07.07.2004

HSE to clamp down on work close to the edge

As part of the Health and Safety Commission's strategy to reduce accidents caused by people falling from height, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors in the North West will be taking a tough line in respect of unprotected open edges from which people could fall, including mezzanine storage areas, loading bays and roofs.

Announcing the initiative, Tony Trenear, HSE's Preston-based regional Operations Manager, said: "Falls from height cause many serious and devastating accidents. They caused nearly 50 fatal accidents and 4,500 serious major injuries in 2002-03. With simple, sensible precautions all could have been prevented. In the North West, 1,200 serious injuries were caused by people falling from a height of more than two metres.

"At all routine visits our inspectors will particularly be looking out for cases where entirely sensible and reasonably practicable precautions are not in place. In these workplaces they will apply the HSC's enforcement policy," continued Mr Trenear. "In most cases, this will be an Improvement Notice, which requires the provision of suitable sensible precautions by a set date. In the most blatant and serious of cases, either a Prohibition Notice (requiring an immediate cessation of work), or prosecution, could be the outcome.

"The legislation requires employers to take suitable and effective measures to prevent people falling more than two metres, but inspectors have seen many situations where the employer has not taken sensible precautions. These include open edges to mezzanine storage areas, loading bays and landings as well as on roofs."