Ensure staff are trained in use of equipment

Work at height Can you avoid working at height in the first place? No Yes Plan the task required Risk assess the task required Ensure staff are trained in use of equipment Ensure equipment has been correctly maintained before use Page 1 of 9

Introduction This policy directive on Work at Heights forms part of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council's written safety policy. Line Managers throughout the Council should refer to this directive and direct any queries they have to the Health and Safety Unit. Departments may decide to add to this information with specific guidance and systems of work relevant to departmental activities. Work at height Since 2001 an average of 50 people in the UK have died each year as a result of a fall from height and a further 8,702 seriously injured. You must make sure work is properly planned, supervised and carried out by competent people with the skills, knowledge and experience to do the job. You must use the right type of equipment for working at height. Take a sensible approach when considering precautions. Low-risk, relatively straightforward tasks will require less effort when it comes to planning and there may be some low-risk situations where common sense tells you no particular precautions are necessary. Work at Height Regulations (NI) 2005 The above regulations require that every employer shall ensure that work at height is: Only carried out where it is not reasonably practicable to carry out the work safely at ground level Properly planned and the right access equipment used Appropriately supervised Carried out in a manner which is so far as is reasonably practicable safe, and Only carried out when weather conditions do not jeopardise the health or safety of persons involved in the work Management must ensure staff are competent enough to complete the task safely and use or erect/ dismantle the selected access equipment correctly. They must also minimise the impact of any fall. Where you cannot eliminate the risk of a fall, use work equipment or other means to minimise the distance and consequences of a fall should one occur. Ladder accidents Many workers are killed or injured each year while using ladders, many when carrying out tasks on ladders of 30 minutes or less. The three main causes of ladder accidents are: Poor or inadequate securing and placing of the ladder. (This accounts for 50% of ladder accidents.) Climbing ladders when carrying loads. Over reaching and over balancing. Page 2 of 9

Stepladders provide a free-standing means of access, but must be used carefully. They are not designed to take any degree of side loading and are relatively easily overturned. Most stepladder accidents are the result of human error, not the result of stepladders collapsing. Planning the job and Risk Assessment A job should be planned out to ensure each stage is considered and appropriately risk assessed to identify any hazards and consider whether the hazards pose a risk that could cause harm to people. Suitable and sufficient measures must be put in place to prevent any person falling from a height. The following points need to be addressed: Has the right equipment been identified for the job i.e. ladder, stepladder, cherry picker etc.? Are measures required to protect other people (e.g. barriers, second person to act as look out, removing ladders when the site is unattended, etc.)? Will the equipment be positioned on a level and stable surface (e.g. concrete)? Is there means to secure the equipment (i.e. can a ladder be safely tied or will a second person be required to foot the ladder?) How long will the task take? Have the person(s) carrying out the work received adequate information, instruction or training to enable them to carry out the work safely? Who will be using the equipment? Do the person(s) carrying out the work suffer from vertigo or fear of heights? Is lone working involved? This should be avoided where possible when working at height. Is the equipment to be used as a means of access, e.g. onto scaffolding or a roof, or will someone be using the it as a work platform? Children under 16 should not be permitted to use lifting equipment. Before use Always visually inspect equipment before it is used and check for any damage. Never use equipment that is defective. Do not attempt to repair damage. Always report damaged equipment immediately to your supervisor. Always follow the manufacturer s instructions when setting up equipment. Make sure the rungs/ steps/ platform is clean and dry. Beware of wet, greasy and icy conditions. Wear flat firm soled shoes/boots with clean soles and a good grip. Check that there are no overhead hazards near where you are going to work, e.g. overhead electric lines. Page 3 of 9

