21304 PROCEDURE SAFE WORKING AT HEIGHT FOR OPERATIONAL POLICING. 2. Risk Assessments / Health and Safety Considerations

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1 Version: 7.1 Last Updated: 27/11/14 Review Date: 17/11/17 ECHR Potential Equality Impact Assessment: Low 1. About This Procedure 1.1. This procedure explains the principles of protecting officers and staff that have to work at height during operational policing. 2. Risk Assessments / Health and Safety Considerations 2.1. Working at height can be dangerous. Deaths and serious injuries occur every year, with the majority of falls being from or through roofs made of fragile materials. Many accidents occur to people who only meant to be at height for a few minutes to have a quick look at something. It is hazardous for police officers, who may be pursuing a suspect, especially on an unknown building or in the dark. In addition the force has a legal duty under The Work at Height Regulations 2005 and The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations To assist managers in risk assessing this type of work activity a model risk assessment on working at height is available in the Force electronic information system In situations that cannot be foreseen and risk assessed staff must carry out dynamic risk assessments Definitions: Working at height: means working in any place above floor/ground level and includes access and egress except when using a permanent staircase Fragile Surface: is any surface which you can fall through Working Platform: any platform used as a place of work or access or egress from a place of work. It also includes any scaffold, cradle, mobile platform, trestle, gangway or gantry. 3. Procedure

2 3.1. There are a number of work activities within operational policing which involve working at height. Under the Work at Height Regulations, work at height must be properly planned and supervised Pre-Planned Operations Where there is a known risk of working at height, such as: Surveillance work and installation of surveillance equipment; Storming buildings and forced entry; Inspecting loads on vehicles; Evidence gathering; Vehicle accident investigations involving bridges and steep drops; Ship to Ship transfer; Aerial photographic work; Removing protestors Assessing the Risks Pre-planned operations: when planning any operation which involves working at height, an assessment should be carried out prior to carrying out the work to establish the risks and should take account of the following: Is there suitable safe access? Is there adequate edge protection in the form of handrails or parapet wall to the height of at least 910mm? Are there fragile materials which a person could fall through, such as asbestos cement sheet or glass? Are there tripping hazards or blind drops? Is there a risk of being easily pushed off by a suspect? The duration of the work and proximity to the edge? The equipment which is to be used, whilst at height such as surveillance equipment, firearms and building entry equipment? The slope or angle of the roof? Do staff need special training, e.g. accessing trees, temporary structures or abseiling in situations such as dealing with protesters or storming buildings?

3 Is access required from moving objects such as ship to ship transfers or photographic work from an aircraft? Is there a risk of falling into water or fast moving rivers? Is there telecommunications equipment for which safe working distances have to be followed, such as mobile telephone transmitters, which emit microwaves (some have a 2 metre safe working distance and staff should not stand directly in front of these types of transmitters)? Are specialist contractors needed to erect scaffolds and access equipment or carry abseiling or tree work? Only suitably trained and qualified officers will be deployed in any such planned operation. Officers from the Force Support Unit (FSU) have been trained in a nationally qualification in the use of Rope systems, ladders, scaffold towers and cherry pickers. The FSU have access to all the relevant equipment all of which is maintained to Force guidelines (if Police owned) or to a recognised standard approved by the Police (if owned by an outside agency).in addition these officers are also trained in working at height in a marine environment Safe Systems of Work for Pre-Planned Work Operations Note: Working at height in poor weather conditions should only be permitted in emergency situations Access Access to height can be a major risk. A secure means of access and egress is essential. A properly secured ladder is the minimum. However other means of access may be required such as scaffolds, scaffold towers and cherry pickers depending on each situation Ladder Safety Only ladders which comply with the relevant British Standards and are class 1 industrial should be purchased for use in the Force A "sight line" should be painted on the outer edge of each stile such that, when the ladder is set-up at 75 the line will be vertical.

4 Where ladders are likely to be used in or adjacent to the roadway they should have a 1" wide fluorescent tape fixed to the outer edge of each stile at approximately 3 rung intervals unless used for covert operations Metal ladders, those with metal stile reinforcement or ladders that have got wet must not be used where any electrical hazard exists Ladder Storage Ladders must, where practicable, be stored under cover in dry, airy, unheated conditions and access to them should be kept clear. To prevent ladders from distorting they must be stacked properly, i.e.: Vertically - but lashed to prevent them falling, or; Horizontally, resting on the lower stile, clear of the ground, and supported at sufficient points to prevent sagging Never hang ladders by the stiles Ladder Inspection and Maintenance Every ladder should be marked with an identification number. A corresponding entry should be made in a register. Timber ladders should be inspected every 3 months and aluminium ladders every 6 months (unless used in a particularly hostile environment, e.g. sewers, in which case these should also be inspected every 3 months). These inspections should be carried out by an appointed person and an entry should be made in the register. Before commencing the inspection any fluorescent strips must be removed When inspecting a ladder the appointed person should check for the following: General - Warping; sagging; grease or oil on treads; the condition of metal parts, pulleys and ropes; that the "sight line" is clearly visible; Rungs/Tread - Cracks; gouges; sharp edges; splinters; cuts; decay; loose, broken, worn or missing rungs, or treads; makeshift repairs or fastenings; condition of wire reinforcement;

