Legal advice: Working at heights
The issue of fire fighters not being able to use ladders and step ladders due to 'health and safety' has featured in the press recently. If true, we should all be very worried as a key tool for a fireman is the ladder and without it no doubt any of us could perish in a fire.
But of course, it isn't true. Ladders and step ladders have not been banned by the health and safety 'police', unless of course, the use of them is inherently unsafe and people's safety is put at risk.
More accidents are attributed to falling from heights than from any other cause and so it does make sound business sense to manage the use of ladders and step ladders. The Working at Height Regulations 2005 govern all working at height, no matter how high up, and also cover falling down openings, for example cellar flaps.
We all use step ladders and often ladders and so to ensure everyone's safety, a few sensible steps are needed:
- A risk assessment should be carried out. Ask yourself the question whether an alternative approach can be taken to working at height
- Identify the task in hand
- Identify whether the step ladder or ladder you have access to is suitable for the job. Will it be high enough, can you get close enough to the area you need to reach, is there room to fully extend the A-frame of the step ladder or to safely get onto the rungs of the ladder?
- Have you or others had training? Are you competent to use the equipment and to understand the task you have to do?
- Will the work be of short duration?
- Will you need to reach other equipment, parts etc?
- Will passers-by, customers, staff etc knock into you?
- Can you keep 'three points of contact' on the ladder or step ladder, that is, two feet and one hand to hold on, or two feet and the body supported by the step ladder?
- Can you reach by only standing on the rungs approximately half way up the ladder or step ladder? This will prevent over-reaching.
- Is the ladder or step ladder in good condition and suitable for the job?
A few simple steps will help protect you and your employees from injury, and you, in particular, from prosecution for failing to have a "safe system of work". As they say: "Accidents only take a minute but can last a lifetime".
