NEW LADDERS AND THE WORK AT  HEIGHT REGULATIONS (WAHR) – WHAT THEY MEAN TO YOU

UNDER NEW REGULATIONS LADDERS CAN BE USED FOR ACCESS AND EXIT

The use of portable ladders in UK industry is currently controlled by a number of legal items including:

• Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
• Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996 (CHSWR)
• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
• Manual Handling Regulations 1992
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulations 1992
• Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) 1998
• Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992

The primary objective of the new legislation is to eliminate work at height where possible and where it is not possible, to ensure that ALL work at height is performed safely and that equipment has been appropriately selected. Appropriate equipment can include access from a mobile access tower, scaffold or a ladder. Many of the requirements contained in the new legislation already feature in existing legislation specific to the construction industry, and under the new legislation these will be applied to all sectors of the economy. All work at height will be covered, and not limited to any specific height or work equipment used.
As under existing legislation, duties are placed on employers, the self-employed and employees.
The WAHR require employers and the self-employed to put in place arrangements for:

• Eliminating or minimising risks from work at height
• Organising and planning work at height
• Selecting suitable work equipment to perform work at height

When selecting suitable work equipment,  the principles of Risk Assessment must be taken into account as required by the Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. The Risk Assessment and the action taken should be proportionate to the harm that could occur if no action was taken. Where work at height cannot be eliminated/avoided, safe means of access/working should be considered. As far as ladders in particular are concerned the following should be considered:

• What is the ladder to be used for
• Type of ladder
• Loads to be carried
• Short duration of the work
• Prevention of and consequences of falls
• Wear and tear of the equipment
• Other suitable access equipment
• Frequency of access
• Training and abilities of users
• Workplace, ground and side conditions, including access and egress and external factors e.g. weather and vandalism as well as safety from electrical shocks

Ladders are Work Equipment as defined by PUWER 98 and must be suitable for the task to be undertaken.
Ladders can be used as workplaces when it is not reasonably practicable to use other potentially safer means and the Risk Assessment shows that risks are low.
Ladders can be used for access when the installation of a permanent staircase is not reasonably practicable.
Ladders should be used in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions and:

• Leaning ladders should be placed at the correct angle
• Leaning ladders should be secured to prevent slippage
• Ladders should be placed on firm level surfaces with the rungs horizontal
• Users should face the ladder at all times whilst climbing or dismounting
• Stepladders should not be used sideways-on where sideways loads are applied
• Only one person should climb or work from a ladder or a stepladder
• Do not overreach
• Ladders should be stored correctly
• Ladders should be checked before setting up and inspected regularly

Note: WAHR spells out the need to check and maintain ladders. WAHR is not requiring anything new, but clearly stating the general requirements of PUWER to maintain and inspect work equipment (Regulations 5 and 6(2)). Many of these points do not change from current legislation, however the BLMA have produced Risk Assessment Guideline forms for stepladders and leaning ladders to aid those responsible for ladder use. These are available from the Association, and as a free download from the BLMA website. Employees should report any activity or defect relating to work at height which is likely to endanger the safety of themselves or others, and employees should use work equipment or safety devices provided for work at height in accordance with training and instructions that have been given.

Visit www.ladders-blma.co.uk to download your free copy of the Ladders and the Work Height Regulations pamphlet produced by the BLMA (British Ladder Manufacturers Association) in consultation with the HSE (Health and Safety Executive). Alternatively, you can contact them at:-

The Ladder Association
P.O. Box 26970
Glasgow G3 9DS
Tel: 0845 260 1048
Fax: 0845 260 1049
Email: info@ladderassociation.org.uk
Web: www.ladderassociation.org.uk

AVAILABLE FROM TITAN:

• Risk Assessment Guidelines for Use of Leaning Ladders
• Copies of WAHR Regulations
• The BLMA Leaning Ladder & Stepladder User’s Guide
• FREE Titan User’s Guide supplied with every Ladder (extra copies available on request)