Download a PDF version of the guide to the Working at Height Regulations here.

New regulations on working at height (6 April 2005)

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 (WAHR) consolidate previous legislation on working at height and implement European Council Directive 2001/45/EC concerning minimum safety and health requirements for the use of equipment for work at height (the Temporary Work at Height Directive or TWAHD).

One of the key issues outlined in the consultation document was the requirement for WAHR to extend the existing provisions beyond ‘construction’ work to a wider range of other sectors and activities, for example window cleaning, other industrial cleaning and maintenance, container top working in docks, working on the back of a lorry, erecting bill posters and arboricultural activities.

Consequently the regulations apply to all work at height where there is a risk of a fall liable to cause personal injury. They place duties on employers, the self-employed, and any person that controls the work of others to the extent of their control (for example facilities managers or building owners who may contract others to work at height).

The Regulations require duty holders to ensure:

• all work at height is properly planned and organised;
• those involved in work at height are competent;
• the risks from work at height are assessed and appropriate work equipment is selected and used;
• the risks from fragile surfaces are properly controlled; and
• equipment for work at height is properly inspected and maintained.

The Regulations include Schedules giving requirements for existing places of work and means of access for work at height, collective fall prevention, collective fall arrest, personal fall protection and ladders.

Latchways have identified the typical areas on a rooftop that would be covered by the legislation to assist specifiers in understanding their responsibilities under WAHR (hover mouse over highlighted areas for details).

Roof Edges: Access required for gutter cleaning, leakage checks, access to the rest of the roof Roof Access: Access via ladders, roof hatches. Roof Plant: Air condition units, satellite dishes and solar panels all need regular checks Walkways: Roof walkways should be accompanied by a fall protection system Rooflights: Fall protection required for cleaning and maintenance

The ‘Hierarchy of Fall Protection’ will help you decide on which equipment to specify. You must be able to demonstrate that you have considered this process in your overall risk assessment.

Hierarchy of Fall Protection

1. Design out any potential hazard.
2. Where it is not possible to design out the hazard, ensure the worker is not exposed to the hazard.
3. Where access is required and there is exposure to a hazard, a fall restraint solution should be specified. In this case the system location and lanyard length prevents the worker reaching the hazard and therefore a fall. Where access exposes the worker to a fall, a fall arrest system must be specified

Latchways simple to follow Fall Protection guide helps establish what type of system you require for permanent access. There are some key considerations that will help you decide what type of system you need to install. You have to consider the key elements that will minimise risk which are:

• Number of worker(s) accessing the system
• Experience of the worker(s) accessing the system
• Duration of the worker(s) on the system

In most cases, unless specialist rope access is required it is best practice to assume that the worker has only basic experience. The diagram is designed as a guide to the options that are available. Latchways in-house design team can further advise on the most appropriate system for your particular requirement. Email Latchways at spec@latchways.com.

In summary Elizabeth Gibby, Head of the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE’s) Injuries Reduction Programme, said:

“The Regulations cover a wide range of industries and activities but we have developed some simple messages which we want to communicate to all industries. Our key messages are:

those following good practice for work at height now should already be doing enough to comply with these Regulations;
follow the risk assessments you have carried out for work at height activities and make sure all work at height is planned, organised and carried out by competent persons; follow the hierarchy for managing risks from work at height - take steps to avoid, prevent or reduce risks; and choose the right work equipment and select collective measures to prevent falls (such as guardrails and working platforms) before other measures which may only mitigate the distance and consequences of a fall (such as nets or airbags) or which may only provide personal protection from a fall.”

To discuss your current fall protection problem contact spec@latchways.com.

Other useful addresses for more information are as follows:.

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 (S.I.2005 No 735) can be seen on the HMSO website.

Printed copies are published by The Stationery Office Ltd (TSO). For further details, please contact TSO, tel: 0870 600 5522; fax: 0870 600 5533; e-mail customer.services@tso.co.uk

Copies of HSE’s simple guide to the Regulations will be available shortly and will be free to download at www.hse.gov.uk or from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA, tel: 01787 881165 or fax: 01787 313995.