HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR WORKING AT HEIGHT

Transcription

1 abc DRAFT HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR WORKING AT HEIGHT Produced by the Health and Safety Section Human Resources Division May 2005

2 T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S 1 RELEVANT LEGISLATION AIM OF THE MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS HOW THE AIM WILL BE ACHIEVED WHAT IS WORK AT HEIGHT WHAT THE REGULATIONS REQUIRE RESPONSIBILITIES REVIEW OF ARRANGEMENTS...3 Relevant Documents Guidance on Work at Height Guidance on the Use of Ladders 2 of 5

3 RELEVANT LEGISLATION 1.1 Health and Safety at Work etc Act Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations Work at Height Regulations AIM OF THE MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS The aim of these arrangements is to:- Comply with the Work at Height Regulations 2005, to reduce the risk to health and safety to employees who are required, as part of their duties, to work at height. HOW THE AIM WILL BE ACHIEVED The aim of these arrangements will be achieved by:- Setting down corporate and departmental arrangements. Identifying responsibilities. Providing guidance for employees. Providing training. WHAT IS WORK AT HEIGHT Work at height means:- Work in any place, including a place at or below ground level; Obtaining access to or egress from such place while at work, except by a staircase in a permanent workplace, where, if measures required by the regulations are not taken, a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury. 1 of 5

4 WHAT THE REGULATIONS REQUIRE The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require:- That all work at height is planned, appropriately supervised and is carried out in such a manner that is, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe. That prescribed steps are taken to avoid risk, these are:- i. Carry out a risk assessment. ii. Avoid work at height wherever reasonably practicable. iii. Take measures to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, any person falling a distance liable to cause personal injury. iv. Where measures taken in iii. above do not eliminate the risk of a fall, provide work equipment to minimise the distance and/or consequences of a fall, and any additional training and instructions required. That the selection of work equipment follows prescribed steps, which are:- i. Give priority to collective measures over personal protective measures. ii. Take account of:- Working conditions. Distance to be negotiated. Distance and consequence of a potential fall. Duration and frequency of use. The need for evacuation in an emergency. The risks in installation and removal of the work equipment, or evacuation or rescue from it. That work equipment meets standards defined in schedules 1 to 7 of the regulations (see Guidance on Work at Height). That risks from work on fragile surfaces are avoided. The inspection of certain types of work equipment and places of work at height. RESPONSIBILITIES 6.1 Health and Safety 2 of 5

5 Health and Safety will:- Provide guidance to managers and employees. Assist, where requested by departments, in the carrying out of risk assessments. Provide training for managers and supervisors on the requirements of the regulations. Monitor arrangements for work at height. Departments Departments will:- Identify all work that is carried out at height. Ensure suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out. Implement the controls identified from the risk assessments. Monitor the use of work equipment. Ensure contractors work within the requirements of the regulations. Employees Employees will:- Use the work equipment provided. Ensure their own safety and the safety of others who may be affected by their work activity. Attend training where identified as necessary. Employee Health and Safety Representatives/Union Representatives Representatives should be invited to contribute to the risk assessment process and the development of safe systems of work for employees. Where they wish to be involved the Council should allow sufficient time for them to be involved in the process. REVIEW OF ARRANGEMENTS These arrangements will be reviewed every 3 years. CMT approval: 28 July 2005 HR Committee approval: Date for review: of 5