What is WAHR & Who Does It Apply To?
What is WAHR?
WAHR stands for the Work at Height Regulations 2005. These regulations apply wherever a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury, including from ladders, platforms, roofs or into openings, excavations and holes below ground level.
The regulations establish requirements for planning, supervision, competence, suitable equipment, fall prevention and protection. They also require appropriate inspection and maintenance of work-at-height equipment.
Who does it apply to?
WAHR places duties on employers, self-employed persons and those controlling work-at-height activities, including contractors and those responsible for workplaces.
The requirements apply across construction, manufacturing, warehousing, maintenance and other environments where activities involve a risk of falling from height.
Responsibilities extend beyond equipment ownership. Those organising or controlling the work must ensure suitable precautions are taken and that equipment remains safe for its intended use.
What Does WAHR Apply To?
WAHR applies to work where a person could fall a distance liable to cause injury, including work near openings or excavations. It covers equipment and protective measures used to prevent or minimise falls, subject to the applicable requirements.
Ladders & Access
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Extension ladders
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Stepladders
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Fixed ladders
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Mobile step
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Kick stools
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Work platforms
Platforms & Walkways
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Fixed platforms
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Industrial walkways
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Access stairs
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Mobile access towers
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Scaffold platforms
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Temporary platforms
Collective Protection
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Fixed guardrails
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Freestanding rails
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Edge protection
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Safety nets
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Temporary barriers
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Fall protection
Personal Fall Protection
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Safety harnesses
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Restraint lanyards
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Fall arrest lanyards
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Fall arrest blocks
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Connectors
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Work positioning
Anchorage Systems
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Anchor points
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Horizontal lifelines
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Rail-based systems
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Anchor systems
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Structural attachments
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Anchor connectors
The examples above are not exhaustive. Steadfast Compliance inspects selected equipment only. Scaffolding, counterweighted guardrails, concealed structural fixings, specialist anchor systems and installations requiring proof-load testing or structural verification are outside our standard scope.
What Does WAHR Require?
WAHR requires work at height to be planned and supervised, using suitable equipment, competent personnel and fall protection. Equipment must be inspected where necessary to ensure continued safe use.
Planning & Competence (Regs. 4 - 5)
Work at height must be properly planned, supervised and carried out by competent persons. Planning must consider foreseeable risks, weather conditions and suitable emergency and rescue arrangements.
Avoiding & Preventing Falls (Reg. 6)
Work at height must be avoided where reasonably practicable. Where unavoidable, suitable measures must prevent falls or minimise their distance and consequences, prioritising collective protection.
Equipment Selection (Regs. 7 - 8)
Equipment must be suitable for the work, considering risks, working conditions and duration. Specific requirements apply to platforms, guardrails, ladders and personal fall protection systems.
Hazards & Protection (Regs. 9 - 11)
Suitable precautions must protect people from fragile surfaces, falling objects and dangerous areas. Risks must be prevented or controlled through appropriate protective measures.
Equipment Inspections (Reg. 12)
Relevant equipment must be inspected following installation where required, at suitable intervals and after exceptional circumstances. Equipment subject to Regulation 12 is excluded from PUWER Regulation 6 inspections.
Checks & Duties (Regs. 13 - 14)
Workplace surfaces and permanent fall protection measures must be checked before use, so far as reasonably practicable. Workers must report dangerous conditions and use safety equipment correctly.
When Is a WAHR Inspection Required?
01 - Following installation or assembly
Where equipment safety depends on installation or assembly, an inspection is required before use in that position.
02 - Periodic inspection
Equipment exposed to deterioration liable to cause danger must be inspected at suitable intervals, considering its condition, use and environment.
03 - Following exceptional circumstances
Additional inspections are required following events liable to compromise safety, including damage, severe weather or significant alterations.
Common Terms Used in WAHR
A quick guide to key terms used within the Work at Height Regulations 2005 (WAHR).
Work at Height
Work in any place where a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury, including falls from elevated positions or into openings and excavations below ground level.
Collective Protection
Measures protecting everyone exposed to a fall risk without requiring individual action, such as guardrails, protected platforms and safety nets.
Work Positioning
A personal fall protection system that supports a person in tension or suspension while working at height, with a suitable backup system where required.
Fall Arrest
A personal fall protection system designed to stop a fall after it begins, limiting the forces on the user and requiring sufficient clearance below.
