According to the Work at Height Regulations 2005, all work at height activities should be properly planned, appropriately supervised and carried out safely to avoid accidents and injuries.
A recent news article from the Health and Safety Executive discusses how a Staffordshire-based home improvement company has been fined £16,500 after a worker sustained serious injuries when he fell from height while carrying out gutter replacement work.
An investigation has found that the company, Goliath Home World Limited, failed to properly plan the work, put in place measures to prevent and protect against a fall from height or provide adequate information and instruction to its worker. This exemplifies just how important planning work at height can be for preventing life changing injuries. To learn more reasons why planning work at height is crucial, keep reading this blog!
Why You Should Plan Work at Height
1. Injury prevention
Falls from height are one of the most common causes of serious workplace injuries and fatalities. By carrying out a plan and risk assessment before the work begins, you can confirm that the workers are adequately trained, the area is secure and that the work at height is even necessary in the first place. Implementing a plan like this helps to lower the risk of potentially fatal accidents and create a safer working environment.
2. Risk reduction
A thorough plan before you carry out your work at height also allows for the identification and assessment of risks, allowing workers to select the most appropriate control measures to mitigate hazards.
For example, if you are working on scaffolding and identify that there is a risk of injury if the scaffolding were to collapse, you can plan to mitigate this risk by employing primary fall protection devices and ensuring the scaffolding is erected and dismantled by a certified scaffolder according to manufacturer guidelines.
3. Legal compliance
Employers and those in control of work at height have a legal duty to ensure that the work is properly planned, supervised and carried out by competent people. In fact, it is a legal requirement for employers, employees and the self employed to follow the Work at Height Regulations 2005 when carrying out any work at height. Failure to comply to these regulations can lead to severe consequences, including fines, imprisonment and serious injury or death.
4. Correct equipment use
Planning work at height also ensures correct equipment use by forcing employers to carry out a risk assessment and follow the hierarchy of controls so that they select suitable equipment based on the task and environment. This process prevents employees ‘making do’ with incorrect equipment, which can lead to serious accidents.
5. Cost savings
Planning and implementing safety measures from the start of your work at height is far cheaper than dealing with the financial costs of an accident, including delays, repairs and legal liabilities. Effective planning also helps to streamline operations which in turn reduces day-to-day costs!
If you have any more questions about working safely at height, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at SafetyLiftinGear! To browse our height safety equipment, click the button below.
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