Ladders & Stepladders Ladders should only be used as a work platform for uncomplicated work with a short duration. If a ladder is not suitable then consideration should be given to the use of more suitable equipment, e.g. scaffolding, tower scaffold systems, Mobile Elevating Work Platforms, etc. All ladders and stepladders should meet the requirements of the appropriate British or European standards. BS 1129:1990 (British) applies to wooden ladders and stepladders. BS 2037:1990 (British) applies to metal ladders and stepladders. BS EN 131:1993 (European) applies to metal and wooden ladders and stepladders. In addition to the standards that relate to the material the ladder is made from, there are three British and European standards that relate to their safe working loads: Class1 (Industrial) - Maximum static vertical load 175 kg. Class 3 (Domestic) - Maximum static vertical load 125 kg. BS EN 131 - Maximum static vertical load 150 kg. (This replaces the Class 2 [Light Trade] standard.) Always check for the relevant British or European standard when buying, hiring or using ladders and stepladders. If it is not marked on the equipment, or detailed in the manufacturer s guidance, contact the manufacturer or supplier to ensure that the ladder has been manufactured to the required British or European standard. Setting up ladders/ stepladders The following points must be noted before any ladder/ stepladder is used Never have more than one person on the ladder/stepladder at any time. Do not use, or carry metal ladders (or wooden ladders when wet) beneath low power lines. Never use stepladders in the closed position. Do not use outside in strong winds. Do not lend ladders/ stepladders to non-cbc employees. Do not use ladders/stepladders close to the corners of buildings. If ladders are used in front of a doorway, the doors should be securely wedged open. (Please note: Fire doors must not be left open when the immediate work area is unattended.) Some ladders may be too short for high work and some (just as dangerously) are too long for lower work. You must be able to work comfortably without over reaching up, down or sideways. Has the right class of ladder been selected? Page 4 of 9

Check for damage to the stiles (uprights), rungs and top platform. Check that plastic caps and/or rubber fittings are not missing on a ladder and that the stays, hinges, chains or cords (used to keep the stepladder from spreading) are of sufficient and equal length and are in good condition (replacements can usually be obtained from the supplier or manufacturer). Ladders Even where ladders are used only as a means of access and egress, precautions must be taken to prevent the ladder slipping, etc. In addition where a ladder or run of ladders rise a vertical distance of 9 metres or more, landing areas/rest platforms should be provided wherever practicable. Consider the use of devices such as spreader arms, stabilisers, etc. Details of various devices that are available can be obtained from suppliers and manufacturers Where a ladder is longer than 3 metres it must be secured. (Ladders must be secured by the stiles, not by the rungs.) If a ladder cannot be adequately secured at the top, it must be secured at the base (e.g. blocks, stakes, sandbags, stabilisers, etc.). If the ladder cannot be adequately secured, a second person must foot the ladder for the full duration of the work being carried out. Position the ladder on a firm and level base. There should be no makeshift use of bricks, timber or other packing to gain extra height or level up the stiles. When used as working platforms (rather than for access to scaffolding, etc.) ladders under 3 metres long need not be fixed or footed if they are securely placed to prevent slipping. However, any ladder used as a means of access must be secured to prevent it slipping or falling Always rest the ladder a solid surface (e.g. not against plastic guttering or against a narrow feature) and secure the top of the ladder by tying it off. A second person should foot the ladder when this is being carried out. The overall length of the ladder is not the same as its usable length. When used for access to scaffolding, roofs, etc, ladders should extend at least 1 metre (at least three rungs) above the landing place. If a person is working off a ladder, there should be I metre of ladder length above the highest rung on which the worker has to stand. (Rungs are usually a third of a metre apart.) Ladders should be placed at 75 degrees to the horizontal. One measure out from the building, for every four measures up. Extension ladders If you are using an extension ladder, make sure you know how to use it correctly. Accidents have occurred where extension ladders have been used the wrong way round, causing the ladder to collapse. On extension ladders over 5 metres (approx. 18 rungs) there must be an overlap of at least three rungs. On extension ladders over 6 metres, this Page 5 of 9

