Training

Working at height guide

by Mark Rowe

An official overhaul of guidance on working at height has been launched. More than a million British businesses and ten million workers are estimated to carry out jobs involving some form of work at height every year. Falls are one of the biggest causes of death and serious injury at work according to the watchdog the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). It has overhauled its guidance for such activity, setting out in clear, simple terms what to do and what not to do – and debunking common myths that can confuse and mislead employers.

Health and Safety Minister Mike Penning said: “As part of the government’s long-term economic plan, it’s vital that businesses are not bogged down in complicated red tape and instead have useable advice about protecting their workers. As a former fireman, I know that the 10 million people who are working at height in this country face risks in their job. But I’m also clear that managing these risks can be done sensibly, by giving simple and clear advice and tackling the myths that can confuse employers.”

Changes include:

providing advice about do’s and don’ts when working at height to ensure people are clear on what the law requires;
busting some of the persistent myths about health and safety law, such as the banning of ladders when they can still be used;
offering targeted advice to helping business in different sectors manage serious risks sensibly and proportionately; and
helping workers to be clearer about their own responsibilities for working safely.

Judith Hackitt, Chair of the Health and Safety Executive, said: “It’s important to get working at height right. Falls remain one of the biggest causes of serious workplace injury – with more than 40 people killed and 4,000 suffering major injuries every year. We have a sensible set of regulations and have been working with business to improve our guidance – making it simpler and clearer and dispelling some of the persistent myths about what the law requires. The result is advice that employers can count on to help them manage their businesses sensibly and proportionately.”

Related News

  • Training

    Data date

    by Mark Rowe

    The British Security Industry Association’s Information Destruction section will be exhibiting at the Information Commissioner’s Office’s Annual Data Protection Practitioner Conference, at…

  • Training

    Infosec defence date

    by Mark Rowe

    Organisers of the annual UK information security conference and exhibition Infosecurity Europe have launched a technical research conference ‘Infosecurity Intelligent Defence’. It’s…

  • Training

    ASIS spring meet

    by Mark Rowe

    The spring quarterly ASIS UK Chapter meeting will run at Linklaters, One Silk Street, London EC2Y 8HQ on Thursday, March 20. Speakers…

Newsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay on top of security news and events.

© 2024 Professional Security Magazine. All rights reserved.

Website by MSEC Marketing