Ray When the WaH regs were drafted & then enacted (wrong phrase), I did a gap analysis and decided there was little my company needed to do. From what I remember most of us were applying most of what was in the regs prior to them existing. Does this explain why there was no dramatic change? And just to leap back on my old hobby horse: the WaH regs came out just after HSE lost the plot and started to cut back on inspectors.

'I was taught( RoSPA 1987) that effective legislation was that which underpinned established good practice.' That is a good point Ken and Walker. Presumably those companies who did not use good practice prior to the W@H regs it made no difference. I wonder if they still continue to ignore good practice the regulations?

Could the difference in the figures be related to the 2 metre rule, wherby anyone falling from a height below 2 metres wasn't recorded as a fall from height in 2003/2004. Just a thought.

Could the difference in the figures be related to the 2 metre rule, whereby anyone falling from a height below 2 metres wasn't recorded as a fall from height in 2003/2004. Just a thought.' Mmm...I would not have thought so. The 2 metre 'rule' was only some spurious guidance and not written in legislation I recall. 'In this particular case, as others state, the law only reflects accepted good practice. We wouldn't want a Regulation (Z)(2)(iii) prohibiting standing on chairs would we?' Good point Ron, playing Devil's advocate, is the banning of ladders and step ladders also good practice and should be legislated? A few years ago I was asked by our DC to remove the fluorescent lights above his desk because the reflectors were giving him a headache. So when he left to go home I asked an engineer to do the task. He asked if it was ok to stand on the desk and remove the starters. I cried "good grief, no it is not...wait 5 minutes until I've gone home". ;-)