Working at Height Regulations
2005
WAHR 2005
The new regulations on working at height
took effect from the 6th April.
How does this affect you?
WAHR 2005
The WAHR 2005 is applicable to
Employers, the Self-Employed and anyone
who carries out any work at height.
WAHR 2005
Working at Height
The HSE says “A place is at height if a person
could be injured by falling from it, even if it is at
or below ground level”.
“Work includes moving around at a place (except
by a staircase in a permanent workplace) but not
travel to or from a place of work.”
DUTIES
WAHR 2005 - Duties
The Regulations set out several duties:
There is a duty on Employers, Self Employed and
anyone else who controls the work of others to
ensure that work at height is carried out safely.
Employees must report any safety hazard to their
Employer and Employees must use the equipment
provided and follow any training and instructions
given.
WAHR 2005 - Duties
It is important to note that the Regulations do not
cover the provision or paid instruction in caving,
climbing in sport, recreation or any other such
activities.
There are also some exemptions for shipping,
offshore installations and docks.
On request the Health & Safety Executive may
consider exemption from the Regulations if it can
be shown that there will be no risk to anyone’s
Health & Safety.
WAHR 2005 – Hierarchy of
Control
The hierarchy for controlling working at height
activities is as follows.
Where possible avoid work at height.
If work at height cannot be avoided then use work
equipment or other methods to prevent falls.
If the risk of a fall cannot be removed then use
work equipment or other methods to minimise the
height of a fall and the consequences should a fall
occur.
PLANNING
WAHR 2005 – Planning
When working at height things to consider
in the planning stage are,
Will the weather condition pose a problem
Are the operatives trained and competent
Is the place of work at height safe
Has any equipment that is being used been
properly inspected and tested
WAHR 2005 – Planning
Have all risks from fragile surfaces being
considered
Have any risks that exist from falling
objects been considered and controlled
Is there a plan in place for emergencies with
an appropriate and safe rescue plan
RISK ASSESSMENT
Risk Assessment
When carrying out a risk assessment on working
at height the planning aspects are key in the
assessment.
As an example consider roof working.
The following risk assessment shows typical
hazards and how they may be controlled.
Risk Assessment
This risk assessment is by no means
exhaustive and every site is different but it
serves to show the principles of control.
Use the risk assessment as a means of
developing a safe system of work and
training records.
LADDERS
Ladders
There is some confusion in some circles where it has been
suggested that ladders may now not be used.
This is not the case.
Use “Ladders should only be used as work
equipment, either for access/egress or as a place
from which to to work where a risk assessment
shows that the use of other work equipment is not
justified because of the low risk and the short
duration of the job or unalterable features of the
site”
Ladders
Working from a ladder
“ a secure hand hold should be available”
means that the user can grasp an upper
rung (round) or handrail on the ladder. It
does not mean that the user is expected to
be holding the rung or handrail at all times
as this would clearly make it impossible to
carry out many tasks for which two hands
are needed.
Ladders
You must however do a risk assessment to
ensure that they are the suitable piece of
work equipment for the task in hand.
Summary
It’s not difficult to comply.
REMEMBER
Where possible avoid work at height.
If work at height cannot be avoided then use work
equipment or other methods to prevent falls.
If the risk of a fall cannot be removed then use
work equipment or other methods to minimise the
height of a fall and the consequences should a fall
occur.
Working At Height
Regulations 2005
