WORKING AT HEIGHT
A WORTHWHILE INVESTMENT
Stephen Morris, UK Training Sales Manager at Capital Safety, explains why training matters when working at height.
Any business making an investment wants to get the best possible return, and however counter-intuitive it may seem, exactly the same principle applies when businesses invest in health and safety measures.
That is why, when employers carry out their duties to protect employees working at height, it is crucial that they provide comprehensive and effective training to support their investment in safety.
ENFORCING SAFETY The best allocation of resources is not the only reason why companies should make sure they obtain top- quality training for those working at height. Other drivers include the legal and regulatory duties to ensure the safety of employees. In particular, the Work at Height Regulations make it mandatory for employers to ensure all people working at height are trained in relevant safety precautions, procedures and practices . In most cases it could be justified that training should be provided in a formal setting by a recognised company.
The Personal Fall Protective Equipment (PFPE) that workers must use when working at height is considered ‘complex PPE’ and therefore they must be properly trained in its use. The good news is that this has benefits beyond the obvious, because a safe workforce is a productive workforce. Studies have shown that where workers are confident of their own safety, and believe that their employer values them, they work more effectively.
WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY? Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, employers have a legal duty of care to provide appropriate training for their employees. Legally the onus is upon them to be proactive in
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providing the correct training, rather than waiting for users to request it. In practice, prosecutions by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) often investigate the actions of both the person undertaking the task, and management.
The Health and Safety at Work Act requires managers to ensure ‘the provision of such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work of his employees.’ Moreover, the Work at Height regulations specify that employers must ensure that all workers are competent or, if being trained, are supervised by a competent person. Furthermore, where the risk of a fall cannot be avoided, the regulations require employers to train those who will be working at height in appropriate fall protection methods.
The standards set out in the British Standard BS 8454-2006 outline the requirements of work at height training and include the requirement for training to be recorded and documented.
This generates several challenges; employers must ensure legal and regulatory compliance and that a person is ‘competent’. Clearly, the management of working at height, and the associated safety issues, are specialist matters.
COMPETENCE IS KEY When work at height is required workers need to be trained and competent or directly supervised by a ‘competent person’, so that the trainees can themselves become competent to work at height.
There are several definitions of ‘competency’ - the Work at Height regulations state that ‘training in
isolation does not deem a person competent, but it does provide the basis of the required knowledge and skills that, when supplemented by workplace experience, would allow a person to demonstrate safe working practices and be deemed competent.’
WHAT MUST THE
TRAINING INCLUDE? As a minimum requirement, work at height training must cover:
• Relevant legislation.
• Identifying hazards, and the assessment of associated risk.
• An understanding of the hierarchy of controls, and their implementation.
• How to check, use and maintain appropriate safety equipment.
• Safe use of PFPE.
• The identification and use of anchor points.
• Safe working methods as they apply to the trainees in question.
• What to do in an emergency.
All training must be applicable and relevant to the person or people being trained. It should last long enough to ensure that each trainee fully understands the requirements and responsibilities involved in working at height, and has time to demonstrate that proficiency and required skills.
Training is an investment and should be considered with the same due diligence as any other operationally critical decision. The return on such provision lies not only in legal and regulatory compliance, but also in the knowledge that employees will feel safe and valued, and are thus more likely to be motivated, productive — and safe.
www.capitalsafety.com
www.tomorrowshs.com
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