Health and Safety

Executive

Work at Height and working with contractors

Presented by

Tony Almond
Safety Topics Team
Health and Safety
Executive
Work at Height

• Where did the Work at Height Regulations (WAHR) come from and
why do we have them?

• What do stakeholders / industry say about them?

• Some statistics, what can they tell us

• Why do falls happen in schools?

• What can you do about it?

Health and Safety
Executive

Where do the regulations come from

and why do we have them?
• The WAHR implement EU law, the Temporary Work at Height
Directive 2001/45/EC (TWAHD)

• Previously, we had industry-specific legal requirements to control

work at height e.g. in construction, shipbuilding, docks and offshore
regulations

• The WAHR combine the vast majority of earlier regulations into a

single set of cross-cutting, goal setting regulations.

• They apply to all work at height activities across all sectors

(approximately 10.5 million jobs and just over a million business
enterprises).

• Falls from height remain one of the biggest causes of workplace

fatalities. In 2011-12 there were 40 fatal falls (provisional figures), 25
of which occurred in construction
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Executive
What did Stakeholders say about them?

• Many organisations, including Access Industry Forum (AIF) and

others reinforced the need for the protection the WAHR offer

• Main concerns

– guidance being primarily aimed at construction

– burdensome on simple activities e.g. window cleaning and
basic maintenance jobs
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Executive
What can the statistics tell us?

In the UK during 2011/12:

• Falls remain the one of the biggest causes of workplace fatalities

and major injuries
• 40 fatalities to workers (this includes self-employed)
• Over half of these fatal falls reported in construction
• Falls from height account for approximately 60% of construction
fatalities

In the last 10 years:

• Falls accidents have been declining
• Over 80% of falls are reported as ‘low level’ falls
• Ladders account for about one in seven reported fall injuries and
nearly a quarter of fatals
• Most fatalities are from scaffolds, work platforms, fragile roofs
• Education sector are consistently in ‘top 5’
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UK: Fatal falls from height

80

70

60

50
Fatal
No.s

40
Linear (Fatal)
30

20

10

0
2

2
/0

/0

/0

/0

/0

/0

/0

/0

/1

/1

/1
01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

11
20

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

20
Years
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Main activity resulting in falls in education

Teachers/ teaching assistants

•Putting up work and exhibitions

•Retrieving items from storage
•Putting up and taking down Christmas decorations

Caretakers/ maintenance people

• Retrieving things off the flat roof

• Cleaning/ painting and decorating
• Changing light-bulbs and other general maintenance
• Work on plays and on the stage

• Stairs
Health and Safety
Executive

Falls in education – main agents

Teachers/ teaching assistants

• Furniture
• Ladders

Caretakers/ maintenance people

• Ladders
• Open edge
• Through fragile surface (roof lights – false ceiling)
• Trees

• Stairs
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Executive

Work at Height – things to remember

If you must work at height;

• Take a moment to plan the work

• Use the right equipment for the job
• Make sure it is in good condition
• Make sure the surface you are placing the equipment on is stable
and that the equipment can be set up properly
• Make sure that staff are competent (this does not mean you need a
training course!)

And……….
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Executive

More Work at Height – things to remember

Don’t climb on furniture

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Executive

Where to get help

• HSE website www.hse.gov.uk/falls

• WAIT tool – helps you decide on the right access equipment
• Safe use of Ladders and step ladders
• Work at height Guidance for schools

• Some Local Authorities have developed their own guidance

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Executive

New HSE Images

Figure 2 Correct – user Figure 3 Incorrect –

maintaining three points overreaching and not
of contact (means of maintaining three points of
securing omitted for contact (means of securing
clarity) omitted for clarity)
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Executive

Summary

• Take a moment to plan the work

• Use the right equipment
• Make sure staff who need to work at height are competent
• If you are not sure get help
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Executive

Managing Contractors

Things to remember:

•Choosing the right contractor

•Risk Management;
• need to be aware of the findings of the risk assessment
• if staff and pupils are on site think about segregation
• informing staff
• informing the contractor (do’s and don’ts)
• Communicate regularly and openly
• Manage the work – stay up to date

Where can I get help?

• Local Authority
• HSE Website
Health and Safety
Executive

Thank you for listening, any questions ?