The Working at Height Regulations (2005) are there to safeguard employees and employers when working at height is part of their job. The regulations include rules such as ladders must be used with certain safety precautions , and equipment needs to be checked before it is used, and if a business or group adhere to the guidelines, the chance of injury or fatality in the workplace is reduced.
When Do They Apply? The regulations apply to any business where employees will be at risk of falling, whether at height or ground level. The guidelines also apply to the self employed and to occasions where an individual is in charge of a group of people. Such instances include team building days and outdoor trips. Those exempt from the Working at Height Regulations include police, fireman, ship crew and there are also variations of the guidelines for those leading caving expeditions or sporting activities.
What Are Employers And Leaders Responsible For? A large portion of the responsibility lies with the employer/leader, and the first area of responsibility is planning. The responsible party must ensure equipment is suitable and the area is safe before the work or activity is carried out.
The employer or leader is also responsible for selecting the appropriate equipment for a task, and making a safety assessment of the equipment, including considering any accidents that could occur when using it.
Perhaps the most important thing the employer is responsible for is taking appropriate measures to avoid falls, which can include providing equipment which will minimise a fall or precautions to reduce the distance of a fall.
It is also a leader or employers responsibility to identify and mark dangerous areas. Areas such as the space below scaffolding where objects could fall need to be clearly marked as dangerous and avoided.
One final responsibility the employer/leader has is to carry out regular inspections on sites and equipment to ensure they are suitable for use.
What Are Employees And Group Members Responsibilities? Group members and employees also shoulder some of the responsibility and their main roles are to follow all instructions given to them by their employer or group leader and to report any hazardous areas or broken equipment they come across.
If you’ve had an accident at work you may be eligible to make an industrial accident claim . A solicitor can help you gain compensation payments to take the financial pressure off.