5 Stiles - Cracks; gouges; sharp edges; splinters; cuts; decay; wear at head and feet; condition of non-slip feet; Aluminium Ladders - These should additionally be carefully checked for distortion and/or excessive oxidation or corrosion Faulty ladders must be marked faulty and repaired immediately or destroyed Preservation of timber ladders shall be achieved by means of applying a clear varnish or by using a transparent rotproofing liquid (non-oily) Ladders must also be checked by the user for any obvious defects before use. If any defects are found the ladder must be marked faulty and not used. The supervisor must be informed and should then ensure that the ladder is either repaired or destroyed as soon as it is practicable Handling of Ladders Ladders can be heavy and difficult to handle and therefore due care must be taken to avoid strain or injury to the person carrying the ladder, damage to property or injury to the public. It is preferable to carry a ladder with the bottom stile resting on the shoulder and the front end kept high enough to clear a persons head. Ladders should not be dropped or jarred When transporting a ladder by vehicle, it must be firmly secured and should not overhang by more than four feet either end. Warning flags must be clearly visible Use of Ladders Ladders are meant for light, short term work only and a working platform must be used for all other work Ladders must be set up on a firm, level, non-slippery base at an angle of 75 degrees (i.e. one unit out for every four units up). They must not lean to either side. The top of the ladder must rest against something solid. Window sashes and gutters, etc. cannot be relied upon as solid support. If the ladder is too heavy or awkward for one person to set up safely, assistance must be sought.

6 If at all possible the ladder must be lashed at the stiles at the top. Alternatively the ladder may be fixed at the base by means of stakes and guys, blocks, cleats or sandbags. As a last resort a ladder may be footed by a person but this is effective only for ladders up to 5m (16ft.) In certain circumstances it may be dangerous to foot a ladder, e.g. where glass is being broken during a house entry If a ladder is used as a means of access to get to a higher level it must rise a sufficient height above the landing place (about 1m) where people will get off, unless some other adequate hand hold is available If there is a danger of the base of the ladder being knocked by doors, materials, vehicles, etc. it must be protected by warning signs and/or barriers If working over an area in which the public or other employees are likely to pass such persons must be protected by warning signs and/or barriers Wherever possible both hands must be kept free to grip the stiles when ascending or descending a ladder. The use of tool belts and shoulder bags can sometimes allow this to be done. Special care should be taken to avoid dropping items from ladders The rung 3 rungs from the top of a ladder is the highest to be used for climbing Persons should not overreach when working on a ladder All treads must be kept free of grease, oil and mud and other substances likely to cause persons to slip Mud, grease and oil etc. must be cleaned from boots before ascending ladders It is forbidden for more than one person at a time to work from the same ladder - (except for storming buildings, when special ladders will be used).

7 The minimum overlaps for the two sections of an extending ladder are: Sections up to 5m closed length - 1½ rungs; Sections between 5m and 6m - 2½ rungs; Sections over 6m - 3½ rungs Where a run of ladders rises a vertical distance of 9 metres or more above its base, where practical there should be suitable safe landing areas at suitable intervals Unless demonstrated by a risk assessment that it is not practical it should be possible for the user to have a suitable handhold when a load is carried up a step ladder. Working at Height Edge Protection Wherever anyone could fall from height, the first line of defence is to provide adequate edge protection. It should consist of: A main guard rail at least 910mm for existing structures or 950mm for new or temporary structures; A toe-board at least 150mm high; An intermediate guard rail or other barrier so that there is no gap more than 470mm. A roof parapet may provide equivalent protection. Provided it is to a height of 910mm. If it is not extra protection will be required Work Platforms As well as edge protection it is just as important to provide an adequate and secure working platform. In many cases the roof itself will provide this. If it does not e.g Working on or near a chimney on a pitched roof, a platform should be provided The platform should be of suitable strength and rigid. In the case of wheeled platforms, they should be fitted with devices to prevent it being moved inadvertently. Platforms should not be overloaded.

