HSC consults on work at height regs

The Health & Safety Commission wants the industry's view on draft work at height regulations and guidance. A four-month formal consultation period started today.

The draft regulations adopt a risk-based approach to working at height and propose the following three steps:

• If you can avoid the need to work at height, then do so.
• 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.
• If there is any remaining risk of a fall you should take steps to mitigate the effect, for example by using fall arrest equipment.

The draft regulations bring together relevant parts of the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996, the Workplace Regulations 1992 and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.

The consultation also asks the following questions:

• Should there be a transitional period before the regulations come into force?
• Is the definition of work at height appropriate?
• Should competence be defined?
• Has an acceptable approach been taken concerning fragile surfaces and the duties of persons at work?  
• Are the details right on the use of particular equipment such as ropes and ladders?

The proposed new regulations and guidance can be downloaded from the Health & Safety Executive website at www.hse.gov.uk/consult/live.htm.