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Ladders and Access Legislation – What You Need To Know

While it is a myth that The Work at Height Regulations 2005 ban the use of steps, stepladders, ladders, platforms and access equipment in the workplace, they do provide detailed and specific instruction for their safe use.  The regulations apply to any and all work at height which could result in a fall that would cause personal injury.  They apply to employers, employees and self employed persons who carry out work at height or are responsible for providing instruction and direction to those working at height.  The regulations require these duty holders to:

  • Avoid work at height where reasonably practicable (i.e. if the work can be done from the ground safely and within a reasonable time)
  • Make sure that work at height is properly planned, supervised and carried out by competent people (a competent person is one who has sufficient training for the task at hand and knows how to use the equipment properly).
  • Assess the risks involved in the work at height and take and select appropriate measures and equipment to carry out the task
  • Prevent falls through the use of safety equipment (favouring collective safety equipment over personal without compromising on safety – e.g. a guardrail over a harness)
  • Where the risk of a fall cannot be eliminated the distance and consequences should be minimised by selecting the correct equipment
  • Make sure equipment used for work at height is regularly maintained and inspected
  • Proper precautions are taken when working on or near fragile surfaces
  • Ensure protection from falling objects
  • Implement suitable emergency and rescue procedures should an accident occur

The regulations also include schedules that give details of requirements of and instructions in the use of existing places of work, means of collective protection, working platforms, means of collective fall arrest, personal fall protection systems and ladders, while also giving details of how these systems should be inspected.