8 3.13. Fall Arrest Equipment Providing adequate platforms and edge protection may not always be possible or practical. In this case either safety harnesses will be required. They do not stop people falling, but minimise the potential injuries If harnesses are used they must be securely attached to a significantly strong anchorage. A full body harness should be used, attached with a fall arrester. If possible use a fixed length of lanyard, to prevent access near to the edge of the fall. If this is not possible, the use of a lanyard which allows additional length via an inertia locking ratchet system which locks on sudden jarring such as a fall, should be used in conjunction with a fall arrester. On buildings where access is regularly required using a harness, consideration should be given to using eyebolts to attach the harness line to. These must be inspected and tested at least annually Rope access systems must comprise of two separately anchored lines, unless a risk assessment demonstrates the use of a second line would entail higher risks. The working line must be equipped with means of ascent and descent and has a self locking system to prevent the user falling. The safety line must be equipped with a mobile fall protection system which is connected to and travels with the user There should be suitable rescue procedures in place as well as suitably trained staff to carry out the rescue if necessary Falling Material / Objects Nothing should ever be thrown from a roof. Small tools or equipment should be attached to the person if possible; and loose objects should not be carried in pockets Weather Account should be taken of weather conditions especially when it is very windy, since anyone carrying out work at height can easily be blown off if caught by a gust of wind. It can also be very dangerous in very cold and icy conditions or heavy rain.

9 Excessive exposure to sunlight should be avoided by wearing appropriate clothing and using sun screens since too much exposure to sunlight can cause skin cancer Fragile Roofs At no time should anyone work on or pass over fragile material, unless platforms, coverings or other similar means are provided to adequately support them. Properly installed safety netting beneath the roof surface will provide collective fall protection within a protected area. Harnesses can also be an effective solution, but if used they require adequate attachment points. The support platform should be at leased 600 mm wide or more. Support platforms must be wide enough to provide adequate support across roof members and should span across at least two purlins. Using platforms may spread the load, but will not provide enough support if the only thing supporting the platform is the fragile material. Walking on the lines of purlin bolts gives no protection whatsoever. It is like walking on a tightrope and must never be allowed. Prominent warning notices must be displayed at the approach to fragile roof areas, where this is not practical staff must be informed of the risk Working Near Fragile Material Protection is needed by anyone who passes by or works nearer than 2 m to fragile materials, such as valley gutters on fragile roofs, or where fragile roof lights are provided. All fragile materials 2 m or closer to the people at risk must be securely covered. Alternatively, edge protection could be provided around or along fragile material to prevent access to it. Sometimes it will not be reasonably practical to provide such protection, and in such cases harnesses will usually be the appropriate solution and may be used in conjunction with any permanently installed running line system. Prominent warning notices must be displayed at the approach to fragile roof areas, where this is not practical staff must be informed of the risk Working On Sloping Roofs On traditional pitched roofs the greatest number of casualties is from people falling from the eaves. Full edge protection at each level will normally be required for work on sloping roofs.

10 3.19. Roof Ladders The longer the slope and steeper the pitch, the stronger the edge protection needs to be to withstand the person falling against it. On some larger roofs, the consequences of sliding down the whole roof and hitting edge protection may be such that intermediate platforms on the work side are needed to prevent this happening Slates and tiles do not provide a safe footing especially when they are wet. Properly designer roof ladders or crawling boards are an essential aid to any work on sloping roofs. Roof ladders should bear on the opposite roof and not rely on the ridge tiles for support as these can easily break away. Gutters should not be used to support any ladder Roof battens can be an alternative to roof ladders, but if relied on it is essential that their strength is established beforehand Working on Flat Roofs Work on a flat roof is high-risk, and unless the roof parapet provides equivalent safety, temporary edge protection will be required during most work on flat roofs. Both the roof edge and any openings in it need to be protected. Where possible the edge protection should be supported from ground level, e.g. by scaffold standards, so there is no obstruction on the roof. If the building is too high for this, the roof edge up stand can support the edge protection providing it is strong enough. Edge Protection can also be supported by frames, counterweights or scaffolding on the roof. For short duration work the use of harnesses attached to a secure point should be provided Short Duration Work During short duration work that lasts minutes rather than hours, it may not be reasonably practical to provide edge protection, but this still needs to be considered during the assessment and should not automatically be discounted Mobile access equipment can provide both the edge protection and a working platform. It can do away with the

11 need to fully scaffold and can be particularly appropriate for short duration or minor work Where it is not practical to provide a final edge protection, a securely attached safety harness must be provided Work Over or Near Water Where there is a risk of falling into water, life preservers should be provided in addition to any other safety equipment. If the work is of long duration, the use of a safety boat and qualified lifesaver should also be considered Building Sites and Access to Scaffolds and Buildings Under Construction When accessing building sites, the site office must be visited first and the site manager informed of the visit, who is being seen, and where. The site manager should escort visitors on site and make them aware of the hazards. It is a legal requirement to wear a hard hat on site. Scaffolds or structures should not be accessed if they appear unsafe. Potential hazards are unprotected drops, falling objects and plant such as cranes Vehicle Access If access is required to inspect a vehicle load, it is important to ensure there is safe access, such as fixed ladders and collapsible handrails. If safe access is not provided on the vehicle, it should be taken to an area where suitable access can be provided such as a loading gantry. If this is not practical the use of a harness and fixed lanyard with fall arrest attached to a secure point should be provided Walking on the load should be avoided as it may be unstable or have sharp objects, such as in a builders skip Photographic Work From Aircraft When carrying out aerial photographic work, it is sometimes necessary to have the aircraft doors open. If this is necessary there should be no loose equipment in the cabin/cockpit area. There should be no loose items on the person taking the photographs, and all personnel near the

