UNIVERSITY of BRIGHTON. CODE of PRACTICE SAFE WORKING AT HEIGHT

Transcription

1 UNIVERSITY of BRIGHTON CODE of PRACTICE SAFE WORKING AT HEIGHT

2 Contents Introduction Application Legislation The Working at Height Regulations - Definition of WAH - The regulations hierarchy - Managing working at height - Planning - Training Appendix WAH guidance flow chart Working at Height Action Plan Safe Use of Ladders Ladder Inspection Checklist Example risk assessment WAH Risk Assessment Form Abbreviations WAH Working at Height SMT Senior Management Team EFM Estates, Facilities Management HSE Health and Safety Executive DSC Departmental Safety Coordinator SSC School Safety Coordinator PPE Personal Protective Equipment MEWP Mobile Elevated Working Platform

3 Introduction This Code of Practice Safe Working at Height aims to: Set standards for the management of working at heights by departments and schools, Provide a framework for systems in departments and schools for the working at heights Provide guidance by which departments and schools can fulfil their duty to assess and manage the risk to health and safety arising from working at heights. The principles and practices described in this code are aimed at mitigating the risk of injury and damage to health caused by working at heights as a result of a lack of systematic, planned management. The WAH regulations are based on a risk assessment approach so as to identify what the hazard is and the degree of risk present. Risk may often be perceived as less if the work is temporary or an occasional operation (e.g. use of ladders to mount a display) but in fact it may pose greater risk than where work at heights is a regular activity. Often during short term work persons are unfamiliar with equipment, fail to assess the risk adequately or fail to follow appropriate safety precautions. The old division between low and high falls has gone, the duty is to prevent falls. It is worth noting that there are almost as many low-fall injuries as high-fall injuries. Application This Code of Practice is intended for implementation in all University of Brighton academic schools and administrative departments. The Code of Practice applies to all staff, contractors and students involved in work at heights as well as those persons e.g. contractors, service engineers, visitors, cleaners etc. who may, from time to time, have to enter areas where such work is being carried out. This Code of Practice forms part of University of Brighton s general arrangements for health and safety and is also part of departmental or school local arrangements for health and safety.

4 Departments/Schools may use alternative methods to those set out in this Code but if so will have to show that they have met, as a minimum, the standard set out in this Code of Practice. The Code of Practice identifies a duty holder. For the purposes of this CoP various individuals may be identified as being a duty holder. The extent and degree to which they must discharge that duty will also vary in relation to the degree of control and responsibility exercised by that person towards the activity and the management of others. Duty Holder includes; The University of Brighton Head of School/Department (HoS/HoD) Delegated individuals Managers Staff or students The Regulations do not apply to the provision of paid instruction or leadership in caving or climbing by way of sport, recreation team building or similar activities. Legislation Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 Requires the employer to ensure that any work equipment is suitable for the purpose for which it is used or provided. The employer shall ensure that work equipment is inspected and maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair. Use, repairs, modifications, maintenance or servicing of the work equipment is restricted to those who have been designated and are competent and trained to do such operations. Working at Heights Regulations 2005 The

5 What do the Schedules to the Regulations Cover? They cover the detailed requirements for: Schedule 1. Existing places of work and means of access for work at height 1 2. Collective fall prevention (e.g. guard rails and toe boards) 2 3. Working platforms 3 4. Collective fall arrest (e.g. nets and bags) 4 5. Personal fall protection (e.g. work restraints, work positioning, fall arrest equipment and rope access) 6. Ladders and stepladders 6 7. Inspection reports 7 8. Revocations 8 5 Definition of Working at Heights Any work on, below, or above ground level where there is risk of personal injury through falling and / or a potential risk to people below the work site being injured by falling objects. This definition extends to obtaining access to or egress from any work at height, except by a staircase in a permanent place. Any work at height using equipment e.g. Work with mobile platform, tower scaffold, ladder, kick stool, Work on a roof, vehicle, machine, plant, fabrication, tree, telegraph pole. Work next to an excavation, cellar opening, Work with harnesses, rope access and cradles "Access" and "egress" include ascent and descent; "Ladder" includes a fixed ladder and a stepladder; The Regulations Hierarchy The Regulations set out a simple hierarchy for managing and selecting equipment for work at height.

