Working at Height Regulations Flashcards

What does the acronym RIDDOR stand for in the context of UK workplace safety?

Answer: Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations

RIDDOR stands for the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013. It requires employers to report certain serious workplace incidents, including falls from height, to the HSE.

A risk assessment for MEWP work identifies that strong winds are forecast. Under the Work at Height Regulations, what must the employer do?

Answer: Postpone or modify the work to account for the weather conditions

The Work at Height Regulations require that weather conditions are taken into account and that work at height does not proceed if conditions could jeopardise safety. The employer must postpone, reschedule, or modify the work plan accordingly.

What is the employer's duty regarding training under the Work at Height Regulations 2005?

Answer: Every person involved in work at height must be competent, or supervised by a competent person

Regulation 5 of the Work at Height Regulations requires that every person engaged in work at height (including planning, supervision, and equipment use) is competent, or if in training, supervised by a competent person.

Which body is responsible for enforcing health and safety regulations including working at height on UK construction sites?

Answer: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the UK's national regulator for workplace health and safety. HSE inspectors enforce the Work at Height Regulations, PUWER, LOLER, and other safety legislation on construction sites.

Under UK law, what is the penalty for a serious breach of the Work at Height Regulations resulting in a fatality?

Answer: Unlimited fines and/or imprisonment for up to 2 years

Serious breaches of health and safety law in the UK can result in unlimited fines for organisations and, for individuals, fines and/or imprisonment for up to 2 years. In cases of corporate manslaughter, the penalties are even more severe.

What documentation must be available on site when MEWP work at height is being carried out?

Answer: A risk assessment, method statement, and LOLER thorough examination report

When carrying out MEWP work at height, the site must have a suitable and sufficient risk assessment, a method statement (safe system of work), and the current LOLER thorough examination report for the equipment. The operator's PAL Card should also be verified.