Work at Height

Working at height happens on most construction sites and is the cause of many injuries. Regulation 27 states that the relevant contractor must ensure that if construction work is carried out at height, suitable and sufficient measures are taken to prevent any person falling through such a distance as to put the person at risk of personal injury. In particular:-

• The work must be carried out from a place of work, with (if necessary) a means of access or egress at height, where the place and means satisfy the requirements of Schedule 1 (requirements for place at work for height)
• Sufficient work equipment must be provided and used in carrying out the work, being work equipment that meets such of the requirements of Schedules 2 to 7 (see further requirements) as apply to it.

The work equipment referred to must be inspected by a competent person after it has been installed or assembled and then at suitable intervals or after every occasion when the equipment has been subject to conditions liable to affect its safe use.

A scaffold from which a person could fall 2 metres or more must be thoroughly examined by a competent person before it is brought into use and after it has been substantially altered or erected.

A scaffold from which a person could fall 2 metres or more must be inspected by a competent person once in every period of 7 days in which it continues to be used.

The competent person must complete a written record of an examination or an inspection, being a record that includes the information required by Regulation 31, see Information in record of inspection.