6 5. Managing Work at Height Responsibilities of Heads of Schools/Departments The regulations require duty holders to ensure: All work at height is properly planned and organised; All outdoor work at height takes account of weather conditions that could endanger health and safety; Those involved in work at height are trained and competent; The place where work at height is done is safe; Equipment for work at height is appropriately inspected; The risk from fragile surfaces are properly controlled; The risks from falling objects are properly controlled The Head of Department/School may delegate the certain duties to ensure safe working at heights, to the relevant senior departmental/school staff. The HoD/HoS will retain the duty to ensure that suitable and sufficient organisational arrangements must be in place for the provision of; Policy and guidance at a local level Risk assessment Planning of working at height activities Monitoring and inspecting compliance Training Suitable equipment

7 This delegated duty is the normal pattern for the supervision of work. If the manager is absent from the department/school they should delegate the day -today management of the work to a named member of staff who is suitably skilled and experienced to carry out the necessary management duties. These management duties include assessment of risk and ensuring the implementation of the risk control measures required by their assessments. It is the duty of the person supervising the work to ensure that all staff students and visitors are informed of any precautionary measures they must observe. Staff and Students If you are a member of staff or student working under someone else s control you must: Report any safety hazard to them Use the equipment supplied (including safety devices) properly, following any training and instruction (unless you think that would be unsafe, in which case you should seek further instructions before continuing The HOD may need to appoint a Departmental/School Safety Coordinator (DSC/SSC) to assist in monitoring compliance with this CoP. Where appropriate i.e. the Department/School exists on more than one site, it may be necessary to appoint one or more deputies. It is not the duty of the DSC/SSC to carry out risk assessments but to ensure that they have been carried out and to bring to the attention of the Head or departmental/school management any non-compliance with departmental/school arrangements for safe working at heights. Organisation and Planning The Duty Holder must: Ensure that no work is done at height if it is safe and reasonably practicable to do it other than at height Ensure that work is properly planned, appropriately supervised and carried out in as safe a way as reasonably practicable Plan for emergencies and rescue Take account of the risk assessment carried out under Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations.

8 A plan of work will include a risk assessment, the selection of work equipment, i.e. tools as well as means of access and egress, supervision and training, emergencies and rescue, so as to ensure the safety of all involved. Consider whether there are ways of doing the job which avoid working at height. It may be possible to carry out cleaning work, for example, from the ground or catwalk using long-handled cleaning tools. Prepare as much of the work as possible at ground level. When planning for work at height, consider where the work will be done. The first choice will be any existing structure which allows safe access and provides a safe working place. Where it is not possible to work safely from the existing structure, an extra working platform will be needed. Precautions must be taken to prevent falls. Ensure the provision of suitable guard rails, toe boards, fall arrest devices, safety nets/air bags for any work activity that is to be undertaken where a person might fall. Equipment, temporary structures and safety features If the place of work cannot be made safe then the Duty Holder must ensure that appropriate equipment is provided for preventing (as far as reasonably practicable) a fall occurring. If the place cannot be made safe or if appropriate equipment does not entirely eliminate the risk of a fall occurring, the Duty Holder must do all that is reasonably practicable to minimise the distance and effect of the fall. When selecting equipment for work at height the Duty Holder must: Choose the most suitable equipment; Give collective protection measures (e.g. guard rails) priority over personal protection measures (e.g. safety harnesses); Take account of: the weather conditions; and risks to the safety of all those at the place where the work equipment is to be used. You must ensure that all equipment, temporary structures (e.g. scaffolding) and safety features comply with the detailed requirements of Schedules 2 to 6. Weather The Duty Holder must ensure that the work is postponed while weather conditions endanger health or safety (but this does not apply to emergency services in an emergency).

