Aircraft Docking Maintenance Systems

In the U.K, work at height is the biggest single cause of fatal and serious injury in the construction industry, particularly on smaller projects. Over 60% of deaths during work at height involve falls; the majority of which are from ladders, scaffolds and working platforms.

The law requires that employers and self-employed contractors assess the risk from work at height and adequately plan and organise so work can be carried out safely. Then, workforces must be trained and instructed in the precautions needed for safe working at height.

Key issues when working at height are contained in the risk assessment. Employers and self-employed contractors must:

• Assess the risks
• Decide on the precautions required
• Record the significant findings
• Review the assessment as necessary

The HSE advises that you should not overcomplicate the process. For many firms your work at height risks will be well known and the necessary control measures easy to apply.

Follow the HSE Five Steps to Risk Assessment for further information. 

Precautions Required

The law on work at height requires that you take account of your risk assessment in organising and planning work and identifying the precautions required. Your objective is to make sure work at height is properly planned, supervised and carried out in a safe manner.

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 state that in the first instance, work at height should be avoided where it is reasonably practicable to do so, e.g. by assembly of scaffolding or scaffold towers at ground level. Otherwise, the risk of fall must be prevented using collective protection, e.g. by using advanced guardrails.

The approach you adopt for work at height should follow the Work at Height Hierarchy of Control Measures. An illustrated guide of which can be found here.

Method Statements

The method statement should be clear and illustrated by simple sketches where necessary. The HSE advise avoiding ambiguities or generalisations, which could lead to confusion. Statements are for the benefit of those carrying out the work and their immediate supervisors and should not be overcomplicated. Equipment needed for safe working should be clearly identified and available before work starts and workers should know what to do if the work method needs to be changed.

Expert and Impartial Guidance 

With over 25 years of experience and a full catalogue of work at height products and services, Turner Access is uniquely positioned to provide objective and expert guidance on safe working at height. 

Contact us with any working at height enquiry with absolutely no obligation.