WORKING AT HEIGHT POLICY 1. AIMS 1.1 This Policy is intended to provide clarification on the following:  Current legislation.  What constitutes working at height.  Who is responsible for implementing the Regulations.  The requirements to work at height.  Working at height risk assessments.  The hierarchy of control. 2. LEGISLATION 2.1 The principal driver is the Temporary Work at Height Directive (2001/45/EC), which was implemented as the Work at Height Regulations in 2005 and the subsequent Work at Height (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (2001/45/EC) 2.2 The Regulations were introduced to prevent the deaths and injuries caused each year by falls at work. Falls from height are the single biggest cause of workplace deaths and one of the main causes of major injury. 3. WHAT IS WORKING AT HEIGHT? 3.1 Work at height is work in any place, including a place at, above or below ground level, where a person can be injured if they fell from that place. Access and egress (getting in and out) from a place of work can also be work at height. 3.2 Working at height is no longer classed simply as any work above 2 metres and can include such things as standing on a kick stool to reach something, using a step ladder or working near or adjacent to fragile materials. 3.3 The Regulations will not apply:  Walking up and down a staircase in an office.  Working on the upper floors of an office block.  Slipping or tripping on level ground.  Sitting in a chair. 4. RESPONSIBILITY FOR IMPLEMENTING THE REGULATIONS 4.1 Employers must do all that is reasonably practicable to prevent anyone falling. 4.2 The Regulations place duties on employers, employees and anyone who controls the way work at height is undertaken, for example a facilities manager, a principal contractor, a client, a managing agent or contractors. This duty will include WATMOS’ employees who are responsible for arranging for contractors to carry out work on behalf of WATMOS. 4.3 Within WATMOS, all employees, all contractors working on behalf of WATMOS and all employees who control working at height are required to follow the Regulations.