9 Staff Training The Duty Holder must ensure that everyone involved in the work is competent (or, if being trained is supervised by a competent person). This includes involvement in organisation, planning, supervision and the supply and maintenance of equipment. Where other precautions do not entirely eliminate the risk of a fall occurring, the Duty Holder must (as far as reasonably practicable to do so) ensure that appropriate training is provided to those who will be working at height. The place where the work is done The Duty Holder must ensure that the place where work is done at height (including the means of access) is safe and has features to prevent a fall, unless this would mean that it is not reasonably practicable for the worker to carry out the work safely (taking into account the demands of the task, equipment and work environment). Detailed safety requirements about where work is done at height are set out in Schedule 1 of the Regulations. Inspections Inspection is defined by Regulation 12(10) as such visual or more rigorous inspection by a competent person as is appropriate for safety purposes... (including) any testing appropriate for those purposes. As Duty Holder you must ensure (as far as reasonably practicable to do so) that each individual place at which work is to be done at height is checked on every occasion before that place is used. The Duty Holder must ensure that any item mentioned in Schedules 2 to 6 is inspected: After it is assembled or installed (or after it has been assembled and installed if both are required), if its safety depends on how it is assembled or installed; As often as is necessary to ensure safety, and in particular to make sure that any deterioration can be detected and remedied in good time. The Duty Holder must ensure that before any equipment which has come from another business is used and before any equipment leaves your School/Unit it is accompanied by an indication (clear to everyone involved) that the last inspection required by these regulations has been carried out.

10 NOTE: This does not apply to lifting equipment governed by Regulation 9(4) of the Lifting Equipment and Lifting Operations Regulations 1998, but since that rule is similar to this one there is little practical difference. The Duty Holder must ensure that any platform used for (or for access to) construction work and from which a person could fall more than 2 metres is inspected in place before use (and not more than seven days before use). Where there is a mobile platform, inspection at the site is sufficient without re-inspection every time it is moved. NOTE: Construction Work is defined in detail in Regulation 2(1) of the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996 but broadly means the carrying out of any building, civil engineering or engineering construction work. Platform is widely defined by Regulation 2 to include areas like gangways and stairways. The Duty Holder must ensure that the person inspecting the platform: Prepares a report before going off duty, giving the details listed in Schedule 7; Gives the report (or a copy) within 24 hours of completing the inspection to the person for whom the inspection was done (e.g. your site manager). The Duty Holder must keep the report of a platform inspection made under the instructions given above: At the construction site until the work is completed; At the Duty Holder s office for three months. Keeping a report means keeping it (or a copy) safe from loss and unauthorised interference and so that a printed copy can be supplied when required. The Duty Holder must keep all other records of inspection until the next inspection has been carried out. These regulations do not apply to lifting equipment governed by the similar rules imposed by Regulations 9 and 10 of the Lifting Equipment and Lifting Operations Regulations Fragile Surfaces The Duty Holder must ensure that no one working under your control goes onto or near a fragile surface unless that is the only reasonably practicable way for the

11 worker to carry out the work safely, having regard to the demands of the task, equipment or working environment. If anyone does work on or near a fragile surface the Duty Holder must: Ensure (so far as it is reasonably practicable to do so) that suitable platforms, coverings, guard rails and the like are provided (and used) to minimise the risk; Do all that is reasonably practicable, if any risk of a fall remains, to minimise the distance and effect of the fall. If anyone working under the control of the Duty Holder may go onto or near a fragile surface, the Duty Holder must do all that is reasonably practicable to make them aware of the danger, preferably by prominent warning notices fixed to the approaches to the danger zone. Falling Objects Where it is necessary to prevent injury, the Duty Holder must do all that is reasonably practicable to prevent anything falling. If it is not reasonably practicable, the Duty Holder must ensure that no one is injured by anything falling. The Duty Holder must ensure that nothing is: Thrown or tipped from height if it is likely to injure anyone; Stored in such a way that its movement is likely to injure anyone. If the workplace contains an area in which there is a risk of someone being struck by a falling object or person, the Duty Holder must ensure that the area is clearly indicated and that (as far as reasonably practicable) unauthorised people are unable to reach it. If there is an increased risk of injury when falling, e.g. work above a dangerous surface, then suitable precautions will also be required. Although the fall may not in itself be from a height, there is a risk of hitting something whilst falling. How you fall and what you hit on the way down can, and will, affect the outcome. Where possible remove or cover any danger below the work area. Precautions must be taken to prevent falls onto dangerous surfaces, e.g. into traffic routes, or onto dangerous surfaces such as glass, spikes, benches of chemicals or apparatus. Equally measures should be put in place to prevent anyone striking such things during the fall.

