2. Work at Height
• Where did the Work at Height Regulations (WAHR) come from and
why do we have them?
• What do stakeholders / industry say about them?
• Some statistics, what can they tell us
• Why do falls happen in schools?
• What can you do about it?
Health and Safety
Executive
3. Where do the regulations come from
and why do we have them?
• The WAHR implement EU law, the Temporary Work at Height
Directive 2001/45/EC (TWAHD)
• Previously, we had industry-specific legal requirements to control
work at height e.g. in construction, shipbuilding, docks and offshore
regulations
• The WAHR combine the vast majority of earlier regulations into a
single set of cross-cutting, goal setting regulations.
• They apply to all work at height activities across all sectors
(approximately 10.5 million jobs and just over a million business
enterprises).
• Falls from height remain one of the biggest causes of workplace
fatalities. In 2011-12 there were 40 fatal falls (provisional figures), 25
of which occurred in construction
Health and Safety
Executive
4. What did Stakeholders say about them?
• Many organisations, including Access Industry Forum (AIF) and
others reinforced the need for the protection the WAHR offer
• Main concerns
– guidance being primarily aimed at construction
– burdensome on simple activities e.g. window cleaning and
basic maintenance jobs
Health and Safety
Executive
5. What can the statistics tell us?
In the UK during 2011/12:
• Falls remain the one of the biggest causes of workplace fatalities
and major injuries
• 40 fatalities to workers (this includes self-employed)
• Over half of these fatal falls reported in construction
• Falls from height account for approximately 60% of construction
fatalities
In the last 10 years:
• Falls accidents have been declining
• Over 80% of falls are reported as ‘low level’ falls
• Ladders account for about one in seven reported fall injuries and
nearly a quarter of fatals
• Most fatalities are from scaffolds, work platforms, fragile roofs
• Education sector are consistently in ‘top 5’
Health and Safety
Executive
7. Health and Safety
Executive
Main activity resulting in falls in education
Teachers/ teaching assistants
•Putting up work and exhibitions
•Retrieving items from storage
•Putting up and taking down Christmas decorations
Caretakers/ maintenance people
• Retrieving things off the flat roof
• Cleaning/ painting and decorating
• Changing light-bulbs and other general maintenance
• Work on plays and on the stage
• Stairs
8. Health and Safety
Executive
Falls in education – main agents
Teachers/ teaching assistants
• Furniture
• Ladders
Caretakers/ maintenance people
• Ladders
• Open edge
• Through fragile surface (roof lights – false ceiling)
• Trees
• Stairs
9. Health and Safety
Executive
Work at Height – things to remember
If you must work at height;
• Take a moment to plan the work
• Use the right equipment for the job
• Make sure it is in good condition
• Make sure the surface you are placing the equipment on is stable
and that the equipment can be set up properly
• Make sure that staff are competent (this does not mean you need a
training course!)
And……….
11. Health and Safety
Executive
Where to get help
• HSE website www.hse.gov.uk/falls
• WAIT tool – helps you decide on the right access equipment
• Safe use of Ladders and step ladders
• Work at height Guidance for schools
• Some Local Authorities have developed their own guidance
12. Health and Safety
Executive
New HSE Images
Figure 3 Incorrect –
overreaching and not
maintaining three points of
contact (means of securing
omitted for clarity)
Figure 2 Correct – user
maintaining three points
of contact (means of
securing omitted for
clarity)
13. Health and Safety
Executive
Summary
• Take a moment to plan the work
• Use the right equipment
• Make sure staff who need to work at height are competent
• If you are not sure get help
14. Health and Safety
Executive
Managing Contractors
Things to remember:
•Choosing the right contractor
•Risk Management;
• need to be aware of the findings of the risk assessment
• if staff and pupils are on site think about segregation
• informing staff
• informing the contractor (do’s and don’ts)
• Communicate regularly and openly
• Manage the work – stay up to date
Where can I get help?
• Local Authority
• HSE Website
