Working at Heights Regulations 2005

Every year people die and thousands suffer a serious injury as a result of a fall from height in the workplace or by objects falling from a height.

Falls from height are the most common cause of fatal injury and the second most common cause of major injury to employees, accounting for 15% of all such injuries. All industry sectors are exposed to the risks presented by this hazard although the level of incidence varies considerably.

The above regulations came in to force on 6 April 2005 and replace all the earlier regulations about working from height.

Work at height is work in any place (including at or below ground level) where a person could be injured by falling from it. Work includes moving around at a place of work (except by a staircase in a permanent place of work).

The regulations:

a. require every employer to ensure that work at height is properly planned, appropriately supervised and is carried out in a manner which so far as is reasonably practicable safe and that the planning includes the selection of work equipment in accordance with the regulations;
b. require employers to ensure that persons at work are competent or supervised by competent persons;
c. set out the steps to be taken to avoid risk from work at height;
d. impose duties in relating to the selection of work equipment and impose duties in relation to particular types of work equipment such as platforms or personal fall protection systems;
e. impose duties for avoiding the risks from fragile surfaces, falling objects and danger areas; and
f. impose duties on persons who are at work.

Further information and guidance can be found on the HSE web site at www.hse.gov.uk (This link will open in a new window) and in the HSE publication 'The Work at Height Regulations 2005. A Brief Guide to the Regulations'.

Further information relating to this service is available on the Web at: www.hse.gov.uk (This link will open in a new window)

For further information please contact Customer Services on 01883 722000 or e-mail customerservices@tandridge.gov.uk

Or write to us at:
Tandridge District Council
8 Station Road East
Oxted RH8 0BT

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Working at Heights Regulations 2005

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