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Health and Safety Regualtions

11 September 2020

REQUIREMENTS FOR WORKING PLATFORMS REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL WORKING PLATFORMS Interpretation 1. In this Schedule, “supporting structure” means any structure used for the purpose of supporting a working platform and includes any plant used for that purpose.

Condition of surfaces 2. Any surface upon which any supporting structure rests shall be stable, of sufficient strength and of suitable composition safely to support the supporting structure, the working platform and any loading intended to be placed on the working platform.

Stability of supporting structure 3. Any supporting structure shall— (a) be suitable and of sufficient strength and rigidity for the purpose for which it is being used; (b) in the case of a wheeled structure, be prevented by appropriate devices from moving inadvertently during work at height; (c) in other cases, be prevented from slipping by secure attachment to the bearing surface or to another structure, provision of an effective anti-slip device or by other means of equivalent effectiveness; (d) be stable while being erected, used and dismantled; and (e) when altered or modified, be so altered or modified as to ensure that it remains stable.

Stability of working platforms 4. A working platform shall— (a) be suitable and of sufficient strength and rigidity for the purpose or purposes for which it is intended to be used or is being used; (b) be so erected and used as to ensure that its components do not become accidentally displaced so as to endanger any person; (c) when altered or modified, be so altered or modified as to ensure that it remains stable; and (d) be dismantled in such a way as to prevent accidental displacement.

Safety on working platforms 5. A working platform shall— (a)be of sufficient dimensions to permit the safe passage of persons and the safe use of any plant or materials required to be used and to provide a safe working area having regard to the work being carried out there; (b) possess a suitable surface and, in particular, be so constructed that the surface of the working platform has no gap— (i) through which a person could fall; (ii) through which any material or object could fall and injure a person; or (iii) giving rise to other risk of injury to any person, unless measures have been taken to protect persons against such risk; and (c)be so erected and used, and maintained in such condition, as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable— (i) the risk of slipping or tripping; or (ii) any person being caught between the working platform and any adjacent structure.

Loading 6. A working platform and any supporting structure shall not be loaded so as to give rise to a risk of collapse or to any deformation which could affect its safe use.

Additional requirements for scaffolding 7. Strength and stability calculations for scaffolding shall be carried out unless— (a) a note of the calculations, covering the structural arrangements contemplated, is available; or (b) it is assembled in conformity with a generally recognised standard configuration.

8. Depending on the complexity of the scaffolding selected, an assembly, use and dismantling plan shall be drawn up by a competent person. This may be in the form of a standard plan, supplemented by items relating to specific details of the scaffolding in question.

9. A copy of the plan, including any instructions it may contain, shall be kept available for the use of persons concerned in the assembly, use, dismantling or alteration of scaffolding until it has been dismantled.

10. The dimensions, form and layout of scaffolding decks shall be appropriate to the nature of the work to be performed and suitable for the loads to be carried and permit work and passage in safety.

11. While a scaffold is not available for use, including during its assembly, dismantling or alteration, it shall be marked with general warning signs in accordance with the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996(1) and be suitably delineated by physical means preventing access to the danger zone.

12. Scaffolding may be assembled, dismantled or significantly altered only under the supervision of a competent person and by persons who have received appropriate and specific training in the operations envisaged which addresses specific risks which the operations may entail and precautions to be taken, and more particularly in— (a) understanding of the plan for the assembly, dismantling or alteration of the scaffolding concerned; (b) safety during the assembly, dismantling or alteration of the scaffolding concerned; (c)measures to prevent the risk of persons, materials or objects falling; (d) safety measures in the event of changing weather conditions which could adversely affect the safety of the scaffolding concerned; (e)permissible loadings; (f) any other risks which the assembly, dismantling or alteration of the scaffolding may entail.

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