Two metres is enough
Falls from height are one of the biggest causes of deaths at work in the UK. Many happen from below two metres, a height that looks harmless.
A cabling job often needs a ceiling reached. A short, written risk assessment before the first step is how people stay safe.
Key words
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| Hazard | something that could cause harm |
| Risk | how likely harm is, and how bad it would be |
| Probability | how likely something is to happen, from 1 to 3 |
| Impact | how bad it would be if it happened, from 1 to 3 |
| Prioritise | put the worst risks first |
| Mitigation | an action that reduces a risk |
| Risk assessment | a written record of hazards, scores and actions |
| MEWP | mobile elevating work platform, a powered lift with a cage |
| Low-level access tower | a small, wheeled platform with rails |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can carry out and record a risk assessment for work at height.
Starter: risk and law
Have a go
Starter: risk and law
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
The order of thinking
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 give an order. First, avoid work at height if the job can be done from the ground. If not, prevent falls with the safest equipment you can: a platform with rails before a ladder. Last, reduce the distance and the harm if a fall could still happen.
The risk assessment shows which choice is right for the job.
The risk management process
Take five steps and write each down. Identify the hazards. Score the probability. Score the impact. Prioritise: the highest scores come first. Mitigate: write what you will do to reduce each one.
Score each from 1 (low) to 3 (high). The risk score is probability times impact.
Worked example: fitting cable tray in a corridor
| Hazard | Probability | Impact | Score | What you do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall from a ladder | 2 | 3 | 6 | Use a low-level access tower, not a ladder |
| Fragile ceiling tile | 2 | 3 | 6 | Check the tiles, stay off them, use a crawling board if needed |
| Dropped tool on people below | 3 | 1 | 3 | Barrier below, tool lanyard, tools in a bag |
| Overhead power cable | 1 | 3 | 3 | Check the plan, keep clear, switch off if allowed |
| Tripping on a lead | 1 | 1 | 1 | Keep the floor tidy |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
If a ladder is the right choice
A ladder suits only a short job of light work. The ground must be firm and level. Set it at the right angle: 1 out for every 4 up. Tie it at the top if you can. Keep three points of contact and never lean out.
If a job needs two hands or runs long, choose a tower.