The Construction (Health Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996
[SI 1996 No 1592]

Explanatory notes are provided with the Statutory Instrument.

Apply to "construction work"

Impose requirements on Employers (including self employed), Employees and every person at work with respect to co-operation and reporting of danger.

Impose requirements with respect to: -

• Provision of safe places of work
• Provision of suitable equipment to prevent falls
• Prevention of injury from falling objects
• Stability of structures
• Movement of pedestrian and vehicular traffic
• Safety and maintenance of plant and equipment
• Training and supervision
• Inspection of places of work

In particular with respect to falls,

• Where a person is carrying out work at, accessing or egressing a place where he is liable to fall a distance of 2 metres or more, then requirements exist for special means of protection.

In particular with respect to ladders

• A ladder shall not be used as, or as means of access to or egress from a place of work unless it is reasonable to do so having regard to -

A) the nature of the work being carried out and its duration and
B) the risks to the safety to any person arising from the use of the ladder

• Where a ladder is used according to A) & B) above then it must comply with special requirements given in Schedule 5 detailed below.

Any equipment provided must be properly maintained.

Where necessary to prevent danger to any person, suitable and sufficient steps shall be taken to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, the fall of any material or object, and any person being struck by any falling material or object which is likely to cause injury.

Statutory Instrument 1996 No 1592
The Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996

SCHEDULE 5
Regulation 6(6)
REQUIREMENTS FOR LADDERS

1. Any surface upon which a ladder rests shall be stable, level and firm, of sufficient strength and of suitable composition safely to support the ladder and any load intended to be placed on it.

2. A ladder shall-

a) be suitable and of sufficient strength for the purpose or purposes for which it is being used.

b) be so erected as to ensure that it does not become displaced; and

c) where it is of a length when used of 3 metres or more, be secured to the extent that it is practicable to do so and where it is not practicable to secure the ladder a person shall be positioned at the foot of the ladder to prevent it slipping at all times when it is being used.

3. All ladders, used as a means of access between places of work shall be sufficiently secured so as to prevent the ladder slipping or falling

4. The top of any ladder used as a means of access to another level shall, unless a suitable alternative handhold is provided, extend to a sufficient height above the level to which it gives access so as to provide a safe handhold.

5. Where a ladder or run of ladders rises a vertical distance of 9 metres or more above its base, there shall, where practical, be provided at suitable intervals sufficient safe landing areas or rest platforms.