Working at Height Policy

Falls from height are the most common cause of fatal injury and the second most common cause of major injury and is particularly prevalent in schools.

We will provide a safe working environment for all employees who may be required to work at height.

We will achieve this by:

• Identifying work activities that may involve working at height;
• Eliminating the need to work at height whenever it is reasonably practicable to do so;
• Ensuring that, where work at height cannot be eliminated, we use the risk assessment process to evaluate and manage risk;
• Implementing a safe system of work that will prevent falls of persons, materials & equipment;
• Providing suitable plant and equipment to allow safe access for persons and materials;
• Ensuring working platforms and any supporting structures are appropriate and designed in accordance with current standards;
• Ensuring that regular inspections of all equipment required for working at height are undertaken;
• Providing adequate information and training to ensure that only competent persons are engaged in working at height.

The maintenance team will be provided with and trained for the use of, scaffold towers and ladders. The maintenance team are the only members of staff authorised and allowed to use this equipment. Company approved step ladders and stools will be provided for all other staff and instruction will be given on their safe use. This instruction will be based around user checks of the equipment prior to use, restrictions of use and safety checks to be made in the environment prior to use.

All personnel are responsible for ensuring that the intentions of this policy are effectively implemented. Under no circumstances are chairs, desks or other unsuitable items to be used. Should the step ladder be inadequate for the height that needs to be reached, the maintenance department should be contacted who will undertake the task for you.

It is the responsibility of each member of staff to:

• Keep themselves, and others, safe;
• Co-operate with this policy;
• To abide by the requirements of any systems of work designed to protect them;
• Utilise any plant and equipment in a safe & responsible manner;
• Report defects immediately.