United Kingdom Statutory Instruments

"the 1974 Act" means the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974;

"access" and "egress" include ascent and descent;

(a) be stable and of sufficient strength and rigidity for the purpose for which it is intended to be or is being used;

(b) where applicable, rest on a stable, sufficiently strong surface;

(c) be of sufficient dimensions to permit the safe passage of persons and the safe use of any plant or materials required to be used and to provide a safe working area having regard to the work to be carried out there;

(d) possess suitable and sufficient means for preventing a fall;

(e) possess a surface which has no gap - 


(i) through which a person could fall;

(ii) through which any material or object could fall and injure a person; or

(iii) giving rise to other risk of injury to any person, unless measures have been taken to protect persons against such risk;



(f) be so constructed and used, and maintained in such condition, as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable - 



(i) the risk of slipping or tripping; or

(ii) any person being caught between it and any adjacent structure;



(g) where it has moving parts, be prevented by appropriate devices from moving inadvertently during work at height.

(a) be of sufficient dimensions, of sufficient strength and rigidity for the purposes for which they are being used, and otherwise suitable;

(b) be so placed, secured and used as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that they do not become accidentally displaced; and

(c) be so placed as to prevent, so far as is practicable, the fall of any person, or of any material or object, from any place of work.

     3. In relation to work at height involved in construction work - 

(a) the top guard-rail or other similar means of protection shall be at least 950 millimetres or, in the case of such means of protection already fixed at the coming into force of these Regulations, at least 910 millimetres above the edge from which any person is liable to fall;

(b) toe-boards shall be suitable and sufficient to prevent the fall of any person, or any material or object, from any place of work; and

(c) any intermediate guard-rail or similar means of protection shall be positioned so that any gap between it and other means of protection does not exceed 470 millimetres.

     4. Any structure or part of a structure which supports means of protection or to which means of protection are attached shall be of sufficient strength and suitable for the purpose of such support or attachment.

     5.  - (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), there shall not be a lateral opening in means of protection save at a point of access to a ladder or stairway where an opening is necessary.

    (2) Means of protection shall be removed only for the time and to the extent necessary to gain access or egress or for the performance of a particular task and shall be replaced as soon as practicable.

    (3) The task shall not be performed while means of protection are removed unless effective compensatory safety measures are in place.

(a) be suitable and of sufficient strength and rigidity for the purpose for which it is being used;

(b) in the case of a wheeled structure, be prevented by appropriate devices from moving inadvertently during work at height;

(c) in other cases, be prevented from slipping by secure attachment to the bearing surface or to another structure, provision of an effective anti-slip device or by other means of equivalent effectiveness;

(d) be stable while being erected, used and dismantled; and

(e) when altered or modified, be so altered or modified as to ensure that it remains stable.

Stability of working platforms
     4. A working platform shall - 

(a) be suitable and of sufficient strength and rigidity for the purpose or purposes for which it is intended to be used or is being used;

(b) be so erected and used as to ensure that its components do not become accidentally displaced so as to endanger any person;

(c) when altered or modified, be so altered or modified as to ensure that it remains stable; and

(d) be dismantled in such a way as to prevent accidental displacement.

Safety on working platforms
     5. A working platform shall - 

(a) be of sufficient dimensions to permit the safe passage of persons and the safe use of any plant or materials required to be used and to provide a safe working area having regard to the work being carried out there;

(b) possess a suitable surface and, in particular, be so constructed that the surface of the working platform has no gap - 


(i) through which a person could fall;

(ii) through which any material or object could fall and injure a person; or

(iii) giving rise to other risk of injury to any person, unless measures have been taken to protect persons against such risk; and



(c) be so erected and used, and maintained in such condition, as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable - 



(i) the risk of slipping or tripping; or

(ii) any person being caught between the working platform and any adjacent structure.

Loading
     6. A working platform and any supporting structure shall not be loaded so as to give rise to a risk of collapse or to any deformation which could affect its safe use.

(a) a risk assessment has demonstrated that the work activity can so far as is reasonably practicable be performed safely while using it and without affecting its effectiveness;

(b) the use of other, safer work equipment is not reasonably practicable; and

(c) a sufficient number of available persons have received adequate training specific to the safeguard, including rescue procedures.

     3. A safeguard shall be suitable and of sufficient strength to arrest safely the fall of any person who is liable to fall.

     4. A safeguard shall - 

(a) in the case of a safeguard which is designed to be attached, be securely attached to all the required anchors, and the anchors and the means of attachment thereto shall be suitable and of sufficient strength and stability for the purpose of safely supporting the foreseeable loading in arresting any fall and during any subsequent rescue;

(b) in the case of an airbag, landing mat or similar safeguard, be stable; and

(c) in the case of a safeguard which distorts in arresting a fall, afford sufficient clearance.

     5. Suitable and sufficient steps shall be taken to ensure, so far as practicable, that in the event of a fall by any person the safeguard does not itself cause injury to that person.

(a) a risk assessment has demonstrated that - 


(i) the work can so far as is reasonably practicable be performed safely while using that system; and

(ii) the use of other, safer work equipment is not reasonably practicable; and



(b) the user and a sufficient number of available persons have received adequate training specific to the operations envisaged, including rescue procedures.