12 Precautions must be in place to prevent any person being struck by a falling object likely to cause personal injury. Tools used as part of the working at heights or the equipment being worked on at height (or some component of it) could fall onto someone below. Means of preventing this include, fencing off the area below the work, limit access to the area below the work, installation of netting, provision of edge protection, tool belts and a suitable surface to rest the tools on. Visitors Visitors engaged on work at heights must observe the risk control measures required as a result of risk assessment and take due care for their own safety and that of others. Visitors may include contractors, maintenance workers, cleaners, etc. (though they might be UoB staff) who are required to work at heights or in areas where work at heights is being conducted. Visitors (including observers, contractors, etc.) should be provided with relevant safety information including the precautions necessary to ensure their safety while on site. The risk-assessment for working at heights If work at heights cannot be avoided a detailed risk assessment should be conducted before the work commences. This must determine what health and safety measures need to be adopted to avoid or reduce risk. The Risk assessment should be undertaken by the supervisor of the work in conjunction with the person(s) doing the work. The risk assessment should consider the following: The activity. The means of accessing and working at height e.g. ladder and working platform. The condition and stability of the work surfaces. The duration of the work. The equipment that will be used at height, e.g. tools and their weight Personal protective equipment. The environment, e.g. weather, temperature, lighting. The physical condition of the people involved e.g. age, fitness, pregnancy, vertigo.

13 The training and supervision of the people undertaking the work at heights. Maintenance and storage of the equipment used for working at heights. Emergencies and rescue. A Working at Height Risk Assessment Form is available on the Health and Safety Intranet site. Plan to do as much of the work as possible at ground level, including any preparative work. Reduce the need to reach or overstretch. Check that there is a safe method of access to and from the work area, e.g. working platforms. Provide sufficient space and a suitable surface to rest tools on. Make sure work platforms and any edges from which people may fall (e.g. roofs and holes in platforms), have guard-rails and toe boards or other secure barriers. If the risk of a fall cannot be eliminated, consider the need to use fall arrest or safety nets, especially when working over fragile or dangerous surfaces. Determine and specify the equipment will be suitable for the job and conditions on site. Ensure that the person undertaking the task will be able to move safely and has enough room to manoeuvre when working at height. Ensure that equipment is safe before using it, especially any provided by another company. Ensure whoever assembles and erects the equipment has been properly trained. Note: Ideally ladders should only be used to access height; where reasonably practicable they should not be used as a working platform. Provide a secure platform which: Will allow the worker(s) to move around freely without overstretching Is rigid, will not slip: use an anti slip device, lock the platform in position, tie it off, or ask someone to foot it Can support the weight of the personnel and equipment to be used on it Facilitates easy access, egress and rescue in the event of an emergency Does not allow any person being caught between it and any adjacent structure. Ensure the condition of the work surfaces and the ground is stable, not sloped or slippery as this could lead to a fall involving the worker or work equipment. Consideration must be given to fragile areas.

14 Where possible use an existing structure which will allow safe access and provide a safe working platform. Where this is not possible, a safe working platform must be provided. Site the equipment used to access the height on stable ground, avoid fragile or unstable surfaces. Ensure it is securely footed. Provide a stable means (ladder, working platform etc) of accessing the height which will not overturn. Where necessary and wherever possible it should be secured to an existing structure. Take account of the gradient of the ground, especially where mobile platforms are used. Use the wheel locks on these. Floors of the trestle or working platform should be clean, dry, and not slippery. Fragile areas e.g. glass roof lights, should be delineated and crawling boards provided for access and egress. Plan how long the work will take taking account of the usual duration plus extra time for: Access to and egress from to the working area Persons working at height may tire more easily Any equipment which has to be removed at the end of each day Any effect the environment may have on the work. Persons working at heights may tire more easily, especially if they are working with arms up stretched. The work plan should allow for rests. There should be safe access to a rest area. Time and assistance, possibly mechanical means, should be provided for removal of the equipment at the end of each working day where necessary. If working outside, could working hours be affected by lack of daylight? Provide for equipment to be used at height. Precautions must be in place to prevent any person being struck by a falling object likely to cause personal injury. Consider other risks such as trailing power cables. To prevent falling objects which could cause personal injury to persons in the area below, consider the need for the following: Fence off or prohibit access to the area beneath the work area Provide a place where tools or equipment used at height can be stored safely when not in use. The worker should remove objects which could fall from their person. When at height, secure hand tools to a work belt Provide netting to catch any falling tools or equipment

