Working at height policy
Rationale
Working at height is one of the leading causes of injury and absence in the UK workplace. This document sets out a policy for working at height within the Hackspace. It includes:
- The scenarios where work at height is likely to be carried out
- Who may be working at height and when
- Risks inherent to working at height
- What equipment may be necessary when working at height and how it should be maintained
Work at height' means work in any place where, if there were no precautions in place, a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury (for example a fall through a fragile roof).
-HSE website
3 Steps to Guide Us
The HSE lists three steps towards safe working at height. We have adapted these to our circumstances at HacMan: 1. avoid work at height where it's reasonably practicable to do so 2. where work at height cannot be easily avoided, prevent falls by restricting access to height, using the right type of equipment, and following good working practices. 3. where the risk cannot be eliminated, minimise the distance and consequences of a fall by using the right type of equipment
A more comprehensive flowchart for this decision-making process can be found here.
NOTE: The Hackspace’s insurance does not cover any work above a height of 2 metres!
Working at height in the Hackspace
Working at height is not common for members in the Hackspace. It may occasionally be carried out by competent members in the context of maintenance or space management.
Work from height is never expected or required. If you don't feel comfortable and competent, you should step away from the task. There are also other methods of achieving tasks that should be encouraged. E.g. painting using roller extensions, or bringing objects down from height to work on them.
The following cases cover almost all work at height within the Hackspace:
1. Maintenance work
What? Electrical work/upgrades, CCTV installation/maintenance, installation of shelving, painting, plumbing, ad-hoc repair to building. These activities should not require a worker to use a ladder for longer than 30 minutes at a time.
Who? Competent volunteers on a task-by-task basis. The volunteer, their competence, and their task should be known to the infra team, committee, board, or relevant area coordinator.
Equipment required: Long extending ladder, shorter stepladder as required.
Considerations: - Workers should show knowledge of good practice in ladder use. The HSE’s Safe use of ladders and stepladders is a good guide. It also helps to consult Common work at height myths. - Workers should inspect ladders before every use and after assembly. - Workers should cordon off the work area and warn other people in the space of the work being carried out. They should also consider switching off machinery in the vicinity that could start suddenly or create a distraction. - For work longer than 30 minutes, a dynamic risk assessment should be carried out and more permanent access solutions (e.g. work platforms) should be considered. - If working outside or on roofs, a dynamic risk assessment should be carried out to identify and mitigate additional hazards (e.g. wind, rain, passers-by, fragile roof surfaces).
2. Access to mezzanine
What? Access to mezzanine. Loading and unloading of stored items.
Who? Board, management committee, area coordinators, infra team
Equipment required? In-situ mezzanine ladder.
Considerations: - Good manual handling practice - Weight limit marked on ladder. - Alternative ground level storage is provided for heavy or awkward sized objects unsafe to handle on a ladder.
3. Access to higher members’ storage shelves
What? Members may need to access higher shelving in storage area.
Who? General members, especially those who are unable to reach the higher levels.
Equipment required: Stabilised movable steps.
Considerations: - Members encouraged to store their own items at a level convenient for them to minimise risk. - Guidance on manual handling to be displayed in storage area. - Weight limit displayed on steps.
Reporting Damage and Defects
Any defects or issues found during an inspection should be reported to the management team via the broken tool form. The faulty equipment should then be marked out of use by turning the ladder tag around, or fixing a physical note to it.
Examples of common defects include: - Dents larger than a £1 coin. - Missing feet or stabiliser bar. - Bent or missing ladder rungs.
Ongoing safety considerations
Control of access to WAH equipment
The ladders used for maintenance are locked in place. The board, management committee, infrastructure team, and area coordinators have access to the codes and are provided information showing safe practice for ladder use.
The mezzanine ladder is fixed in place so it cannot be used for other tasks. Only the board, management committee, infra team, and area coordinators should access the mezzanine. A padlock prevents unauthorised access.
Given the universal use and relatively low risk, the stabilised movable steps in members’ storage is available to all with appropriate safety labelling.
Members should never work at height using equipment other than that provided by the Hackspace.
Weight limits
Ladders have published weight limits, which provide an upper limit for loads. These limits are clearly marked on ladders. Users should refer to these limits and adhere to them at all times.
Equipment maintenance
Employers must ensure that access equipment (ladders, in the case of the Hackspace) is checked and maintained regularly.
The maintenance schedule is as follows: - Ladders must always be visually inspected by the user prior to use - The facilities co-ordinator carries out a 3-monthly visual check of equipment and records results on the ladder tag affixed to each ladder. Details of the inspection are noted on the ladder tags and in the inspection document. - If anything happens to a ladder that could jeopardise its safety (e.g. drops, damage, falls, etc.) – it must be inspected by a competent person.