Health And Safety Guidance

This document gives scaffolding companies and clients guidance on The Work at Height Regulations 2005 (WAHR 2005) relating to safe means of access to and from scaffolding working platforms. The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM) outline that clients, principal designers, principal contractors, designers and contractors should consider what form of access may be needed at the planning stage. This should include any emergency escape routes that have been identified by the risk assessment, the preferred option for access / egress and the required number of access points. On larger projects powered passenger / goods hoists may be a safer option if available. Where passenger hoists are used, an additional means of access will be required for emergency purposes (e.g. in the event of a fire or mechanical failure). This update is significant in that key changes are ‘Ladder Safety’ and ‘Security’ of access onto scaffolds that differs to the earlier SG25:14. 16 pages

Initially there is no structure in place against which the scaffold can be tied. The scaffold may surround a structure, but it is still vital that measures to ensure stability are incorporated. Accordingly the initial stability of the scaffold structure must be achieved by means other than ties. Design input is still critical. 8 pages

This guidance is a detailed review intended to provide an overview of the existing products and work methods available for providing an inside platform on scaffolding and information and instruction to ensure they are used correctly in order to prevent falls of objects and people. 12 pages