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Proposed new work at height regulations
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HSE InfoLine
: 04 December, 2003 (Company News) |
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The Health and Safety Commission is seeking views from industry, unions and workers on draft work at height regulations and guidance, opening a four-month formal consultation period today. |
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The proposed new regulations and guidance to improve the planning, organising and management of work at height are set out in a consultation document, CD192, which is available from the HSE website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/consult/live.htm or HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2WA, tel: 01787-881165 or fax: 01787-313995.
Each year 50 to 60 workers are killed as a result of a fall from height and around 4,000 workers suffer serious injuries, representing the biggest cause of death and the second biggest cause of serious injury at work. The HSC is so concerned about these incidents that it has made reducing falls one of its nine Priority Programmes. The draft regulations and guidance will contribute to this Programme to tackle this major cause of death and injury.
The draft regulations adopt a risk-based approach to working at height and propose that the following three key steps be considered before carrying out work at height:
1. If you can avoid the need to work at height then do so with a little planning many activities can be conducted safely from the ground;
2. Where you can't avoid working at height then you must take steps to prevent falls by either working from a safe place of work at height, or if this is not available, by selecting the most suitable equipment for working at height. You should take into consideration the risks and factors such as the duration of the work and the environment in which the equipment is to be used; and
3. If there is any remaining risk of a fall you should take steps to mitigate the effect, for example by using fall arrest equipment.
Risk assessment is the key to the proper planning and organisation of all work at height and should inform the selection and use of appropriate equipment. |
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