Rank: Forum user 
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Can anyone tell me please if there is any new codes of practise which is referencing securing tools whilst working at height? Whilst I agree totally that equipment should be secure I have a client who has been told that any work over 2.5 metres now requires tools to be braced so as not to fall and cause injury to others.
Not sure why 2.5 meters as tools falling from any height could cause injury and or damage.
Any comments would be appreciated.
Thank you
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Rank: Super forum user
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Good morning Andy
I'm assuming that your client is within the UK?
In practical terms, there are no height criteria with regard to working at height other than the Reg 12 requirement to inspect working platforms from which a fall of 2m or more could occur.
The frequently mis-quoted "2m rule" which was derived from the now revoked "Construction [Health, Safety & Welfare] Regs which were replaced by the Work at Height Regs may be the original source of this perception; it could be derived from one of the many non-HSE guidance documents produced commercially; or it may simply have been adopted from non-UK legislation or Guidance.
I wholly support your view that any work equipment that could fall from any working platform should be restrained so that it cannot fall from the platform. Ideally, this will be achieved by preventing the equipment from falling outside the platform; but if this is not practicable, it should be either secured by a suitable lanyard or similar so that it can only fall a short distance or a protective deck or similar provided [like a "fan tail" on scaffolding].
Frank Hallett
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Rank: Super forum user
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Andy Adams wrote:Can anyone tell me please if there is any new codes of practise which is referencing securing tools whilst working at height? Whilst I agree totally that equipment should be secure I have a client who has been told that any work over 2.5 metres now requires tools to be braced so as not to fall and cause injury to others.
Not sure why 2.5 meters as tools falling from any height could cause injury and or damage.
Any comments would be appreciated.
Thank you As a former Steel Erector, i noticed during the building of The Shard in London the guys had their podgers attached to their wrist to prevent the tool falling a very substantial distance. My opinion of what your client has been told is that Low Level Access Equipment covers platforms up to and including 2.5m so someone may have used that as a cut off point. I agree with the other Frank though that tools falling from any height (below 2.5m) could cause injury or damage.
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Rank: Forum user
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Don't think i would be able to work with my podger attached to my wrist! ;-)
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Rank: Forum user
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Don't think i would be able to work with my podger attached to my wrist! ;-)
I said the same thing when I first came across these requirements, we has ours atached to our belts.
But in the end I got used to it.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Hi Allan & Sutty
May I just comment on the proposed anchorages for kit that might fall, or be dropped - no difference to whover/whatever it stikes.
The greater the mass of the kit, &/or the further it can fall, the greater the unacceptable loadings being imposed on the body as a whole if the body is the anchor point.
Attaching kit to a body extremity [wrist] should be considered a "last resort" option as even with a moderate length [40-60cm] lanyard and comparatively light items, the impact on the wrist/arm can be considerable and may also cause the user to lose their grip &/or balance.
Attaching kit to the body [ie waistbelt] may be defensible in certain circumstances [scaffold rigger etc] but in others could be inadequate.
Ideally, the anchor point should not be the body but the structure - which has to be provided with this proviso clearly identified in the design.
Frank Hallett
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Rank: Forum user
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Thanks to you all for taking the time to reply. All your comments have been taken on board and are very much appreciated.
Regards
AA
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