WORKING AT HEIGHT - NEBOSH Quick Revision Sheet

Working at Height
What is ‘Work at Height’?
– Work in any place, including a place at or below ground level; or
– Obtaining access to or egress from such a place while at work, except by a staircase in a
permanent workplace, where if the measures required by The Work at Height
Regulations were not taken, a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury.
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 cover:
 Collective fall prevention (guard rails and toe boards)
 Working platforms
 Collective fall arrest (nets, airbags)
 Personal fall protection (work restraints, fall arrest)
 Ladders and stepladders
 Inspection reports (working platforms in construction)
What the Employer must do:
1. Avoid working at height
2. If cannot avoid, use work equipment or other measures to prevent falls
3. Where there is still a risk of a fall use work equipment or other measures to:
• Minimise the distance of fall
• Minimise the consequences of a fall
Organisation and Planning for Work at Height
 The duty holder is to ensure:
o Work carried out another way if reasonably practicable to do so
o Risk assessment carried out of planned work
o All work at height is properly planned and organised
o Account is taken of weather conditions
o That those involved are trained and competent
o The place where work is being carried out is safe
o The equipment used is appropriately inspected
o Risks from fragile surfaces and falling objects are properly controlled
 Ensure work supervised
 Plan for emergencies and rescue
Risk Assessment
– Should be very thorough
– Proportionate to the risks involved
– Adequate and appropriate
– Suitable and sufficient
Staff Training
 Ensure everyone involved in the work is competent:
– If being trained; supervised by a competent person
 This includes involvement in:
– Organisation/ Planning
– Supervision
– Supply and maintenance of equipment
 Risk is not entirely eliminated?
 You must (so far as is reasonably practicable) train those who will be working at height:
– How to avoid falling
– How to avoid or minimise injury to themselves should they fall
Place where the work is to be done
 Ensure the place (including access and egress) has features to prevent a fall unless it is
not reasonably practicable for the worker to carry out the work taking into account:
– Task
– Equipment
– Working environment
Equipment, Temporary Structures & Safety Features
 If not reasonably practicable to provide a safe place
– Provide equipment to prevent a fall
– Minimise the distance and effect of a fall
 Select equipment
– Most suitable
– Give collective protection measure (guard rails) preference over individual measures
(harnesses)
 Take Account of:
– Working conditions (including weather)
– Risks to the safety of all those where equipment is to be used
When to Inspect
 After assembled and/or installed if safety depends on how it is assembled and /or
installed
 As often as is necessary to ensure safety
 As often as is necessary to detect and remedy any deterioration
 After any event likely to have affected its stability or strength
Working Platforms
 Any platform used for (or for access to) and from which a person could fall more than
2m is inspected in place:
– Before use (and not more than 7 days before use)
 Mobile platforms:
– Inspection at site is sufficient without re-inspection every time it is used
Basic Considerations – Any Access System
 Who will erect?
 Where will it be erected?
 Are ground conditions suitable?
 What materials are to be used?
 Stability of the structure?
 Can safe access to work place be provided?
 How many working platforms?
 How and where it will be tied in?
 What bracing will be required?
 How unauthorised alteration is to be prevented?
Use of Ladders, Steps and Lightweight Staging (trestles)
 Regulations do not prohibit their continued use
– Employer must demonstrate that the work at height cannot be avoided or done
another way
  What is proposed to be used is the most suitable work equipment AND the risk
assessment that the remaining risks are low
 Appropriate steps have been taken to mitigate the effects of a fall should one occur
 Employees are competent and properly supervised
Where Ladder Use Would be Inappropriate
 When two hands are needed or where the work area is large
 Where the equipment or materials used are large or awkward
 Excessive height
 Work of long duration
 Where the ladder cannot be secured or made stable
 Where the ladder cannot be protected from vehicles etc.
 Adverse weather conditions
Ladders
 Must be suitable:
- BS EN 2037 – Industrial (Metal)
- BS EN 1129 – Industrial (Wood)
- BS EN 131 – Light Trades
 Ladders should be set on a firm level base
 Ladders should be used only for short duration work
 Ladders should be set at the correct angle
 Ladders should be tied at the top and/or footed at the bottom
 Surface on which ladder rests must be stable and of sufficient strength
 Ladder must be strong enough for the loads to be put on it
 Placed so that it is stable during use
 Suspended ladder to be attached in a secure manner so it does not swing
 Portable ladders to be prevented from slipping be being secured at or near top or
bottom or with anti-slip or stability devices or other effective means
 Access ladders to be long enough to provide a hand hold when getting off at the top
unless other hand holds provided
 Interlocking or extension ladders to be prevented from movement while in use
 Mobile ladders to be prevented from moving before being stepped on
 User can maintain a safe handhold while carrying a load