15 Remove all items of equipment and materials from tower scaffolds before moving the scaffold Use of equipment Work equipment may also be needed to undertake activities whilst at height. Will the equipment be battery or mains operated? How will the mains be supplied? If using battery operated equipment ensure sufficient spares are available at height. It may be cost effective to hire all associated equipment e.g. netting, access tower, PPE at the same time. Personal protective equipment (PPE) must be provided not only for those working at height but also for persons who may not be able to avoid working underneath. This may include; hard hats, knee pads (for crawling), gloves and safety harness/fall arrest systems. Any PPE must be the correct size and comfortable for the person wearing it. Considerations must be made for working conditions, including: weather, temperature, and lighting. Working in hot and cold temperatures will make the person tire more quickly. Cold temperatures may reduce a worker s dexterity, as may the wearing of PPE gloves, bulky clothing. Wet weather may make the means of access slippery e.g. ladder rungs, and tools less easy to grip. Avoid work at heights in wet, cold or windy weather. Reduced lighting will slow the task; again the worker may tire more easily. Allow more time for work in uncomfortable temperatures and poor weather, and incorporate more work breaks. Consideration must be given to the physical capability of the person expected to or working at heights. Persons who suffer from vertigo, pregnant women, and persons with impaired mobility that would affect their safety or that of others etc should not work or be asked to work at heights. You may also take into account the general fitness and age of the person when selecting personnel to work at heights. Consider any lifting and handling requirements needed to carry out the work.

16 Before work commences Supervisors must ensure that all staff and students working at heights receive sufficient information instruction, and training necessary for them to work safely. If a person is not competent to work alone or is being trained, they must be supervised by a competent person. The findings documented in the risk assessment must be communicated to all who will be affected by the work including visitors and others, where necessary, who may not be directly participating in the work. Written records of all training must be kept for each individual worker detailing the topics covered in their training and the dates of training. Those working at heights must be competent both to work at heights AND to undertake the task to be carried out at height. Those working at heights must be trained to inspect and use equipment used to access heights. Further training and supervision will be required to ensure safe use and rescue procedures for specialised equipment e.g. a rope access system, safety harness or a boatswain's chair. (Refer to the Guidance Note GN) Manufacturers and suppliers of equipment may be useful contacts for information on suitable courses. There must be adequate supervision for those undertaking work at heights. The findings documented in the risk assessment must be communicated to all who will be affected by the work including visitors and others, where necessary, who may not be directly participating in the work. A record of the training must be maintained for each individual, detailing training dates, the equipment they have been trained to use and the topics covered in their training. Emergencies and Rescue. The place of work must allow an easy and timely evacuation and rescue in the event of an emergency. An emergency may arise when; installing or removing work equipment - including the working platform, in the place of work e.g. fire, or from the work equipment, e.g. electric shock or failure of working platform. The place of work must be arranged in such a way as to allow easy egress for the workers and easy access for any rescue that might be necessary in the event of an emergency.

17 Control Measures for access to and working at heights Control Measures must be implemented to prevent falls from heights and personal injury occurring as a result of falls. Collective protection measures such as safety nets should be given priority over personal protective equipment such as safety harnesses. The hierarchy for the selection of access equipment is such that ladders and rope access should only be used if the use of other safer work equipment such as scaffolding is not justified e.g. because of the short duration of the work or particular features of the site. On the basis of a risk assessment, users are required to select suitable and safe access equipment for the work at heights. There is a variety of equipment which can be used for accessing and working at heights. The following are regarded as proper and suitable equipment which may used to access or work at heights: ladders, trestles, scaffolds, safety harnesses, cradles. Ladders should only be used as a place to work from, if a risk assessment can demonstrate that the use of more suitable work equipment is not justified because of the low risk, the short duration of the work or particular features of the site, and therefore may only be used if the use of other safer work equipment such as scaffolding or tower is not justified. Do not use a ladder to access the place of work where a safer method is reasonably practicable. Ladders. Check ladders before use; do not use any ladder with a defect. (Note: The painting of timber ladders could hide defects and is prohibited). Any fault or defect must be reported to the line manager and the ladder taken out of service. Ladders should be positioned and secured in order to ensure that they are stable and do not slip during use, placed on firm footing with each stile equally supported. Portable ladders must rest on a stable, strong, suitably sized, immobile footing so that the rungs remain horizontal. The feet of portable ladders must be prevented from slipping during use by securing the stiles at or near their upper or lower ends, by any anti-slip device or by any other arrangement of equal effectiveness. Ladders must be used in such a way that a secure handhold and secure support are available to workers at all times. It is easier to climb by gripping the rung than

