1. Safe working on or near roofs

2. Summary
Why
The law
In practice
Ladders
Golden rules

3. WHY
Gravity kills
More fatal accidents in construction caused by falls than anything else
Two biggest classes of fatal falls
are domestic roof level repairs (7 off ladders, 6 other causes)
through fragile roof (5 last year), even more this) Numbers are provisional 2008/9 stats and typical

4. Fatal Accidents in construction (all causes)

5. Accident triangle

6. The Law Work at Height Regulations 2005
Apply to all work activities in all industries
Apply to all at work by employees, employers or self employed
Plan work
Use the right equipment
Use competent people
PREVENT FALLS, REDUCE INJURY

7. The Regulations Hierarchy
AVOID work at height if you can
PREVENT falls by using the proper gear, such as scaffolds or cherry pickers
MINIMISE the chances of being hurt if you fall
Applies even to small, quick jobs
Doing nothing is dangerous and illegal

8. Planned/right equipment/competent?

9. Planned/right equipment/competent?

10. Risk Assessment Examples of what to consider include:
the work activity
equipment to be used
location of the work and any hazards
working environment (weather, lighting)
condition of existing work surfaces
duration of the work
physical capabilities of workers

11. Avoid work at height

12. Prevent Falls
Use an existing or ‘safe’ place of work where no additional measures are required
Use working platforms with guardrails or powered access platforms
Use a work restraint system (preventing someone getting into a position from which he can fall)

13. Collective Fall Prevention
MEWP

14. Minimise the distance and consequences
Collective control measures should always take priority over personal control measures.
Collective measures e.g. airbags, nets etc. are usually passive and require no action by the user
Personal protection measures e.g. fall arrest harnesses are ‘active’ and require the user to do clip on for them to work effectively

15. Minimise the risks using collective measures
Nets
Air bags

16. Select the right gear Think about
Where you are going to be working (ground conditions, space, public)
How far you could fall and how likely you are to be injured
How long will the job take and how often will it need to be done
What you need to do to rescue someone should they fall
Can the building or scaffold etc take the weight of the workforce and materials need for the job
Is it the best piece of kit for the job

17. Select the right equipment

18. Select the right equipment

19. Use of ladders
Not banned but should only work from a ladder (including step ladder)
when other equipment such as a tower scaffold is not suitable
for light work that takes a few minutes
of the correct type and in good condition
placed on firm level ground and properly secured
and set at the correct length and angle for the job

20. Appropriate use of ladders?

21. Use work equipment to prevent a fall

22. Other things to think about
Prevent tools and materials falling
Throwing materials or debris (bombing) never acceptable
Warn employees about danger areas
You need to make sure that equipment such as scaffolds are checked
After assembly or installation
At suitable intervals or after exceptional circumstances
Scaffold and tower scaffold inspection in each new position and then every 7 days
MEWP on site within previous 7 days

23. Fragile Roofs Sheet materials including asbestos cement or skylights
Will not support weight
Walking the bolts not acceptable
Work from underneath from a mewp wherever possible (special roof fixings available to allow this)

24. Golden rules Plan Choose right equipment to Prevent falls
Reduce injury
Competent workers
Don’t chance it