Duty Rating Max. static

Ladder
Duty Ladder Use BS vertical load, BS
Classification
definition definition

CLASS 1
130 Kgs 175 Kgs
BS 2037 Metal Industrial Heavy duty, high frequency use
(286 lbs) (385 lbs)
BS 1129 Wood
CLASS 2 Medium duty, low frequency 110 Kgs 150 Kgs
Light Trades
BS EN 131 and good conditions use (242 lbs (330 lbs)
Light duty, low frequency good
CLASS 3 conditions of use, only to be 95 Kgs 125 Kgs
Domestic
BS 2037 Metal used for household and (209 lbs) (275 lbs)
domestic
Step Ladders
 Check treads, stiles, hinges and restraining rope before use
 Only use on a firm level base
 Do not lean outwards or sideways from the steps always move them
 Do not work higher than 2/3rds up the stepladder
Inspection of Ladders
 Before use checks:
– Damaged or worn stiles, particularly at head and foot of ladder
– Broken, missing, loose or worn rungs
– Mud or grease on rungs
– Rungs supported solely by nails, screws or spikes
– Movement in rungs or stiles
– Decayed timber, or the corrosion of fittings
– Insecure tie wires
– Warping, sagging or distortion

Means of Access

 All ladders placed on firm footing

 Positioned at 1:4 angle
 6 metre + should be secured in middle
 Extend 1 metre (or 5 rungs) above platform
unless there are other adequate hand holds
 Landing distances not to exceed 9 metres
 Access holes fitted with self-closing gate.
 Only 1 person to climb at a time
 Footing of ladders ineffective and only to be used
as a last resort

Trestles

 Pre-fabricated steel, aluminium or wood supports of 500mm – 1m width

 May be fixed height or adjustable with sliding struts(pin method)
 They can only be used when work cannot be carried out using a safer method like
scaffold
Lightweight Staging & Trestle Scaffolds
 Split head trestles and trestle frames
– Now considered unacceptable in most circumstances
 Modern trestle systems guidelines
– Must be set on a firm, level base
– Only one working platform installed
– Guard-rails, barriers and toe-boards required where fall could result in injury
– Boarding to be of equal length and thickness and have safe means of access and
egress on to them
Working Over or Near Water - Hazards & Controls
 As stated in CDM 2015 regulations “ if there is a risk of persons falling into water &
drowning, suitable steps should be taken to prevent such a fall & to ensure suitable rescue
equipment is provided
 Prevention of drowning
 Buoyancy aids
 Safety boats
 Possible risks:
– Leptospirosis (Weil’s Disease)
– Accidental entry into water:
 Shock, waterlogged clothing, incapacity due to injury from fall, fatigue and
hypothermia
 Prevention of falls:
– Scaffolds and platforms
– Safety nets
– Safety belts, harnesses and lanyards
– Rescue equipment and procedures
Mobile Elevating Work Platforms

Ensure:

 Operators are trained

 Operators are competent
 MEWP is fully guarded
 Used on firm level ground
 Tyres inflated
 Area cordoned off
 Lighting if on public highway
 Outriggers extended & chocked
 Emergency plans in place
 Do not:

 Operate close to OH cables

 Allow MEWP to over-hang vehicle routes
 Move MEWP with platform in raised position unless designed for the purpose
 Over load platform
 Over reach from platform

System Scaffolds and Mobile Towers

System Scaffold Specifications

 Materials – components free from defects etc.