18 the stile. In particular, if a load has to be carried by hand on a ladder, it must not preclude the maintenance of a safe handhold. Ladders used for access to a platform must be long enough to protrude sufficiently beyond the access platform, (at least 1.05m) unless other measures have been taken to ensure a firm handhold. Suspended ladders must be attached in a secure manner and, with the exception of rope ladders, so that they cannot be displaced and so that swinging is prevented. Interlocking ladders and extension ladders must be used so that the different sections are prevented from moving relative to one another while in use. When using extension ladders allow sufficient extension overlap. Mobile ladders must be prevented from moving before they are stepped on. Use the ladder at suitable angle, ladders should be positioned at approximately 75, a ratio of 1 horizontal to 4 vertical, sufficiently secured to prevent the ladder slipping or falling. Where a ladder or run of ladders rise a vertical distance of 9 metres or more above its base, safe landing areas or rest platforms should be provided a suitable intervals, where reasonably practicable. The ladder should be used in such a way that a secure handhold and secure support are available to the user. Where the user is carrying a load and there is no handhold, the work must be low risk and of short duration. Always use good working practice, do not over-reach, slide down, etc. Do not use a ladder near overhead hazards (electrical cables etc.). Further information on the use and inspection of Ladders is contained in Guidance Note. Tower Scaffold Access towers, including tower scaffolds, can be used as a temporary scaffold and where possible provide the working platform. Ensure the tower is sited on level, sound ground and that it is constructed correctly. Only staff that have been trained in the correct assembly procedure may assemble the Tower Scaffold. Staff and students using the tower must be instructed in the safe use of the equipment, its limitations and any safe access and movement procedures. Supervision in relation to use by students may be necessary.

19 Recognised training courses are arranged through the Health and Safety Department. The tower must not have a base dimension of less than 1.2 metres. The height of the working platform must not exceed three times the smaller of the base dimensions. It must be stable so there is no risk of it falling over, e.g. stabilised by outriggers. Ladders used in conjunction with tower scaffolds must be used at the correct angle and secured to the scaffold (either tied or footed). Check the frame sections fit together easily and that no interlock clips are missing or malfunctioning. Check the welds and the frame for cracks. Check for dents, holes, distortion, cuts and corrosion. Remove from use: Any length where there is dent of more than 5mm per 300mm length Distortion or bending, greater than 5mm in a one metre length Any damage or corrosion that perforates the metal. Check wheels and castors rotate freely and brake mechanisms work properly. Check castor stems for damage and they cannot fall out when the tower is moved. Check stabilisers are solid, and secure when clamped to frame uprights. On telescopic components, operate locking clips and ensure there is no movement in the mechanism. On screw adjustable components, inspect thread for damage check that male and female threads do not bind or stick. Check platform decking is securely fixed to framework. Check for damage to decking, check toeboards for splits and toe board holders for cracks. Ensure all components are clean, free of materials such as plaster and cement or other contaminants that may cause corrosion or cause slipping. Mobile elevating work platforms (MEWP s) Mobile elevating work platforms (MEWP s) can be used to provide safe access to high level work. When using a MEWP ensure that: Whoever is operating it is fully trained and competent; The work platform is provided with guard rails and toe boards or other suitable barriers; it is used on firm and level ground. The ground may have to be prepared in advance; The tyres are properly inflated;

