Working Safely at Height - (Access Equipment)

Work at height is carried out in just about every industrial sector and workplace in the UK. The construction, repair and maintenance of premises may involve builders, cleaners, caretakers, glaziers, plumbers, painters and others, all working at height. The Health and Safety Executives (HSE) 2000/01 figures show that year, that of the 295 fatalities, 106 occurred in the construction industry. In terms of types of fatality, 73 deaths were caused by falls from heights - approx. 68%.

Commenting on the figures, Health and Safety Commission (HSC) chairman Bill Callaghan said: “We are greatly concerned at the increase in fatalities. The fact remains that most of these fatalities were preventable. Every work-related death is one too many and each represents a personal tragedy. The primary responsibility for the health and safety of workers remains with employers”.

Ladders:

1. See whether alternative means of access is more suitable; take into account the nature of the work and duration; the height to be worked at; what reaching movement may be required and what equipment and materials may be required at height;
   
2. Check visually whether the ladder is in good condition, free from slippery substances;
   
3. Check facilities available for securing against slipping; tied at the top, secured at the bottom or footed by a second person for works above 3 metres;
   
4. Metal ladders (and wooden ladders when wet) are conductors of electricity and should not be placed near of carried beneath low overhead power lines; and
   
5. It is important to ensure that ladders are used the correct way up; timber pole ladders have metal ties under each rung. Metal ladders often have rungs with both flat and curved surfaces, the flat surface is the one on which the users’ feet should rest.

Stepladders:

1. Stepladders are not designed to accept side loading;
   
2. Chains or ropes to prevent overspreading are required, or other fitting designed to achieve the same result, legs stepladders should not be fully extended;
   
3. Stepladders should be levelled for stability on a firm base;
   
4. Work should not be carried out from the top step;
   
5. Overreaching should be avoided by moving the stepladder, if this is not possible other means of access should be used;
   
6. Equipment should be maintained and free from defects, regular inspection is required; and
   
7. No more than one person should use a stepladder at one time.

Working Platforms and Trestles:

1. Trestles are suitable on as board supports;
   
2. Trestles should be levelled for stability on a firm base, inspected regularly and free from defects;
   
3. Platforms based on trestles should be fully boarded, adequately supported and provided with edge protection where appropriate;
   
4. Safe means of access should be provided to trestle platforms, usually by a stepladder;
   
5. Schedule 2 The construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996) working platforms should be no less than 600mm in width and must further be sufficiently wide to permit free passage of people and safe use of equipment and materials;
   
6. Many older trestles may no longer be suitable to support such platforms, as they will be too narrow.
   

Produced by the GMB, London Region,
Thorne House, 152 Brent Street, Hendon. NW4 2DP
Tel: 020 8202 8272
Fax: 020 8202 2893