 Foundation and levelling – supplementary support or load-spreading capability
 Platform decking – platform span and thickness met by manufacturer’s design
 Types of platform – different types available and support requirements dependent
on type (boards should comply with BS 2482)
 Reaction to wind speed – should be secured against possibility of wind lift
 Platform widths – minimum 600 mm, although no legal minimum
 Ledger bracing – additional not generally required with system scaffolds due to
inherent stiffness in joints
 Longitude or façade bracing – will be specified by manufacturer and incorporated in
the design
 Ties – need for these are the same as for traditional scaffolds, but due to lighter
construction materials should be done in accordance with manufacturer’s
instructions
 Sheeting of scaffold – caution must be exercised, again should be done in
accordance with manufacturer’s instructions or competent scaffold designer

Mobile Tower Scaffolds

 Mobile scaffold towers are widely used as they are convenient for work which
requires frequent access to height during differing time periods & in various spaced
apart locations
 They are often incorrectly erected & misused causing accidents such as:
– Persons or materials falling
– Towers overturning or collapsing.
 They must be erected & dismantled by trained, competent personnel
 Strictly in accordance with manufactures / suppliers instructions
 All parts must be sound & from the same manufacture
 The height of an untied independent tower must never exceed manufactures
instructions
 Or as “rule of thumb”
– Indoors = 3 x min base width
– Outdoors = 2 x min base width
 If heights exceeded then tower must be tied to structure or outriggers used
 Towers should be erected on firm level ground
 Wheels turned outwards & locked prior to access
  Access to working platform should be by means of internal ladder
 Never access by climbing outside of tower
 Never move tower with personnel or material on it
 Towers must only be moved from base level
 Never allow operators to pull tower along whilst on it
 Obstructions must be noted prior to moving
 Never use near OH power lines
 Working platforms must be fully boarded
 Guard rails & toe boards must be fitted

Mobile Towers - Summary

 Made up of five basic items:

– Frames / Braces / Platforms / Legs / Wheels or castors
 General conditions and provisions covered in Prefabricated Access Suppliers’ and
Manufactures Association (PASMA) covering:
– Materials
– Competence
– Maintenance
– Preparation and planning
– Pre-assembly inspection
– Safety during use

Inspections must be
carried out by a
competent person:
 before first use
 after alteration
 after event
effecting stability
Tube and Fitting Scaffolds

Scaffolding - General Conditions & Provisions

 A scaffold or other suitable means must be provided for work which cannot be done
safely from the ground
 Scaffold must only be erected, altered and dismantled by competent people
 Must be constructed of sound strong material

Scaffold - Overview
 Competent persons to design and install.
 Inspected at specific intervals and under specific occurrences.
 Tied to structure (e.g. Box/Anchor/Reveal/Through ties)/

Requirements for Scaffold

 Top guard rail at least 950 mm
 Intermediate guard rail – no gap greater than 470 mm
 Toe-boards (minimum 150 mm), but shall be suitable and sufficient to prevent the
fall of any person, or any material or object, from any place of work
 Be of sufficient dimensions to permit the safe passage of persons and materials
 No gap
– Through which a person could fall
– Through which materials or objects could fall
– Give rise to other risks unless action taken to prevent such risks
 Erected used and maintained to prevent (SFAIRP)
– The risk of slipping or tripping
– Any person being trapped between the platform and adjacent structure
– Depending on the complexity an assembly, use and dismantling plan to be
drawn up by a competent person
 Kept available for use until dismantled
 While a scaffold not available for use it shall be marked with general warning signs
 Assembly, disassembly or substantial alteration to be undertaken by a competent
person

Scaffold Tagging

 Provides an on-site indication of

whether a scaffold is safe to use
or not
 All site personnel must
understand how the system
works
 Materials

 Tubes and fittings must comply with BS 1139 Part 1

 Ends should be cut square and clean, free from bends, distortion, corrosion
 Fittings should be free from worn threads, damage bolts and any excess oil.

Base Plates & Sole Boards

 Sole boards must be used to spread the weight of the scaffold

 Boards are used to provide a firm surface on which to erect the scaffold
 Boards must run under at least two standards at a time
 Base plates must be used under every standard