     2. A personal fall protection system shall - 

(a) be suitable and of sufficient strength for the purposes for which it is being used having regard to the work being carried out and any foreseeable loading;

(b) where necessary, fit the user;

(c) be correctly fitted;

(d) be designed to minimise injury to the user and, where necessary, be adjusted to prevent the user falling or slipping from it, should a fall occur; and

(e) be so designed, installed and used as to prevent unplanned or uncontrolled movement of the user.

     3. A personal fall protection system designed for use with an anchor shall be securely attached to at least one anchor, and each anchor and the means of attachment thereto shall be suitable and of sufficient strength and stability for the purpose of supporting any foreseeable loading.

     4. Suitable and sufficient steps shall be taken to prevent any person falling or slipping from a personal fall protection system.

(a) the system includes a suitable backup system for preventing or arresting a fall; and

(b) where the system includes a line as a backup system, the user is connected to it; or

(c) where it is not reasonably practicable to comply with sub-paragraph (a), all practicable measures are taken to ensure that the work positioning system does not fail.

(a) subject to paragraph 3, it involves a system comprising at least two separately anchored lines, of which one ("the working line") is used as a means of access, egress and support and the other is the safety line;

(b) the user is provided with a suitable harness and is connected by it to the working line and the safety line;

(c) the working line is equipped with safe means of ascent and descent and has a self-locking system to prevent the user falling should he lose control of his movements; and

(d) the safety line is equipped with a mobile fall protection system which is connected to and travels with the user of the system.

     2. Taking the risk assessment into account and depending in particular on the duration of the job and the ergonomic constraints, provision must be made for a seat with appropriate accessories.

     3. The system may comprise a single rope where - 

(a) a risk assessment has demonstrated that the use of a second line would entail higher risk to persons; and

(b) appropriate measures have been taken to ensure safety.

(a) which involves the risk of a line being cut;

(b) where its safe use requires a clear zone (allowing for any pendulum effect), which does not afford such zone; or

(c) which otherwise inhibits its performance or renders its use unsafe.

(a) be so designed that, if used correctly, it prevents the user from getting into a position in which a fall can occur; and

(b) be used correctly.

(a) the short duration of use; or

(b) existing features on site which he cannot alter.

     2. Any surface upon which a ladder rests shall be stable, firm, of sufficient strength and of suitable composition safely to support the ladder so that its rungs or steps remain horizontal, and any loading intended to be placed on it.

     3. A ladder shall be so positioned as to ensure its stability during use.

     4. A suspended ladder shall be attached in a secure manner and so that, with the exception of a flexible ladder, it cannot be displaced and swinging is prevented.

     5. A portable ladder shall be prevented from slipping during use by - 

(a) securing the stiles at or near their upper or lower ends;

(b) an effective anti-slip or other effective stability device; or

(c) any other arrangement of equivalent effectiveness.

     6. A ladder used for access shall be long enough to protrude sufficiently above the place of landing to which it provides access, unless other measures have been taken to ensure a firm handhold.

     7. No interlocking or extension ladder shall be used unless its sections are prevented from moving relative to each other while in use.

     8. A mobile ladder shall be prevented from moving before it is stepped on.

     9. Where a ladder or run of ladders rises a vertical distance of 9 metres or more above its base, there shall, where reasonably practicable, be provided at suitable intervals sufficient safe landing areas or rest platforms.

     10. Every ladder shall be used in such a way that - 

(a) a secure handhold and secure support are always available to the user; and

(b) the user can maintain a safe handhold when carrying a load unless, in the case of a step ladder, the maintenance of a handhold is not practicable when a load is carried, and a risk assessment under regulation 3 of the Management Regulations has demonstrated that the use of a stepladder is justified because of - 


(i) the low risk; and

(ii) the short duration of use.

(a) impose duties relating to the organising and planning of work at height (regulation 4);

(b) require that persons at work be competent, or supervised by competent persons (regulation 5);

(c) prescribe steps to be taken to avoid risk from work at height (regulation 6 and Schedule 1);

(d) impose duties relating to the selection of work equipment (regulation 7);

(e) impose duties in relation to particular work equipment (regulation 8 and Schedules 2 to 6);

(f) impose duties for the avoidance of risks from fragile surfaces, falling objects and danger areas (regulations 9 to 11);

(g) require the inspection of certain work equipment and of places of work at height (regulations 12 and 13 and Schedule 7);

(h) impose duties on persons at work (regulation 14);

(i) provide for exemptions from certain provisions (regulations 15 and 16); and

(j) amend, repeal or revoke certain enactments (regulations 17 to19 and Schedule 8).

     4. A full regulatory impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the costs of business is available from the Health and Safety Executive, Safety Economics Unit, Rose Court, 2 Southwark Bridge, London SE1 9HS. A Transposition Note in relation to the implementation of the Directives can be obtained from the Health and Safety, International Branch at the same address. Copies of both these documents have been placed in the Library of each House of Parliament.