Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007

Collective safeguards for arresting falls.

108

108. (1) Any reference in this Regulation to a safeguard is to a collective safeguard for arresting falls.

(2) An employer shall ensure that—

(a) a safeguard may be used only if—

(i) the risk assessment has demonstrated that the work activity can, so far as is reasonably practicable, be performed safely while using it and without affecting its effectiveness,

(ii) the use of other, safer work equipment is not practicable, and

(iii) a sufficient number of persons are available, if required, to assist with any aspect of the safeguard's operation and have received adequate training specific to the safeguard, including rescue procedures,

(b) a safeguard is suitable and of sufficient strength to arrest safely the fall of any employee who is liable to fall,

(c) a safeguard—

(i) in the case of a safeguard that is designed to be attached—

(I) is securely attached to all the required anchors, and

(II) has anchors, and the means of attachment thereto, that are suitable and of sufficient strength and stability for the purpose of safely supporting the foreseeable loading in arresting any fall or during any subsequent rescue,

(ii) in the case of an airbag, landing mat or other similar safeguard, is stable, and

(iii) in the case of a safeguard that expands when arresting a fall, affords sufficient clearance, and

(d) suitable and sufficient steps are taken to ensure, so far as is practicable, that in the event of a fall by any employee, the safeguard itself does not cause injury to that employee.