Working at Height

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 came into force on 6 April 2005. Working at height is defined as "work in any place, including a place at or below ground level, or obtaining access to or egress from such a place, while at work, except by a staircase where, if suitable measures were not taken, a person could fall a distance likely to cause personal injury".

Where work at height is required a risk assessment must be completed in order to identify the risk control measures required. Our risk assessment process takes into consideration the hierarchy of control for work at height as set out within the Work at Height Regulations and those in control of any work at height activity must make sure work is properly planned, supervised and carried out by competent people in a manner which is so far as is reasonably practicable safe.

Only use ladders and step ladders for work at height where the low risk and short duration makes this acceptable and where the nature of the work enables three points of contact to be maintained throughout.

The University has produced a Working at Height Procedure which provides more information.

 

Working at Height Equipment

All working at height equipment must be suitable for the purpose for which it is being used and comply with the requirements of the Regulations:

Schedule 2 Requirements for guard-rails, toe-boards, barriers and similar collective means of protection

Schedule 3 Requirements for working platforms

Schedule 4 Requirements for collective safeguards for arresting falls

Schedule 5 Requirements for personal fall protection systems

Schedule 6 Requirements for ladders

 

Maintenance of Working at Height Equipment

All working at height equipment must be inspected regularly by a competent person and inspections recorded locally by the department. Please use the following documents: Main Points to Look for When Inspecting Working at Height Equipment and Working at Height Equipment Register and Inspection Form.

 

Further Resources

http://www.hse.gov.uk/work-at-height/index.htm

 

TRAINING

All staff and students who use working at height equipment must have received suitable and sufficient training to enable them to use the equipment safety, not endangering themselves or others.

Email hsservicedesk@port.ac.uk if you have any queries or require further information.