Health and Safety in the construction industry
HSE reference regarding falls:
CHSW REGULATIONS 5
HOW THE CHSW REGULATIONS AFFECT YOU
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST FALLS
(REGULATIONS 6 AND 7)
- Prevent falls from height by physical precautions or, where this is not possible, provide equipment that will arrest falls;
- Ensure there are physical precautions to prevent falls through fragile materials;
- Erect scaffolding, access equipment, harnesses and nets under the supervision of a competent person;
- Ensure there are criteria for using ladders.
Falls account for more than half of the fatal accidents in construction. The aim of the Regulations is to prevent falls from any height, but there are specific steps to be taken for work over two metres high.
- Above this height, where work cannot be done safely from the ground, the first objective is to provide physical safeguards to prevent falls. Where possible, means of access and working places should be of sound construction and capable of safely supporting both people and the materials needed for the work. Guard rails and toe boards or an equivalent standard of protection should be provided at any edge from which people could fall.
- Sometimes it is either not possible to provide the above safeguards or the work is of such short duration or difficulty that it would not be reasonably practicable to do so. In these circumstances, consider using properly installed personnel equipment such as rope access or boatswain’s chairs.
- If, for the same reasons these methods of work cannot be used, it will be necessary to consider equipment which will arrest falls, ie safety harnesses or nets with associated equipment. Scaffolds, personnel harnesses and net equipment have to be erected or installed under the supervision of a competent person.
Source: Health and Safety Executive.
HSE Book: INDG220, Reprinted 4/03, C120.
http://www.hse.gov.uk
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