Working at height regulations – how and why you must comply

Working at height 2005 regulations are a set of guidelines and rules that are designed to prevent deaths and injuries to people who fall from height.

What are the regulations?

A brief guide to the working at height regulations can be accessed from the health and safety executive (HSE) website.

Have the regulations had an effect?

HSE have produced a report that highlights the number of people affected and the trend appears to be a downward one highlighting the impact the regulations are having, the PDF report can be downloaded here.

Does this apply to you?

The regulations apply to anyone who is an employer or if you control work at height for example if you are a contractor or a factory owner, there are even guidelines for architects and building designers to follow.

What happens if the regulations are not followed?

There have been several cases where individuals have been given prison sentences and companies have been fined for not following the working at height regulations properly.

In 2014 a developer (Eze Kinsley, of Edgware, Middlesex) was sent to prison for 30 months after breaching prohibition notices which were put in place to ensure the safety of workers while redeveloping a former office block in Parkeston, Essex.

In 2012 two companies were fined when it was found that a scaffold tower had not been correctly erected and a 38 year old employee fell from it, he fractured two vertebrae and was off work for almost seven months.

How can Key help

Ensuring the equipment is correctly erected, suitable for the job and in good condition is essential, Key sell equipment that enables people to work at height, from the popular kick stool to platform towers, which meet the working at height regulations 2005 and complies with PASMA’s recommendations relating to safe method of tower build.

Key also have safety equipment such as the ladder anti-slip device that can be used to secure ladders on surfaces such as grass, tarmac and paving slabs.

The safety and workwear range can be seen in full here.