The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has revised guidance in relation to working at height.
More than a million British businesses and ten million workers are estimated to carry out jobs involving some form of work at height every year and falls are one of the biggest causes of death and serious injury at work.
Now the HSE has overhauled its guidance, setting out in straightforward terms what to do and what not to do and debunking common myths about working at height, which is regarded as anything above floor-level and can therefore apply to a wide range of scenarios.
Launching the new guidance on 28 January, Health and Safety Minister Mike Penning said: “As a former fireman, I know that the ten million people who are working at height in this country face risks in their job. But I’m also clear that managing these risks can be done sensibly.” Key changes to the guidance include:
- providing simple advice about do’s and don’ts when working at height;
- helping workers to be clearer about their own responsibilities for working safely;
- disproving myths about health and safety law, such as the banning of ladders when they can still be used safely; and
- offering targeted advice to helping business in different sectors manage serious risks sensibly and proportionately.
HSE chair Judith Hackitt said: “It’s important to get working at height right. Falls remain one of the biggest causes of serious workplace injury, with more than 40 people killed and 4,000 suffering major injuries every year.”
“We have a sensible set of regulations and have been working with business to improve our guidance. The result is advice that employers can count on to help them manage their businesses sensibly and proportionately.”
Employers seeking clarification or guidance on their health and safety responsibilities or facing prosecution can find out more by visiting the Palmers website or contacting our health and safety specialists Lara Murray and Jeremy Sirrell.