Component Parts

 Standards
– Vertical/slightly inclined towards structure, spaced to provide adequate support,
on a base plate & sole board to prevent displacement, near ledgers & joints
staggered between lifts
 Ledgers
– Horizontal and fixed to inside of standards with right angled couplers. Joints
staggered and not situated in the same bay.
 Putlogs and transoms
– Putlogs should be placed horizontal and be 75mm in length
– Putlogs and transoms to be securely fitted to ledgers or standards with right
angle or putlog couplers
 Boarded lifts
– No legal minimum but recommended is 600 mm. Clear height above working
platform 2 m, for pavement lifts 2.7 m
 Ledger bracing
– Should be fitted to the full height of the scaffold starting at the base plate level
 Longitude (or façade) bracing
– Must be connected as a zigzag from top to bottom between a pair of standards
or as a continual diagonal sloping tube.
– Must be connected to every lift or extended transoms.
 Scaffold ties
– Secures the scaffold to the supporting structure and is provided to resist the
inward and outward movement of the scaffold and give additional longitudinal
stability
– Types of tie = B.A.R.T.
 Box / Anchor / Reveal / Through
 Working platform boards
– Not to overhang any putlog or transom by less than 50 mm or greater than 4
times board thickness and be free from splits, shakes, excessive knots, paint, oil
or concrete
– Usually 225 mm wide and not less than 220 mm and be supported at
appropriate spacing's
– Be banded or nail-plated at ends and guarded against the wind causing the
boards to lift.
 Independent Guard Rail (Approx 950 mm high)
Brick Guard
Tied
Intermediate guard rail (Max gap of 470 mm)
Scaffold END OF
SCAFFOLD Toe Board (Min 150 mm high)
Scaffolding Planks
(Deck area min of 600 mm wide)

Transom
Anchor Ties
Facade Brace
Large
Eye Bolt
Through Tie Ledger Brace with ledger
through it
Reveal Tie

Couplers at joints

Ledger

Standard

Eye Bolt
and Strap
Base Plates 150 x 150mm
Sole Board

Typical Scaffolding Faults

Soft and
Footings No base plates No sole plates Undermined
uneven
Jointed at same
Standards Not plumb Wrong spacing Damaged
height

Ledgers Not level Joints in same bay Loose Damaged

Bracing Some missing Loose Wrong fittings

Putlogs/ Wrongly
Loose Wrongly supported
Transoms spaced
No check
Couplings Wrong fitting Loose Damaged
couplers

Ties Some missing Loose Not enough

Insufficient
Boarding Bad boards Trap boards Incomplete
supports
Guardrails &
Wrong height Loose Some missing
toe boards

Ladders Damaged Insufficient length Not tied

Loading Platforms

 Need to be designed accounting for weight that will be applied

 Will often be separate scaffold structure but tied to both existing scaffold &
structure
 Additional bracing & sections required to provide additional support
 Warning signs displayed to indicated SWL
 Access restricted to area below loading platform for workers
 Safety gate / barrier may be required to protect those working on platform from falls
 Scaffold Hoists

 Substantial enclosure guard required for moving parts of hoist

 Gates provided at all access landings normally interlocking system
 Hoist should be operated from one position only
 Operators should be competent & trained
 Safe working load of the hoist must be clearly marked
 If designed for materials adequate signage to prevent people riding
 Inspected weekly
 Thorough examination:
o 6 monthly (for persons)
o 12 monthly (for materials)

Safe Working on Roofs and at Height

Fall Risk Areas
 During access to and from landing places
 Openings, breaks, edges and joisting in a floor
 Falling from flat roofs:
– From the edge of a completed roof
– From the leading edge where work is being carried out
– Through openings and gaps
– Through fragile materials
 Falling from sloping roofs:
– Slipping down
– Falling into the structure during construction
– From gable ends during demolition
– Through fragile roofing materials, including roof-lights
 Poor weather conditions

Control Measures

 Safe working platform

 Safety nets
 Guard-rail at edge of roof (catch barrier) where working platform not practicable
 Safe stacking of materials on roof
 Falling object protection
 Use of roof ladders & the securing of ladders
 Signage (especially with reference to fragile surfaces)
 Permits to work
 Use of mobile access platforms (MEWP’s etc)
 Safe systems of work in gusty conditions (17 mph stop lightweight material work, 23
mph general activities)

Fragile Surfaces

 No one to go on or near a fragile surface unless that is the only reasonably

practicable way of doing the work
 If do need to work on or near a fragile surface you must:
 – Ensure sfarp that suitable platforms, coverings, guard rails etc are provided and
used to minimise the risk
– If any risk remains, minimise the distance of the fall
 Must do all that is reasonably practicable to make persons aware of the danger
– Prominent warning signs fixed to the approaches to the danger zone

Falling Objects

 Where it is necessary to prevent injury, you must do all that is reasonably

practicable to prevent anything falling
 If not reasonably practicable, ensure that no one is injured by anything falling
 Nothing to be thrown or tipped from height if it is likely to injure anyone
 Stored in such a way that its movement is likely to injure anyone
 Debris netting:
– Often fitted to the sides of the scaffold to limit the amount of escaping debris.
– May be slung where roof work is being carried out to catch items that fall.
– Should not be assumed sufficient to take weight of falling person