from height, which constitute the most fatal accident for workers across numerous industries.
Given the serious nature of this issue, employers, staff and site managers/owners should go above and beyond the legislation by taking all reasonable steps to reduce the risk of such accidents. Hence why we’re sharing our knowledge. By the end of this article, you will be well-versed on the Working At Height Regulations (WAHR), including what they mean for your organisation and the responsibilities outlined for anyone working under the scope of this law.
Here’s a sneak peek of everything this guide will discuss:
- The 2005 Working At Height Regulations At A Glance
- Your Legal Obligations
- Understanding The Dangers Of Working At Height
- How To Reduce The Risk On Your Site
- The Bottom Line of Working At Height Legislation
The 2005 Working At Height Regulations At A Glance
We understand that sifting through health and safety legislation can be a headache, especially when you end up trawling through legalese – but despite this – it’s important that you keep up to date with industry standards and your legal obligations. To make this easier, we’ve provided you with a simple breakdown.
What Is It?
The Working At Height Regulations are a vital piece of legislation, designed to protect workers who are at risk of falling while working at height, thereby reducing the number of injuries and fatalities in the workplace.
The regulations apply to all industries, covering everything from warehouse staff to construction workers, anyone who regularly works on platforms, ladders, scaffolds, or even the roof of a building (think roofers and solar panel installers).
At its core, the legislation outlines how employers must assess risks, implement protective measures and provide the necessary training to ensure staff can perform their tasks successfully and, more importantly, safely. This could mean anything from choosing the right equipment, ensuring safe access to elevated areas, to regularly inspecting tools and machinery.
Who Does It Apply To?
The scope of WAHR is fairly broad when it comes to those it applies to. Employers and, indeed, anyone who is in control of the work can fall under its remit. This means that site owners, facility managers and contractors are deemed legally responsible.
When Does It Apply?
To a newcomer, the term “work at height” can feel quite vague, so allow us to clear things up. Exactly at what height do the 2005 Work At Height Regulations apply?
Sorry to do this to you, but that was a trick question. The legislation doesn’t specify a minimum height to which it applies; however, the Health & Safety Executive does share this helpful definition. Work at height refers to…
“…Work in any place where, if there were no precautions in place, a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury.”
This means that the following scenarios fall under this category:
- Work on ladders or a flat roof
- Work above a deep excavation
- Work involving lifting and stacking items at height, using handling equipment such as pallet trucks or stackers
- Scenarios wherein workers could fall through a fragile surface
- Scenarios wherein workers could slip into an opening in the floor or hole in the ground.
Your Legal Obligations
We’ve already explored the what, the who and the when, but now it’s time to think about the how. Because your legal responsibilities are slightly different, whether you’re a regular employee as opposed to someone more senior, we’ve broken them into two different sections.
For Employers & Site Managers/Owners
As an employer or site manager/owner, you have several key obligations under WAHR. Firstly, you’re required to avoid working at height wherever reasonably possible. So, if you can carry out tasks at ground level instead, that should be your first port of call.
If work at height is necessary, that is, your operations demand it and there are absolutely no alternatives, you must make sure it’s as safe as possible by:
- Preventing falls via the use of safe working platforms or appropriate fall protection.
- Minimising the distance a worker could fall and the impact of a fall (using guardrails or harnesses is a great example).
- Ensuring that proper safety equipment is available and in good working order.
Regularly carrying out risk assessments and conducting safety checks are vital parts of maintaining a safe environment. You should also ensure that all workers are adequately trained and know how to handle equipment such as mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs) safely, and that when they are being trained, they are under supervision.
For Employees
Employees also have a legal duty to stay safe while working at height, and part of this falls under the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974, due to which they are obliged to:
- Take reasonable care for their own health and safety, as well as the health and safety of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions at work.
- Cooperate with their employer and others to ensure that health and safety duties are met and statutory requirements are complied with.
Other crucial considerations include using equipment carefully, as trained, and then reporting any issues or faults with equipment when they crop up. After all, remember that while employers have the responsibility of keeping staff safe, individual actions also play a role in preventing accidents.
