How to comply with the Work at Height Regulations

July 27, 2009 - PRLog -- Concern has been growing that the new Work at Height Regulations will outlaw the use of everyday access equipment such as stepladders and ladders.

The new Regulations finally came into force on 6 April 2005 and do not go as far as some people feared, but the Regulations' scope is far-reaching, and countless employers, employees and self-employed workers need to be aware of the implications.

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 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).

Although the biggest impact will be on those who routinely work at height - such as builders - it has to be remembered that there are others who find themselves working at height on an occasional basis.

These people and their managers probably need to be reminded more than any others about the implications of the Work at Height (WAH) Regulations.

Most importantly, there is no rule about what constitutes 'height', as it is recognised that even falling from the smallest of steps can cause injury.

The WAH Regulations therefore apply to almost everybody (even a storeman standing on a step stool to reach a high shelf), though this article will concentrate on the needs of maintenance staff working on plant and large machinery.

Nevertheless, the main thrust of the regulations is to reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries that result from falls from height.

Article taken from http://www.manufacturingtalk.com/news/pct/pct122.html