20 Any outriggers are extended and chocked as necessary before raising the platform; Everyone knows what to do if the machine fails with the platform in the raised position It is not operated close to overhead cables or other dangerous machinery; The equipment is not moved with the platform in the raised position unless the equipment is designed to allow this to be done safely (check the manufacturer's instructions). Some MEWP's are described as suitable for 'rough terrain'. Check the manufacturer's instructions before taking them onto or sloping, uneven or undulating ground. Wearing a harness with a fall restraint lanyard attached to the platform can provide extra protection against falls, especially while the platform is in motion. Mobile and suspended access equipment Only where it is not possible to work from the existing structure and the use of a scaffold working platform is not appropriate, a range of access equipment including suspended cradles, boatswain's chairs or seats can be used. Detailed guidance on the use of suspended cradles is given in Guidance Note. Rope Access, safety harnesses, fall arrest systems and anchor points. Only where no other method is practicable, or when work platforms cannot comply with all the requirements for safe work (e.g. a guardrail has to be removed to land materials) should a way of arresting falls e.g. a harness and lines, be relied upon. Detailed guidance on the use of suspended cradles is given in Guidance Note. Airbags and Safety Nets Safety nets and airbags may be needed and can be used to protect people when putting guardrails or other protection in place. They can also be used during short term routine and/or unforeseen maintenance work. Airbags take the form of inflatable mattresses, and inflate in a few minutes. Airbags and safety nets can be used to break a fall from height near a leading edge where there is no protection already in place, e.g. erecting a working platform or work on fragile surfaces e.g. around roof lights in non-fragile roofs. N.B. roof lights can be difficult to spot if they have been painted over as they can blend in with the surrounding sheets. The safety net or air bag should be placed immediately below the roof light/fragile covering. Use of secure covers over the roof lights; is also acceptable, e.g. crawling boards.

21 Edge protection and guard rails. Scaffolds and any edge which has a drop of more than 2 metres or where the fall is on to a dangerous surface should have edge protection. If work at height is unavoidable, aim to protect against falls by providing a suitable working platform fitted with edge protection and guard rails. Edge protection (toeboards) should be high enough to stop materials and tools falling from the platform. The space between toeboards and guardrails should be no more than 760mm. Guard rails must be fitted to working platforms between 915mm and 1.15 metres above the platform level. Inspection and Maintenance of Equipment All equipment used for accessing and working at heights must be regularly inspected. All equipment used for accessing or working at heights and means of fall prevention must be checked before each use. In addition a programme of regular inspection should be implemented by the department. Inspection is necessary where the equipment is being assembled at a new site or new location, could have deteriorated, e.g. as a result of weathering or as a result of a circumstance which could affect the safe use of the work equipment, e.g. as a result of being struck by a vehicle or heavy object. The extent of the inspection will depend on the type of equipment, where it is used and how it is used. It can be a simple visual inspection or detailed comprehensive inspection including some dismantling e.g. of tower scaffold. Do not use any equipment which has or appears to have a defect. (Note: The painting of timber ladders could hide defects and is prohibited). The inspections should include the wear of ladders, trestles. Any fault or defect must be reported to the line manager and the ladder taken out of service. If any defects need to be remedied, or modifications need to made, this should be reported to the person managing/issuing the equipment. Records must be kept of inspections. A programme of regular maintenance should be implemented by the department. Records must be kept of maintenance.

22 The Supervisor must keep records of the maintenance and testing of equipment used to access heights Maintenance records of equipment provided for safety should include: maintenance and testing carried out by outside contractors maintenance and testing carried out by competent inspectors Maintenance and training records must be kept for at least 10 years. Estates, Facilities Management are responsible for arranging eyebolt testing. Storage of equipment All equipment used for accessing heights must be stored as per supplier s instructions. Further Information HSE web site INDG402 - Safe use of ladders and stepladders INDG405 - Top tips on ladder and stepladder safety Ladders Guidance HSE have produced a guide on the safe use of ladders and stepladders. This is aimed at employers, the self-employed and people who work from ladders. There is also a toolbox talk [PDF 307kb] to help ladder users recognise the risks and work safely. This is supported by a pocket card [PDF 38kb], which provides useful information on safe ladder use in a handy size for users to keep with them.