Legislation & Requirements

Why should I use a Fall Protection system?

The biggest cause of death or serious injury in the workplace are falls from heights. Fall protection is becoming increasingly important for businesses whose staff and maintenance teams need to work at height quickly and effectively.

Health and Safety legislation and the controlling organisations are enforcing stricter rules and best practice for safe access and working at heights. Doing nothing is not an option.

Who is responsible for this?

In order to meet the requirements of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 and Regulations 1995, an employer must take all practicable steps to ensure where any employee may fall more than three metres:

• Means are provided to prevent the employee from falling.
• Any means so provided are suitable for the purpose for which they are to be used.
• Where there is a possibility of serious harm from a fall of less than 3 metres, fall protection is still needed.
• Consideration should also be given to situations where a person may slide down an inclined surface before reaching a point at which the fall can occur.

To meet the requirements of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 and Regulations 1995:

• Principals and their agents such as architects and engineers have a responsibility to ensure that the project is designed to be erected, used and maintained without putting persons at risk of serious harm.
• Those who own, lease or use buildings or plant have a responsibility for the safety of those involved in its maintenance and repair.
• Areas that require regular service and maintenance should be provided with permanent safe access and work platforms. In less frequented areas, permanent anchorages for scaffolding or fall arrest systems may be appropriate.
• Persons with control of places of work should provide training or induction procedures that will make outside contractors aware of the hazards in the area where they are to work.