Offering practical, step-by-step guidance, they cover a wide range of safety-related topics and can be downloaded free from the WAHSA website which also includes an ‘Ask an expert’ section.
www.wahsa.co.uk
The series begins with ‘Considerations for the use of personal fall protection equipment’ which addresses the essential points to take into account when selecting and using PPE equipment such as anchor devices, harnesses and lanyards. The aim is to educate and inform people at all levels of the WAH process to ensure that only the correct equipment is selected and then used in a safe, competent and professional manner.
The second in the free series gives guidance on the use of retractable type fall arresters for working at height. These products are commonly known as fall arrest blocks in Europe and self-retracting lifelines (SRL’s) in North America. Another term often used is ‘inertia reels’.
Next comes guidance on inspecting personal fall protection equipment and the interpretation of Regulation 12 of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 (WAHR). This technical guidance note provides general advice on inspection regimes for personal equipment used to provide protection against falls from height, and is intended to provide information on the frequency, procedures and level of detail of inspection and the type of records which must be kept. Other titles in the series include:
- Guidance on the use of single and twin energy absorbing lanyards;
- Guidance on rescue during work at height;
- Guidance on inspecting eyebolts used for personal fall protection purposes;
- Sources of information relating to work at height;
- Guidance on the selection, use, inspection and maintenance of connectors;
- Guidance on basic casualty handling.
In total, nine topics are currently covered and WAHSA plans to publish further guidance later in the year, dealing with the CE marking of anchor devices, the selection, use, inspection and maintenance of deadweight anchors, and the risks of working in confined spaces.
Comments Peter Ward for the association, which is a leading member of the Access Industry Forum (AIF): "We have combined the experience and expertise of our members to produce a set of technical guidance notes that we believe add considerably to the body of knowledge currently available regarding safe working at height. They are free to anyone working in this important industry sector.”
"We have also introduced a free ‘Ask an expert’ enquiry service which anyone involved in work at height can use to ask a question on best practice, guidance and standards. In fact, anything at all connected with height safety. And if it doesn’t relate to our area of expertise, we will happily pass it on to another member of the Forum.”
WAHSA was incorporated in 2005. To qualify for membership, companies must be manufacturers of equipment used for work at height and rescue and must control the entire production process from raw material through to testing and certification.
Says Peter Ward: "Although there is presently an emphasis on regulation and inspection, the association takes a more proactive role to educate and inform people at all levels of the supply chain to ensure that fall protection equipment is purchased, provided and used in a competent and professional manner, and, of course, in full knowledge of the key criteria, regulations and guidance.”
