Accessing and working at height are significant operational safety issues for many building services contractors. The ECA works with the HSE and other industry bodies and equipment providers, to help contractors and to ensure safe working practices.

Contractors will find a range of useful information and guidance on safe work at height on the HSE website. This website also features WAIT, the ‘Work at height Access equipment Information Toolkit’, which can help contractors to assess the risks and select the right equipment for the job.

Ladder Safety

To help you make sure you use the right type of ladder, and that you know how to use it safely, the HSE website has updated guidance on staying safe when using ladders at work. It now includes:

• more detail on competency, and what that means for ladder users and those managing ladder use on site
• key safety advice for using telescopic ladders
• practical tips for using combination and multi-purpose ladders
• good practice for securing ladders

Access equipment

Work at height naturally requires access equipment, and advice and information is available from a number of organisations. Key organisations in this area include the:

Prefabricated Access Suppliers' & Manufacturers' Association (PASMA)

Representing the interests of manufacturers, suppliers, specifiers and users, it provides the industry standard training scheme and publishes safety-related knowledge, information and guidance.

International Powered Access Federation (IPAF)

Promotes the safe and effective use of powered access equipment through technical advice and information, influencing and interpreting legislation and standards, safety initiatives and training programmes. Members include manufacturers, rental companies, contractors and users. 

Work at Height Safety Association (WAHSA)

Formed in 2005 by UK manufacturers of height safety equipment. WAHSA represents the interests of manufacturers, assemblers, installers, distributors and end users of personal protection equipment used for work at height.

The Ladder Association

Welcoming every part of the access industry, to advance best practice and promote the highest standards of ladder design and manufacture.

Risk assessment

In addition to HSE’s WAIT tool, the ECA has also produced specific work at height risk assessment templates, for smaller tasks. 

The commercial and domestic sector relies on a major fleet of vans and other company vehicles. Below we signpost useful information on how to run a safer vehicle fleet.  

Occupational road safety

All employers have a general legal duty to assess significant risks and take 'reasonably practicable measures' to ensure 'safe systems of work' for their employees.

This applies to employees who are driving on company business in any vehicle (car, van etc), notably because the vehicle is considered a 'workplace'. (A person is not considered to be 'at work' when they are commuting between home and their business’s office but will be ‘at work’ if they are going direct from home to site.)

The duty to control risks from work-related activities applies whether the vehicle belongs to an individual, or is owned or leased by the employer.

To help control occupational road safety risks to your staff, it is vital that you communicate and enforce an occupational road safety policy and arrangements.

The benefits of managing occupational road risk can include:

• Accident reduction
• Reduced liability
• Reduced stress to employees (and others)
• Fewer lost days
• Less need for incident investigation and paperwork
• Reduced risk of claims from employees and third parties (better control of insurance premiums).

Driving for Better Business 

Driving for Better Business is a government-backed National Highways programme to help employers in both the private and public sectors reduce work-related road risk, control the associated costs and improve compliance with current legislation and guidance.

It is free to access and contains useful online tools and resources to help you:

• evaluate practices,
• strengthen culture,
• enhance performance and demonstrate leadership in the management of work-related road risk.

Learn more >