E106:05 18 August 2005

HSE publishes inspector training pack for work at height regulations

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published the pack used to train HSE and Local Authority Inspectors in enforcing the Work at Height Regulations 2005 on its website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/. Falls from height remain the biggest cause of death in the workplace. This material, together with guidance already available, will help health and safety professionals better advise employers on safe work at height.

Dr Elizabeth Gibby, Director of HSE’s Injuries Reduction Programme, said: "The publication of this pack will help health and safety professionals to understand more about the HSE approach to the Work at Height Regulations. It is an important step forward in openness from HSE. It is sensible to share information to help people to be safe at work."

The pack gives employers, safety professionals and those who work at height an opportunity to look at information provided to Inspectors and shows examples of good and bad practice that Inspectors look for during their visits.

Notes to Editors

1. There were 53 deaths from falls at work in Great Britain last year. Many of those who died would still be alive today if sensible measures had been taken.

2. The release of the Inspector Training Pack will help employers and safety professionals manage the risks for work at height. The Pack is not “guidance” but gives access to the same information that HSE Inspectors and Environmental Health Officers use when performing their regulatory duties. HSE is committed to being open about what it does and publishing this information is consistent with its policy on open government. This policy is available at http://www.hse.gov.uk/foi/openness.pdf

3. HSE will publish a speakers’ pack on the website in the near future. This will be available as a template for anyone planning to give a presentation on the Work at Height Regulations. Speakers will be able to use the pack in its entirety, or amend it to meet their own needs.

4. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 came into force on 6 April this year. They set out a simple hierarchy for managing and selecting work equipment for work at height. Duty holders must:

• avoid work at height where they can;
• use work equipment or other measurers to prevent falls where they cannot avoid work at height; and
• where they cannot eliminate the risk of a fall, use work equipment or other measures to minimise the distance and consequences of a fall should one occur.

5. HSE has published a brief guide to the Regulations on the HSE website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg401.pdf.

6. There is more information on falls from height at http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/

Public Enquiries: HSE InfoLine, tel: 0845 345 0055, visit: www.hse.gov.uk/contact or write to: HSE InfoLine, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG.

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