12 3.26. Ship to Ship Transfer open doors must be attached to a secure point by a safety line and harness. The safety line should be short enough to prevent the person actually falling out of the open door When transferring from ship to ship, life preservers should be worn together with suitable deck shoes. At no point should the person who is transferring attach themselves to either boat with a safety line. If a person slips and falls whilst attached to either boat they will be crushed between the two boats. Where possible, the transfer should be done on the lee side of the boat not the windward side. Staff who are required to carry out this type of work must be specially trained Unplanned Work Activities Unplanned work activities where staff may be required staff to work at height and it was not known that this was to be required until arrival at the scene such as: Pursuing suspects, who may scale buildings and onto roofs; Rescue of animals or people; Attendance at building sites, accessing scaffolds and buildings under construction An on-site dynamic risk assessment should be carried out, to determine what precautions are needed for each situation. For example, if an officer is pursuing a suspect who climbs up a drainpipe onto a roof, the officer should assess if it is safe to follow, i.e. is there a safe access other than the drain pipe, and if not, they should not pursue the person. They should establish where the person will come down and wait for them Training Work at height needs appropriate training, skills and experience to work safely. Staff need to be able to recognise the risks, understand the appropriate systems of work and be competent in the skills to carry them out, such as: Installing and wearing harness systems; Installing edge protection;

13 Operating a mobile access platform; Installing scaffolds and mobile towers; Inspecting scaffolds; Abseiling; Rope Systems Only staff who have been trained and hold recognised certificates should install or use the above safe systems or carry out inspections Rescue Work Situations occur where staff are required to assist or rescue people from trees or buildings, people attempting suicide, or people trapped in vehicles on steep banks and bridges as the result of an accident. At no point should staff step over handrails, parapet walls, go onto ledges, down banks, or onto roofs with no edge protection and without a suitable safe system of work i.e. a harness attached to a secure point Note: The Force Support Unit has trained working at height staff who can provide training, advice and equipment for working at height Inspection of Equipment Used For Working At Height Guard rails, toe-boards, barriers or any other means of fall prevention equipment, working platforms, fall arrest equipment, scaffolds and ladders must be inspected before use by a competent person to ensure it is safe for use. A record of each such inspection must be made and kept for a period not less than six years. The record must include the date, time, location of the work equipment at the time of the inspection, description of the work equipment any defects found and what action was taken to rectify them and the name of the person carrying out the inspection along with their signature. Where equipment is hired or is not Force property it must be ensured that the equipment has its last inspection report supplied with the equipment Inspections of Places of Work At Height The surface, parapet, permanent rail or any other fall protection should be checked to ensure that that it is safe for

14 3.32. Scaffolds use. Any defects that are identified should be notified to the building owner or Business and Property Services if it is a Force owned building Where the scaffold is not assembled in a standard configuration, strength and stability calculations should be made available for the scaffold. An assembly and dismantling plan should also be available for the staff assembling and dismantling the scaffold When a scaffold is being assembled or dismantled, warning signs should be placed on the scaffold informing people that it is not safe for use. Scaffolds should only be altered, erected or dismantled by competent persons. 4. Roles and Responsibilities 4.1. It is the responsibility of District Commanders and Heads of Departments to carry out risk assessments and provide a safe system of work in relation to staff working at height. 5. Administration 5.1. General risk assessments should be completed on the risk assessment form RA1 in Standard forms under Health and Safety and any associated manual handling assessments on HS10. The model risk assessments must be adapted to meet the work activity. This requires the removal of the red warning note, this model risk assessment must be adapted to meet the working activity. 6. Monitoring and Evaluation 6.1. This procedure will be monitored by the Corporate Health and Safety Adviser to ensure compliance with current health and safety legislation. 7. Review 7.1. This procedure will be reviewed every three years as and when legislation or Force requirements change or new or amended model risk assessments are produced. The procedure has been consulted with all Heads of Department, District Commanders and Staff associations.

15 8. Other Related Procedures, Policies and Information Source 8.1. Related Policies Policy Public Order Policy - Health and Safety 8.2. Related Procedures n/a 8.3. Information Sources Safe Working at Height Model Risk Assessment Risk Assessment Intranet pages The Work at Height Regulations AD203 - Equality Impact Assessment Origin: Health and Safety