INSPECTION OF WORKING PLATFORMS, EMISSIONS MONITORING
27 June 2006 - Castings Technology International

The Working at Height Regulations 2005 came into force in April 2005 and applies to all industries. The regulations deal with all working platforms (scaffolding and permanent platforms), fragile surfaces (e.g. roofs), and any ladders, gangways and stairways used to acccess the elevated workplace. The regulations place a number of responsibilities on employers to ensure that working at height is properly planned, appropriately supervised and carried out in a safe manner.

The new regulations bring attention to the requirement for every working platform to be inspected such that “the surface and every parapet, permanent rail or other such fall protection measure of every place of work at height are checked on each occasion before the place is used”. And for every working platform where a person could fall 2 metres or more, an inspection should be carried out within 7 days prior to the platform being used. The regulations state that the term ‘inspection’ “means such visual or more rigorous inspection by a competent person as is appropriate for safety purposes”.

The Source Testing Association’s guidance suggests that an initial baseline survey should take place on every permanent elevated platform by a competent person such as a structural engineer. This survey is to be carried out before use for new platforms and at the earliest opportunity for existing structures. All platforms must then be subjected to a periodic survey, the frequency and scope being prescribed by the surveyor during the baseline survey. It is again suggested by the STA that a suitably competent person such as a structural engineer should conduct these surveys.

Finally, an additional prior-to-use inspection of the platform must be undertaken no more than 7 days prior to use by another competent person to determine whether it has deteriorated over time. STA guidance suggests that in the case of prior-to-use inspections, a competent person may be someone employed by the site operator “who has received suitable and sufficient training from a Structural Engineer on the scope and conduct of prior-to-use inspections.” Additional inspections are required following exceptional circumstances such as particularly bad weather or an impact from a vehicle etc.

Failure to observe this safety requirement means that sampling will not conform to the Standard method BS EN 13284: 2002 or our MCERTS and UKAS accreditation. It will also be a breach of the health and safety obligations of both Cti and the client company under the requirements of the Working at Heights Act 2005.

The aim of this briefing note is to give prior warning of this requirement in advance of your next monitoring date so that appropriate inspections can be made.

Where member companies have concerns regarding their current access arrangements, Cti will be happy to provide advice on any modification, which may be required.

http://www.castingstechnology.com

More News:
  • For June 2006
  • From Castings Technology International
  • For Castings