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This Guide covers platforms / work areas that are integral to the building’s fabric. For temporary platforms made from scaffolding (whether in situ or built to our requirements), see our Safety Guide to ‘Scaffolding (Tubular)’

What Can Go Wrong?

• Falls from height - equipment or anchor failure, collapse of structures, inadequately trained / equipped when working at height, effects of weather on access safety
• Struck by falling items – dropped or knocked off working areas
• Manual handling injury – when climbing ladders when carrying equipment
• Restricted workspace - striking low beams, maintaining static postures
• Lack of access to welfare facilities
• Stuck at height – inadequate, restricted or compromised rescue options.

Legal/³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Requirements

• Ensure work at height is properly planned and organised
• Those involved in work at height are competent and willing to do so
• Risks from work at height are assessed and appropriate work equipment is selected and used
• The risks of working on or near fragile surfaces are properly managed
• Equipment used for work at height is properly inspected and maintained.

Control Measures 

Planning for work at height

• Know the access requirements â€“ obtain information from the venue on access requirements, including obtaining copies of risk assessments / site safety rules. Check you can you comply with these? If necessary, recce the venue. Check if there are any:

1. exposed drops without adequate edge protection (i.e. top rail at least 950mm with mid-rails in-between)? Can staff be protected here – are there suitable anchor points for work restraint or fall arrest working?
2. areas with incomplete or perforated flooring, or lack of footboards / parapet, where items could be dropped or knocked onto persons below?
3. areas with restricted space and headroom, and have these been adequately marked / protected?
4. access limitations during bad weather e.g. high winds or ice / snow making climbing ladders difficult or floor surfaces slippery?
5. areas which can only be accessed using work at height equipment e.g. to climb fixed vertical ladders? And if so, are your team appropriately trained / equipped? Will the venue provide the equipment and if so, does it meet appropriate safety standards, and will there be enough for your team? See 'Riggers: Selection of' (Related Topics) 
6. members of the team who have a fear of heights – no-one should be asked to work at height where this could cause anxiety / stress sufficient to put themselves or others art risk of falls / being stuck at height.

• Venue emergencies â€“ check that all of the locations where your team need to work are included in the venue’s emergency planning (e.g. fire, bomb, riot, major incident). In an emergency, can your team escape / evacuate to a safe location, or if there is a staged evacuation, can they remain in safety until escape is possible?
• Team emergencies â€“ if a member of your team became ill or was injured when at height, can first aid be given quickly, including if provided by venue staff? If the casualty were to be incapacitated when at height, is there a suitable rescue plan in place, or would you need to bring in external rescue providers?
• Stability of gantries / walkways (permanent structures) â€“ check that any external staircases and walkways are subject to routine structural assessment (typically annual). Obtain the safe working load of any suspended walkways or gantries
• Stability of platforms (temporary structures) â€“ typically made of scaffolding, check that the scaffold is subject to routine safety inspection by the scaffolding company, and these are in date. Obtain the safe working load on any platforms

Managing work at height

• Safety inspection (venue) â€“ on arrival, check access to all areas of the venue is as agreed during the planning stage. Refer any issues to your venue management contact immediately. Where required, check that permits to work have been issued prior to work at height commencing
• Safety inspection (work at height equipment) â€“ check all work at height equipment is suitable for purpose, with certificates of conformity to EC standards, subject to routine safety inspection under LOLER (at least once every 6 months), and is issued to all who need it for either work restraint of fall arrest work. This equipment could be provided by the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ, by the venue or contracted riggers
• Fall arrest working â€“ if any of your team are using fall arrest equipment (e.g. to climb fixed vertical ladders, or access walkways with unprotected drops), make sure there are rescue arrangements in place, a means to initiate a quick response to an incident and enough people skilled / trained in how to perform a rescue. Lone working should not be permitted. The rescue team could be made up of team members, provided by the venue or contracted in riggers. For work at height equipment provided by the venue (e.g. travelling man-safe or ‘latchway’ systems), has a safety brief been given and the team all been issued with personal fall arrest devices?
• Equipment rigging / hauls â€“ check that all equipment can be safely lifted to working platform levels. Secure rope and pulley system to be used to prevent carrying items when climbing ladders, and make sure these are used where they don’t present a risk to others
• Rigging cables / lights / mics â€“ check these are securely tied to solid structures. Heavy items, such as lights or cameras suspended above people or placed where they could fall, must be double bonded to secure rails or capture nets rigged below them
• Venue safety / camera positions â€“ make sure all are aware of the site safety rules; do not interfere with or modify precautions provided for your safety. Where edge protection needs to be removed to improve camera sight lines, make sure this is done by a qualified rigger and that the cameraman is secured by other means at all times (e.g. work restraint belt)
• Safety briefing â€“ prior to any work at height commencing, make sure a safety briefing is given on safety measures to be followed. Where working above people, pay particular attention to safeguarding dropping items, by keeping loose items in secure bags / zipped pockets, maintain good housekeeping standards and don’t place items on parapet edges or rails where they could easily be knocked off
• Fatigue â€“ monitor working hours and fatigue levels in those working at height. Ensure adequate rest and comfort breaks, with access to refreshments. No-one is to be asked to carry out work at height which exposes them to significant risk when excessively tired.

Division Specific Issues

• Incorporating Radio OB MS M017-09 Sports Grounds.

FAQs/Did You Know?

• No FAQ's/ Did you know items.