Hello, I have recently had a contract company on-site training some of our staff on a ‘Gotcha’ rescue device for some roof work we are scheduling for the spring. The instructor for the Gotcha informs me that anyone engaged in working at height should be ‘first aid’ trained! I understand the need for competence and emergency response during these activities but I have flicked through the WAH Regulations and could not see the first aider as a requirement, does anyone know of this requirement in this or any other related regulations?...thanks…

It is likely that the trainer is advising that as your Site 1st Aider has not been trained to work at heights then should an incident happen on the roof and the person needs 1st aid before they are moved to a lower level, then one of the operatives should be 1st Aid trained. I know that when I get to this section in a training course I establish if the team have a 1st aider, 9 times out 10 ten the team have been trained.

I presume you have assessed all the risks and have considered the need for 1st aid provision on site?

I agree that it would be good practice to have your guys trained, however I would recommend a detailed set of procedures to deal with emergencies whilst WAH and this may well call for the need to have your guys 1st aid trained.