Access

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations address matters of access. The Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) can be consulted in DOHS or is available for download from the Health and Safety Executive. Matters outside routine access such as along footpaths and stairs would normally be tackled by Estates and they should be consulted in every such case. E & D have a number of procedures outlined in their current Departmental Safety Manual.

The Regulations are particularly relevant to access:

Regulation 8 - Lighting

Lighting should be sufficient to enable people to work, use facilities and move from place to place safely and without experiencing eye strain. Stairs should be well lit in such a way that shadows are not cast over the main part of the treads. Where necessary local lighting should be provided at individual workstations and at places of particular risk such as pedestrian crossing points on traffic routes. Notwithstanding this, lighting should where reasonably practicable be by natural lighting. To this end windows and skylights should where possible be cleaned regularly and kept free from unnecessary obstructions to admit maximum daylight.

Emergency Lighting

The normal precautions required by these and other Regulations, for example on the prevention of falls and the fencing of dangerous parts of machinery, means that workers are not in most cases 'specially exposed' to risk if normal lighting fails. Emergency lighting throughout the University is primarily provided to facilitate easy and quick access from buildings after a power failure for example because of a fire. Emergency lighting is powered from a source independent from that of normal lighting and is maintained by E & D.

Regulation 12 - Condition of floors and traffic routes

Floors and traffic routes should normally be of sound construction and adequate strength and stability taking into account loads placed on them and the traffic passing over them. Floors should not be overloaded. Surfaces of floors and traffic routes should be free of any holes, slopes or uneven or slippery surface which is likely to:

  • cause a person to slip, trip or fall
  • cause a person to drop or lose control of anything being lifted or carried or
  • cause instability or loss of control of vehicles and/or their loads.

Regulation 13 - Falls or falling objects

The consequences of falling from heights or into dangerous substances are so serious that a high standard of protection is normally required. Secure fencing should normally be provided to prevent people falling from edges and the fencing should also be adequate to prevent objects falling onto people. Where fencing cannot be provided or has to be removed temporarily other measures should be taken to prevent falls.

Secure fencing should be provided wherever possible at any place where a person might fall 2 metres or more. It should also be provided where a person might fall less than 2 metres where there are factors which increase the likelihood of a fall or the risk of a serious injury, for example where traffic passes close to an edge, where a large number of people are likely to be present, or where a person might fall onto a sharp or dangerous surface or into the path of a vehicle.

Roof work

Most roof work in the University will be under the control of E & D but Departments might invite contractors in to carry out certain tasks.

Slips and trips which may be trivial at ground level may result in fatal accidents when on a roof and the University has an obligation not only to look after its own employees and students but also visitors to the site including contractors. The control of contractors engaged by E & D is well documented in the their Departmental Safety Manual.

As well as falling from the roof edge there may be a risk of falling through fragile material. Care should be taken of old materials which may have become fragile because of corrosion or slippery because of increased moss or lichen.

Where regular access is needed to roofs (including internal roofs for example in a single-storey office within a larger building) suitable permanent access should be provided and there should be fixed physical safeguards to prevent falls from edges and through fragile roofs. Where occasional access is required other safeguards should be provided, for example crawling boards, temporary access equipment etc. In general all glazing and asbestos cement or similar sheeting should be treated as being fragile unless there is firm evidence to the contrary. Fragile roofs or surfaces should be clearly identified by suitable notices in Departments.

Regulation 14 - Windows and transparent or translucent doors, gates and walls

This Regulation deals with materials to be protected against breakage. In assessing whether it is necessary for reasons of health and safety for transparent and translucent doors, gates, walls and partitions to be of a safety material or to be adequately protected against breakage, particular attention should be paid to the following cases:

  • in doors and gates, and door and gate side panels, where any part of the transparent or translucent surface is at shoulder height or below;
  • in windows, walls and partitions, where any part of the transparent or translucent surface is at waist level or below, except in glasshouses where people will be likely to be aware of the presence of glazing and avoid contact.

This paragraph does not apply to narrow panes up to 250 mm wide measured between glazing beads.

Regulation 15 - Windows, skylights and ventilators

It should be possible to reach and operate the control of openable windows, skylights and ventilators in a safe manner. Where necessary, window poles or similar equipment should be kept available, or a stable platform or other means of access should be provided. Controls should be also placed so that people are not likely to fall through or out of the window. Where there is a danger of falling from a height, devices should be provided to prevent the window opening too far. Open windows, skylights or ventilators should not project into an area where persons are likely to collide with them. The bottom edge of opening windows should normally be at least 800 mm above floor level unless there is a barrier to prevent falls.

Regulation 16 - Ability to clean windows safely

Suitable provision should be made so that windows and skylights can be cleaned safely if they cannot be cleaned from the ground or other suitable surface. Suitable provision includes:

  • fitting windows which can be cleaned safely from inside, for example windows which pivot so that the outer surface is turned inwards;
  • fitting access equipment such as suspended cradles, travelling ladders with an attachment for a safety harness;
  • suitable and suitably placed anchorage points for safety harnesses.

Regulation 17 - Organization etc of traffic routes

This Regulation requires every workplace to be organised in such a way that pedestrians and vehicles can circulate together in a safe manner. In particular, traffic routes will not satisfy the requirements of the Regulations unless suitable measures are taken to ensure that:

  • pedestrians or as the case may be vehicles may use a traffic route without causing danger to the health and safety of persons at work near it;
  • there is sufficient separation of any traffic route for vehicles from doors or gates or from traffic routes for pedestrians which lead onto it;
  • where vehicles and pedestrians use the same traffic route there is sufficient separation between them.

Regulation 18 - Doors and gates

Doors and gates which swing in both directions should have a transparent panel except if they are low enough to see over. Conventionally hinged doors on main traffic routes should also be fitted with such panels. Panels should be positioned to enable a person in a wheelchair to be seen from the other side. The fire resistance of doors is dealt with in Building Regulations and in Fire Precautions Legislation. Should any alterations be envisaged advice should be obtained from E & D. Most other areas where access is necessary will be within the operations of E & D. Their Departmental Safety Manual outlines safeguards which should be taken. Any departure from routine access should be discussed with E & D or DOHS. In these cases thorough risk assessments will need to be completed.