Selection of work equipment for work at height7

1

Every employer, in selecting work equipment for use in work at height, shall—

a

give collective protection measures priority over personal protection measures; and

b

take account of—

i

the working conditions and the risks to the safety of persons at the place where the work equipment is to be used;

ii

in the case of work equipment for access and egress, the distance to be negotiated;

iii

the distance and consequences of a potential fall;

iv

the duration and frequency of use;

v

the need for easy and timely evacuation and rescue in an emergency;

vi

any additional risk posed by the use, installation or removal of that work equipment or by evacuation and rescue from it; and

vii

the other provisions of these Regulations.

2

An employer shall select work equipment for work at height which—

a

has characteristics including dimensions which—

i

are appropriate to the nature of the work to be performed and the foreseeable loadings; and

ii

allow passage without risk; and

b

is in other respects the most suitable work equipment, having regard in particular to the purposes specified in regulation 6.