Mentions:
1: McArthur, Liam (LD - Orkney Islands) at height, providing an opportunity for organisations in all sectors to focus on working at height safety - Speech Link
2: Adamson, Clare (SNP - Motherwell and Wishaw) federations involved in working at height. - Speech Link
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 set out the approach necessary to ensure the safety of people working at height. They place clear responsibilities on employers and those in control of any work at height to prevent falls by making sure work is properly planned, supervised, and undertaken by competent people. This includes using the right type of equipment including, where suitable, ladders.
In 2022/23, 40 fatal injuries were due to falls from a height accounting for 30% of all worker deaths1 over the year. The level of fatality and major injury arising from falls is still high so there is an ongoing need for the regulations to focus attention on the issue.
Following the announcement of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, Heath and Safety engagement with industry groups and trade organisations demonstrated extensive support to retain the Work at Height Regulations. The Regulations are well embedded in the health and safety framework and recognised as a key instrument in ensuring effective workplace health and safety standards.
1Work-related fatal injuries in Great Britain, 2023 (hse.gov.uk)
Asked by: Briggs, Miles (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Lothian)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the use of BS 8414 testing still being allowed as a route to compliance for combustible façade materials to be used on certain buildings, such as hotels, over 11 metres in height.
Answered by Harvie, Patrick - Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants' Rights
Hotels are not listed as ‘relevant buildings’ within the meaning of the Building Scotland (Amendment) Regulations 2022. All new and converted hotels having a storey, or creating a storey at a height of 11 metres or more above the ground, must comply with the relevant mandatory functional standards, including mandatory standard 2.7 that requires the fire spread on external walls to be inhibited.
BS 8414 testing and the assessment criteria in BR 135 may be used for hotels as an alternative route to compliance with the mandatory standards. The continued use of this alternative solution for hotels over 11 metres in height is currently being considered by the Building and Fire Safety Expert Working Group.
Jan. 22 2024
Source Page: MGN 628 (M+F) Amendment 1: Construction and outfit standards for fishing vessels of less than 15m length overallFound: deck are to be fitted with a permanent coaming 300mm in height above the deck.
Apr. 25 2024
Source Page: Winners of risk reduction through design award 2024 announcedFound: They held the bucket at head height, further increasing manual handling risk.
Mar. 28 2024
Source Page: Restructures and constitutional changesFound: The next working day after the resolution has been passed counts as Day 1.
Mentions:
1: Griffin, Mark (Lab - Central Scotland) Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee, 23 April 2024; c 37.]Surely, the Government must be working - Speech Link
2: Griffin, Mark (Lab - Central Scotland) For example, in relation to the height criterion, regulations could specify a height lower than 11m. - Speech Link
3: McLennan, Paul (SNP - East Lothian) Following phase 1 of the inquiry, the Scottish Government’s Grenfell inquiry fire safety working group - Speech Link
4: Briggs, Miles (Con - Lothian) I am content with what the minister has said.I know that different working groups are taking forward - Speech Link
Written Evidence Apr. 16 2024
Inquiry: High streets in towns and small citiesFound: Difference in the Accessibility of Streets’ is an interdisciplinary, multinational research study based at
Mentions:
1: Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Lab - Life peer) statutory instruments that your Lordships’ House remains concerned about buildings up to 11 metres in height - Speech Link
2: Baroness Swinburne (Con - Life peer) 50% of high-rise buildings in our building safety fund, which deals with buildings over 18 metres in height - Speech Link
3: Baroness Swinburne (Con - Life peer) We are still working on an estimated number for those requiring remediation. - Speech Link