These pages help you to:
Questions to ask include:
How high is the job from the ground?
What surface will the access equipment rest on? (e.g. a cover, partition wall)
Is this surface strong enough to take the weight of the workers and their equipment?
What is the ground condition under the area where access equipment might need to be set up - for example, is it sloping, slippery or uneven? The access equipment you use must be suitable for the ground conditions - stable, level and not liable to fall or collapse.
If you fall, what will you fall on to?
Is it raining hard, or very windy?
What tools or materials will you need for machine maintenance? How will you get them up and down safely?
When looking at what you need to do the job, think about the following…
| From the ground | Can you do the work from the ground? | Yes/No |
|---|---|---|
| If the machinery is on a roof | Is the roof easily accessible? | Yes/No |
| Is the roof strong enough to work from? | Yes/No | |
| Does the roof have guardrails or other equipment that will prevent a fall? | Yes/No | |
| If no, can this be installed? | Yes/No | |
| From a permanent platform | Can you do the work from a permanent working platform? | Yes/No |
| Does the platform have guardrails or other equipment that will prevent a fall? | Yes/No | |
| Can temporary protection be installed? | Yes/No | |
| From a temporary platform | Can you do the work from a mobile elevated work platform (MEWP), a podium or tower scaffold? | Yes/No |
| Fall protection | Do you need personal fall protection to allow safe access? | Yes/No |
| From a ladder | Is the work low risk and short duration? | Yes/No |
| Do you have a ladder that will reach the area? | Yes/No | |
| Can you secure the ladder safely? | Yes/No | |
| Can you or your workers use the ladder safely? | Yes/No |
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