The document provides an overview of UK regulations for working at height. It defines working at height as any work where a person could fall and risk injury. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 establish guidelines for employers to prevent falls from height and ensure safety. These include assessing risks, having appropriate safety measures like PPE, ensuring workers are competent, and not working on fragile surfaces. A hierarchy of control measures is also outlined, ranging from avoiding working at height to properly training workers. The responsibilities of both employers and employees are defined to maintain a safe working environment.

1. A Complete Guide
to
Working at Height
Regulations

2. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) defines work at height as any piece of work
done at any such place where the absence of any precautions could make a person
fall a distance liable to cause personal injury. A person is said to be working at
height if he/she:
 Works above the ground/floor level.
 Is at a risk of falling from an edge, through an opening or delicate surface.
 Is at a risk of falling from the ground level into a hole in the ground.
A person is not said to be working at height is he/she slips or trips on the same level
or walking up and down a permanent staircase in a building. The fall has to be from
a higher level to a lower level.
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 enlists a set of specific guidelines that aim to
avert death and injury caused due to a fall from height. These guidelines have been
setup specifically for the employers who either employ people to work at height or
control the same. For instance, facilities managers or building owners who hire
people on contract to work at height.
It is the utmost responsibility of the employers and those managing the manpower to
make sure that any work that is being carried out at height is well-planned,
supervised and executed by competent people. This also includes making use of the
right type of equipment for working at height.
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3. Hierarchy of Control Measures
Level 1: Avoid working at height whenever possible.
It is important for an individual to avoid working at height whenever feasible. This
should be done to keep oneself safe as well as the employer from any complications.
Meeting this requirement demands one to work as much as possible from the ground
using extending tools. These tools can easily replace the use of a ladder, or the need
to lower something to ground level before repairing it. Apart from this, it also
requires one to avoid working on fragile surfaces that are probably enclosed, but still
liable to cause a fall through them.
Level 2: Work in an existing safe place when possible.
To avoid falls, one must try and make use of an existing workplace. This should be
done to prevent any falls and later deal with its consequences. One can execute the
required work at such a place where there is no need of any additional protective
equipment as well as there is no risk of falling since preventative measures are
already in place. Common examples include a balcony or on machinery that has
fixed guard rails.
Level 3: Prevent falls by using the collective equipment.
In case, a person is required to work at some other place and requires him/her to
assemble or disassemble the framework, it is best to avoid falls by using the
collective equipment. Making use of as external advance guardrails or collective
protection units can be used to prevent falls and keep everyone safe.
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4. Level 4: UsePPE to prevent falls.
The last way to prevent fall at a job is by using personal protective equipment (PPE).
One of the common equipmentisbelts with short lanyards to restrict the worker’s
movement. Making use of PPE helps prevent falls completely.
Level 5:Minimise distance using collective equipment.
Another way to prevent a fall is by reducing the distance between the person and the
ground. It is important for a person on duty to make sure that the distance is
minimized between him/her and the ground, which, in turn, helps reduce the risk of
fall. Some of the easy ways to do so include placing netting or airbags beneath the
work area, and close to it.
Level 6: Mitigate distance using PPE.
The purpose behind wearing a PPE is to make sure that in case a worker falls, the
distance between their level and the ground level is minimal. For instance, if a
worker is employed at a job location that involves a platform or framework, the
distance is typically mitigated through the use of fall arrest harnesses. However,
thereisstill arisk of causing serious injury and also, these are not much effective at
lower heights.
Moreover, the most important point to remember is that these harnesses are not
suitable for every situation. For example, safety guidelines for tunnel workers
suggest that workers remain unrestrained when working at aheight under these
circumstances.
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5. Level 7: Minimise consequences using collective equipment.
One can minimize the fatal consequences of fall by using collective equipment such
as netting or airbags. But, the purpose behind using this equipment this time is not to
reduce the distance of fall but to soften the impact.
This level implies to the use of netting or airbags, however, the aim is a bit different.
Their use has been advisednot to reduce the distance of a fall, but to soften its
impact.
Level 8: Minimise consequences through proper training & instructions.
The best way to minimize the consequences of a risk is by imparting proper training
and instructions to the workers who are working at height. This refers to educating
workers about the best measures they can take to ensure their safety and prevent
falls.
Employers’ Responsibilities
As per the regulations, an employer is responsible for the following:
 Assessing the potential risks in their workplace in order to make a plan to
control the risks.
 Be ready with some suitable control measures such as issuing PPE,
introducing machinery or training.
 Ensuring that no person engages in any activity related to working at height
unless he/she is competent enough to do so or being supervised by a
competent person.
Ensuring that no one works around a fragile surface.
Taking the most suitable steps to prevent falls of any material or object.
Avoiding the fall or throwing of any material or object from height in case it is liable to
cause injury to any person.
Ensuring the proper storage of materials and objects so as to avoid any
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6.  Ensuring that no one works around a fragile surface.
 Taking the most suitable steps to prevent falls of any material or object.
 Avoiding the fall or throwing of any material or object from height in case it is
liable to cause injury to any person.
 Ensuring the proper storage of materials and objects so as to avoid any sort of
risk to a person ascending from them collapsing, overturning or moving
unintentionally.
Employees’ Responsibilities
As per the regulations, an employee working at height must:
 Update their manager or supervisor regarding any defects or activities that
may cause them injury while working at height.
 Make use of the required work equipment or safety device provided by the
employer to work at height.
 Follow the training provided to use any sort of work equipment.
 Ensure that their activities do not put others at risk.
It is a combined responsibility of both employer and employee to ensure that each
one of them stays safe and secure. None of the two can ensure the safety of all alone.
After all, team work is the key.
Email: Sales@At-Height.Co.Uk
Tel: 0844 804 4190
Fax: 0844 804 4191
The Knoll Business Centre
Old Shoreham Road
Hove
BN3 7GS
Email: Sales@At-Height.Co.Uk
Tel: 0844 804 4190
Fax: 0844 804 4191
http://at-height.co.uk/
The Knoll Business Centre
Old Shoreham Road
Hove
BN3 7GS