overlap should be 4 rungs. On shorter extension ladders (less than 5 metres) there should be a minimum overlap of at least two rungs. Ordinary ladders must never be lashed, tied or spliced together to try and make an extension ladder. Stepladders Check that the stepladder is locked into its correct position. Usually this will be with the legs positioned as far apart as the retaining cords/ hinges allow. Position the stepladder on a firm and level base. If you are working on soft ground, place the stepladder on a large flat board to provide a suitable base. Always position at right angles to the work you are doing, i.e. when you climb up the stepladder you are naturally facing the wall or item you are going to work on. On the Ladder/ stepladder When on the ladder/ stepladder, the following points need to be considered: Always face the ladder and use both hands when climbing up and down the rungs. If you need to carry tools up a ladder use a shoulder bag, tool belt, etc. Hold the ladder with one hand while you work. Special trays are available to fit between the stiles on ladders where necessary. If the work requires the use of both hands then another means of access should be used (scaffolding, tower scaffold, Mobile Elevating Working Platform). Always keep both feet on the rungs/ steps whilst working. Never have one foot on the ladder and the other foot on something else (e.g. window ledge, bookcase, wall, etc.). Do not over-reach. Move the ladder and re-secure it! Keep your body within the stiles (uprights) while working. Never work off the top rung of a ladder/ stepladder. Some stepladders may be specifically designed for this purpose. In cases such as these ensure that there is a secure handhold. Always check the manufacturer s guidance. As a general rule, keep your knees below the top of the platform. Never have more than one person on the ladder/ stepladder at any one time. Do not leave tools on steps where you could trip over them. Don t try to move the equipment whilst standing on it Storage Ladders should be stored in a covered, well-ventilated place where they are protected from excessive damp, heat and the weather. Wooden ladders should be kept off the floor (to avoid contact with damp). Stepladders should not be stored on a position where they are hung from their stiles or rungs. Ladders should be stored out of sight, under lock and key. Page 6 of 9

As an alternative, if ladders are stored in corridors, public areas, etc. they should be secured to a wall, or with stepladders, suitable actions taken to ensure they do not fall over. Ladders can be stored vertically or horizontally. If ladders are hung vertically they should be secured to prevent them falling over. Ladders should never be hung vertically from their rungs. A rack or wall brackets will allow ladders to be hung horizontally from the stiles. Records of Inspection A formal system should be in place for recording ladder inspections. Visual inspections should be carried out before and after normal use. Inspections should also be carried out at other set intervals. The frequency of these set inspections will depend on the amount a ladder is used. As part of a system of inspection and maintenance, ladders should be individually identified. This identification may include marking or painting small areas of the ladder. However, painting should be kept to an absolute minimum, as painting may hide defects. Ladders found to be defective should be clearly labelled or marked and withdrawn from service until repaired, or disposed of. Page 7 of 9

Safe use of ladder diagrams Ladder should be at a 75 degrees angle to the wall, i.e. one measure out from the building, for every four measures up. Correct use of a stand-off device to ensure a strong resting point. Do not rest a ladder against weak upper surfaces such as glazing or plastic gutters. Follow the manufacturer s instructions Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 1: Correct user maintaining three points of contact Figure 2: Incorrect overreaching and Page 8 of 9 not maintaining three points of contact

Securing Ladders Ladders should be secured where required to prevent them moving during use which may result in a fall. The options are as follows: Figure 3 Ladder tied at top stiles, correct for working on but not for gaining access to a working platform/roof etc. Tie the ladder to a suitable point, making sure both stiles are tied, see Figures 6, 7 and 8 Where this is not practical, secure with an effective ladder stability device; If this is not possible, then securely wedge the ladder, eg wedge the stiles against a wall; If you can t achieve any of these options, foot the ladder. Footing is the last resort. Avoid it, where reasonably practicable, by using other access equipment. What about ladders used for access? In general: Figure 4 Tying part way down Ladders used to access another level should be tied (see Figure 9) and extend at least 1 m above the landing point to provide a secure handhold. At ladder access points, a selfclosing gate is recommended. Stepladders should not be used to access another level, unless they have been specifically designed for this. Figure 5 Tying near the base Figure 6 access ladders should be tied and extend at least 1 m above the landing point to provide a secure handhold Page 9 of 9