Understanding The Dangers Of Working At Height
As unpleasant as it is to say, the risks associated with working at height are serious and can be life-threatening. The HSE statistics on fatal workplace accidents show that, although there is an overall downward trend in deaths, falls from height account for a significant portion of fatalities each year. These can occur in a variety of scenarios, whether workers are using ladders, mobile elevated work platforms, or even just reaching for items stored at height.
Besides from the obvious physical dangers of falling, accidents involving height can lead to financial consequences, damage to a company’s reputation and, of course, a massive blow to employee morale, mental health and productivity. It goes without saying that, in more hazardous workplace environments, everyone who sets foot on the premises should take the risks seriously to protect both people and the business.
How To Reduce The Risk On Your Site
Now you have a better understanding of the consequences of a fall from height, let’s discuss ways you can prevent them. This begins with a risk assessment. Remember, though, while there are some universal steps to mitigate harm that can be implemented across industries, many of the related hazards are situational, so do ensure that you tailor your checks to your unique circumstances rather than using a template.
Universal Tips
There are a few universal strategies for reducing the risks of working at height, which are laid out in the Working At Height Legislation guidance from the HSE. These can be applied to any situation where there’s a fall risk, from simple tasks to more complex operations involving heavy machinery.
The first step, as you might recall, is to avoid work at height whenever possible. This could mean redesigning a process so that tasks can be carried out at ground level, or at least, significantly lower. If it’s unavoidable, then you should prevent falls (of both people and objects) by using proper safety equipment and barriers – for instance, upgrading your electric order picker to a newer model or investing in better PPE. When falls can’t be eliminated, it’s important to minimise both the distance and consequences of a fall, and, of course, have an emergency action plan in place in the unfortunate case of an injury.
Ladders & Stepladders
Ladders and stepladders are often used for short-term work at height, but like any piece of equipment, they come with risks if used incorrectly. As a starting point, make sure that they’re in good condition and placed on stable ground before use; and once in place, remember to follow industry best practices.
If you’re a bit rusty on the specifics, we recommend reading up on the HSE’s guidelines on safe ladder use – it’ll help clarify the details to ensure you and your team stays safe.
Mobile Elevated Work Platforms
For tasks requiring significant height, MEWPs are often the go-to equipment. This also means that they should be a major consideration when fulfilling your duties under the 2005 Working At Height Legislation. Including aerial work platforms, electric lift tables and scissor lifts, this equipment allows workers to access elevated areas safely, but only when used properly.
Always follow best practices for MEWP safety; considering whether you have the appropriate model for the job, a level and unobstructed ground surface for operation and that only trained, competent and fit operators are using the equipment. On top of these core elements, you may wish to rethink the traffic flow of the area and implement additional signage to reduce the risk of collisions.
Manual Handling Tasks
Picking items from shelves or elevated spaces is another scenario where height-related risks can occur, from items dropping down from above to employees falling whilst stacking tall inventory. Whether you’re using stackers, pallet trucks or other equipment, proper handling is key. Always ensure that your machinery is well-maintained and consider implementing lifting aids or upgrading your equipment to reduce manual handling risks. You might not realise it, but the combination of the right gear and the latest training can make a world of difference for injuries and muscle strain.
Scaffolding
When working at height over a longer period, scaffolding may be necessary. Just like MEWPs, scaffolds must be properly constructed, regularly inspected and maintained to prevent accidents.
First and foremost, the structure should only be erected and dismantled by trained personnel, which guarantees a specified level of security and expertise. Alongside measures to stabilise the scaffolding, to further minimise the danger of falls, there are many additional safety measures that can be fitted such as guardrails and toeboards.
The Bottom Line on Working At Height Legislation
Whether you work one metre above the ground or fifty, the same duty of care is required to ensure everyone on site remains safe. This means committing the details of the 2005 Working At Height Regulations to memory and baking its suggestions into your daily practice and workplace policy, so they’re not just tasks to tick off a list but concrete habits. Of course, each business is different, but by maintaining clear communication, conducting regular risk assessments and embracing innovations with the highest quality equipment, risks can be kept to a minimum.
Eager to learn more about how the right handling aids and equipment can make your operations safer day-to-day? The team at Pallet Truck Shop are happy to discuss your options via email or phone. Alternatively, you can browse the rest of our guides over on our blog for more industry insights.