The work at height Regulations 2005 came into force on 6April. The regulations apply to all work at height where there is a risk of a fall liable to cause personal injury. They place duties on employers, the self-employed, and any person that controls the work of others (for example facilities managers or building owners who may contract others to work at height).

As part of the Regulations, duty holders must ensure: all work at height is properly planned and organised: those involved in work at height are assessed and appropriate work equipment is selected and used: the risk from fragile surfaces are properly controlled: and equipment for work at height is properly inspected and maintained. There is a simply hierarchy for managing and selecting equipment for work at height.

Duty holders must: avoid work at height where they can: use work equipment or other measures to prevent falls where they cannot avoid working 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. The regulations include schedules giving requirements for existing places of work and means of access for work at height, collective fall prevention (eg guiderails and working platforms), collective fall arrest (eg nets, airbags etc), personal fall protection (ie work restraints, fall arrest and rope access) and ladders.

Marwood Group are fully committed to supplying the very best in construction site safety equipment. Our fully trained staff will be pleased to advise on all aspects of safety and will recommend the right equipment for the right environment including Air Mats to safeguard your workers from fall from height.