HSE guidance debunks ladder 'myths'

摘要

The HSE has overhauled its guidance on working at height, implementing a recommendation of Ragnar Lofstedt's 2011 legislative review (HSB 405 p.12). The new suite includes a revised "brief guide"covering - in eight pages - work planning, competence, protective measures, and the selection and maintenance of equipment. This is supplemented by a new brief guide on ladders and a micro-site that includes a toolkit for selecting access equipment and sector-specific guidance. Although Loefstedt accepted the risk-based approach of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 had improved the management of work at height, he found "only a small number of managers were able to correctly define working at height and very few actually understood the regulatory requirements." As such, he recommended the HSE review the Regulations and guidance by April 2013 (HSB 405 p.16).