The Regulations always were, and remain, fit for purpose. What needed attention was the accompanying guidance, an issue that has now been addressed following an extensive consultation period involving not only the Forum, but also other work at height organisations and industry bodies.
The aim of the new guidance is to help business and industry – particularly micro and small and medium-sized enterprises – to adopt practical and, most importantly, proportionate measures, making it easier for people to comply with the law and manage the risks associated with working at height in a sensible way. In other words, to ensure that people stay safe but do not go beyond what is either proportionate or beyond what the legislation was originally intended to cover.
Falls from height remain one of the biggest causes of workplace fatalities and injuries which is why all nine members of the Forum are standards driven and committed to advancing safety, best practice and competency when working at height. The Forum promotes the link between training and competency in the workplace and advocates the need for all users of access equipment to be professionally trained to industry-recognised standards.
As will be seen in the following pages, all the organisations involved foster and support codes of good practice; minimum standards for equipment; trained and qualified operatives; and education and information activities. Each organisation contributes to the setting of both national and European standards in its own respective sector.
Going forward, the real challenge is to change the thinking and consequent behaviour of not only those who work at height, but also those who are responsible for its planning and implementation. No one deliberately sets out to fall from height, but there are many, many people on a daily basis who are prepared to take that risk - with often shattering consequences for themselves and their families, friends and colleagues.
But falls don’t just cost lives, they cost livelihoods. This handbook is a worthwhile reference for any employer or employee responsible for the safety of themselves or others when work at height is involved. It offers advice and information for a wide-cross section of industry.
Peter Bennett
Access Industry Forum
0845 020 4242michael.fern@pasma.co.uk
