Saving lives by stopping falls
Selecting the right equipment
When selecting equipment for work at height you must:
- Use the most suitable equipment;
- Give collective protection measures (eg edge protection) priority over personal protection measures (eg safety harnesses);
- Take full account of the working conditions and the risks to the safety of all those at the place where the work equipment is to be used.
There are sometimes a number of alternatives to solving the same access problem and it is important to choose the most appropriate equipment for the job in hand. A thorough risk assessment will help you do this.
For more information about the different types of access equipment available – including details of the relevant standards, guidance and training relating to each – please click here to visit the Access Industry Forum (AIF) website.
Or visit
www.atlas.org.uk for the Association of Technical Lightning & Access Specialists (ATLAS)
www.bsif.co.uk for the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF)
www.epf-uk.org for the Edge Protection Federation (EPF)
www.faset.org.uk for the Fall Arrest Safety Equipment Training (FASET)
www.ipaf.org for the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF)
www.irata.org for the Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA)
www.laddersassociation.org.uk for the Ladder Association
www.nasc.org.uk for the National Access & Scaffolding Confederation (NASC)
www.pasma.co.uk for the Prefabricated Access Suppliers’ and Manufacturers’ Association (PASMA)
www.saema.org for the Specialist Access Engineering and Maintenance Association (SAEMA)
www.wahsa.co.uk for the Work at Height Safety Association (WAHSA)
Every member organisation of the Forum is a specialist in its respective field dedicated to advancing safety and best practice in the work at height sector. Talk to them. They will help and advise you.
Acknowledgements:
Work at Height Regulations 2005 l Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
www.hse.gov.uk l Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
Access Industry Forum (AIF)
