Work at Height RAMS Guide for UK Contractors
Work at height RAMS must apply the WAH Regulations 2005 hierarchy of controls, justify equipment selection, describe rescue plans where fall arrest is used, and address inspection and competence requirements. Any work where a fall could cause injury requires a WAH RAMS — there is no minimum height threshold.
Key Topics in a Work at Height RAMS
- Hierarchy of controls — WAH 2005 Regulation 6
- The WAH 2005 hierarchy requires: (1) avoid work at height where possible; (2) use existing safe places of work; (3) use work equipment that prevents falls (collective protection: scaffold, edge protection, safety nets); (4) use work equipment that minimises the distance and consequences of a fall (fall arrest: safety nets, airbags); (5) as a last resort, personal fall arrest (harness and lanyard). The RAMS must show that this hierarchy was applied and explain why higher controls were not reasonably practicable where lower controls are selected.
- Rescue plan for fall arrest
- WAH 2005 requires a written rescue plan wherever personal fall arrest (harness) is used. The plan must describe how a suspended operative will be retrieved within a safe timeframe (suspension trauma can cause death within minutes). A rescue plan of "call 999" is not acceptable — a site-based rescue capability must be established. The RAMS must include the rescue method, who carries it out, and the equipment available.
- Equipment inspection and records
- Work equipment used at height (scaffold, towers, MEWP, ladders, harnesses) must be inspected by a competent person and records maintained. Scaffold must be inspected before first use, after adverse weather, and at least every seven days. MEWPs must be subject to LOLER 6-monthly thorough examination. Harnesses and lanyards must be visually inspected before each use. The RAMS must specify the inspection regime and how records are maintained.
- Fragile surfaces
- WAH 2005 Regulation 9 requires that no person passes across, or works on or near, a fragile surface where it is reasonably practicable to carry out the work without doing so. Where work near fragile surfaces (roof lights, fragile sheeted roofs, corroded metal decks) cannot be avoided, the RAMS must specify the collective protection measures: crawler boards, temporary decking, safety nets, or a combination. Warning signs and exclusion zones below are also required.
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