Statutory Inspection under Work at Height Regulations 2005
Employers are reminded of their duty to inspection scaffolds, mobile towers and other access equipment in accordance with The Work at Height Regulations 2005. Regulation 12(3) states that ‘every employer shall ensure that work equipment exposed to conditions causing deterioration which is liable to result in dangerous situations is inspected – (a) at suitable intervals; and (b) each time that exceptional circumstances which are liable to jeopardize the safety of work equipment have occurred, to ensure that health and safety are maintained and that any deterioration can be detected in good time. Regulation 12(4) states that ‘every employer shall ensure that a working platform – (a) used in construction; and (b) from which a person could fall 2m or more, is not used in any position unless it has been inspected in that position or in the case of a mobile working platform, inspected on site, within the previous seven days.
Employers are advised to review their arrangements for inspections during the Christmas break, as standing scaffolds should still be subject to the seven day inspection regime, particularly where they pose a hazard to third parties such as members of the public. The duty on the employer to inspect scaffolds at suitable intervals remains even though the site is closed. Employers are also advised that construction related working platforms from which a person could fall 2m or more eg a scaffold or mobile tower must be formally inspected by a competent person prior to the commencement of works (which for most sites will be 4th Jan). Employers should ensure that site managers have made suitable arrangements for such inspections to be undertaken.
