Alan

Normally chapter is not fit for purpose when working at height and would not comple with the principles of WAH. Chapter 8 is used mainly for demarcating a site. If it is for example, a flat roof and work is not taking place anywhere near the edge or there are already handrails in place then chapter 8 might be suitable, otherwise you would need proper robust edge protection which will prevent someone from falling.

Ray

Alan

I'd ask the contractor to demonstrate what dynamic loading these will withstand.

Though now out of print, HSE Specialist Inspector Report no 15 indicated the guard-rail at the edge of a flat roof should be capable of withstanding a dynamic load of 0.7kN.

There is no replacement HSE guidance to SIR15, but I would note that this is generally in line with the OSHA standards in the US which off the top of my head (so I might have got the second half of the number wrong!) translates to 0.89kN (noting that your average American roofer probably weighs more than your average UK roofer).

.....and in terms of this barrier, what you DEFINITELY don't want is debris netting which will exacerbate any instability by acting as a sail. I've given expert witness evidence in court after the clerk of works directed the addition of netting to a free standing roof edge protection structure which duly overturned striking a teacher and two pupils.

Regards, Peter

There are various regs which might apply to this which I have cut and pasted from a suppliers brochure so take your pick. The system you described does not comply with anything I have come across.

The Building Regulations Part K requires a guardrail to consist of a minimum two
horizontal rails with a minimum height of 1100mm.

BS EN 13374 provides for the design of temporary edge protection systems and requires a
system to withstand loads applied perpendicular, horizontal and vertical to the system. The
loads range from 0.2kN to 1.25kN. (Reference should be made to BS EN 13374 - 6.3.1.1). This
standard has replaced HSE/SIR 15 1987 “Design loadings for temporary roof & floor edge
protection” where a horizontal point load of 0.7kN was applied to the top guardrail without
the base moving more then 100mm and a deflection test of 0.3kN applied to the guardrail
without deflection exceeding 35mm.

The Work at height regs 2005 requires all thoes that have a duty of care to ensure that work at height is carried out safely. Solutions need to be suitable and sufficient to ensure prevention of both persons and objects from falling.
In relation to Schedule 2 of the Regulations, “Construction Work” (Temporary provisions of
protection) states that the top guardrail or other similar means of protection must be at least
950mm high. Toe boards should be suitable and sufficient to prevent the fall of any person, or
any material or object, from any place of work. The intermediate guardrail or similar means of
protection must be positioned so that any gap between it and other means of protection does
not exceed 470mm.

Edge protection condemned

They brought in an external safety advisor - who also agreed with myself

I have now removed lads from site work to continue as soon suitable and sufficient edge protection in place

Thanks everyone for input

Alan