Selecting The Appropriate Means Of Fall Protection
The Regulations set out a simple hierarchy for managing and selecting equipment for working at height. All fall protection decisions must be as a result of and take account of the risk assessment carried out under regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations.
Step 1:
Avoid work at height where they can;
Typically only an option for new build or refurbishment projects, by simply removing the need to work at height it removes the issue of fall protection. Examples of removing the hazard include: self cleaning glass, windows that can be revolved 180 degrees so that they can be cleaned internally or by putting plant or equipment in an internal location.
Step 2:
Use work equipment or other measures to prevent falls where they cannot avoid working at height;
Collective protection is equipment which can protect more than one person and, once properly installed or erected, does not require any action by them to make sure it will work.
E.g. Guard rails, scaffolding, tower scaffolds, Mobile Elevated Work platforms (MEWP's), scissor lifts, podium steps.
With any safety product the best option is to have one that is available at anytime. The problem with MEWP's, Scaffolds and towers etc. is that if a job at height is needed to be done straight away or is of short duration and the equipment is not immediately available or is time consuming to set up then unfortunately "human nature" means that work at height will be carried out without the use of the equipment or by using equipment that is unsuitable. The other problem with these options is the building will require adequate space around it or a suitable area of hard standing for the platforms or machinery to stand.
By having a permanently installed Guardrail system the protection is available whenever needed.
Step 3:
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.
Personal protection is equipment which protects only the user/wearer and requires action by the individual, such as properly wearing and adjusting it, for it to work. Restraint systems should always be selected over Fall Arrest systems.