'In 2003/04, falls from height accounted for 67 fatal accidents at work and nearly 4000 major injuries. They remain the single biggest cause of workplace deaths and one of the causes of major injury' – taken from The Work at Height Regulations 2005, A brief guide issue by the Health and Safety Executive.

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 apply to all work at height where there is a risk of a fall likely to cause personal injury. A place is considered to be “at height” if a person could be injured by falling from it, even if it is at or below ground level.

To do all that is reasonably practical to prevent anyone falling, Duty Holders must:

• Avoid work at height where they can
• Use work equipment or other measures to prevent falls when work at height cannot be avoided.
• Where they cannot eliminate the risk of a fall, use work equipment or other measures to minimise the distance and consequence of a fall, should one occur
  

The Duty Holders have the responsibility to ensure:

• All work at height is properly planned and organised
• All work at height takes account of weather conditions
• Those involved in work at height are trained and competent
• The place where work at height is done is safe
• Equipment for work at height is properly inspected
• The risks from fragile surfaces are properly controlled
• The risks from falling objects are properly controlled
  

Equipment & Inspection:

All Duty Holders must provide the most suitable equipment for preventing falls and minimising the risk of injury, and ensure that this equipment is regularly and properly inspected.

Each place at which work is to be undertaken at height must be checked on every occasion that work is done, and all equipment must be inspected when it is assembled or installed, and as often as is necessary thereafter to ensure safety.

For further information on the regulations governing Working at Height please contact us for advice or visit www.hse.gov.uk.