New legislation (WAHR) came into force on the 6th April 2005
New legislation (download WAHR) has come into force since 6th April 2005. This followed the HSE producing this document in consultation with the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) and BSI (British Standards Institution) to control working at height following the European Temporary Work at Height Directive (published December 2003).
Approximately 2.2 million people work in Britain’s construction industry, making it the country’s biggest industry. However, it is also one of the most dangerous. In the last 25 years, over 2,800 people have died from injuries they received as a result of construction work. Many more have been injured or made ill.
In 2006/2007 over 70 people died and nearly 4000 suffered a serious injury as a result of a fall from height in the workplace.
Falls from height are the most common cause of fatal injury and the second most common cause of major injury to employees, accounting for around 15% of all such injuries. All industry sectors but in particular Construction workers are exposed to the risks presented by this hazard although the level of incidence varies considerably.
As a result, Falls from Height are a key priority in the Health and Safety Commission Injury Reduction Programme. The objective is to reduce injury rates by 10% by 2010 against a 1999/00 baseline.
Experience shows that falls from height usually occur as a result of poor management control rather than because of equipment failure.
Common factors include:
• Failure to recognise a problem.
• Failure to provide safe systems of work.
• Failure to ensure that safe systems of work are followed.
• Inadequate information, instruction, training or supervision provided.
• Failure to use appropriate equipment;
• Failure to provide safe plant/equipment.
Key Measures include:
• Follow good practice for work at height
• Follow your risk assessment; plan and organise your work properly; and make sure everyone
involved is competent to their level or responsibility;
• Try to avoid the need for work at height where you can; where you can't, take steps to
prevent falls; where you cannot prevent a fall then you must mitigate the risk of injury should
a fall occur.
• Always select collective measures to prevent falls (such as guardrails and working platforms)
before other measures which may only mitigate the distance and consequences of a fall (such
as nets or airbags) or which may only provide personal protection from a fall.
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