As you’d expect from an impressive capital city, London has some of the tallest buildings in the UK – and even the smaller ones are pretty high! With a blend of rich history and cutting edge architecture all around us, the upkeep and maintenance of these buildings is a full time job for construction teams across the capital – and that means working at height.
For the skilled and the brave, working at height in London is an everyday occurrence, but there are strict safety measures in place to prevent accidents happening at height while work is being carried out. In this article, we’ll explain the common ways of working at height in London, and the ways in which construction companies are legally obliged to keep their employees safe.
Ways to work at height in London
Ladders
When you think of working at height, you may immediately think of a ladder, and it’s true that whilst they can’t reach skyscraper height by any means, they are an efficient way to carry out short-duration (under 30 minute) tasks at low-risk heights when all reasonable ladder safety precautions have been taken. Amongst these precautions is carrying out all appropriate ladder checks before using the ladder, not overreaching, and maintaining three points of contact with the ladder at all times.
Platforms and towers
When working at height over a period of time is required but access needn’t be a permanent fixture, platforms and scaffold towers offer a best of both worlds scenario; it often isn’t convenient to disrupt busy city life with full scaffolding installations. Platforms and scaffold towers offer temporary space in which workers and their tools can be accommodated at height.
Scaffolding
When there’s a larger working at height project at hand, scaffolding is often the only way. For buildings that are fresh to the London skyline, and the older ones who’s facades need careful, expert maintenance, scaffolding creates usable platforms and walkways that allow the job to be carried out safely over a number of days, weeks or months.
Scaffolding erectors need to be CITB qualified, such as City and Urban who erect scaffolding in East London, and those working on it should be properly trained and briefed before setting foot on the access ladder.
BMU (Building Maintenance Unit)
For extra tall buildings, Building Maintenance Units need to be used, such as the ones used on The Shard, the UK’s tallest building (and 4th tallest in Europe), which is located in central London. A BMU is a unit that is usually suspended from a roof, and allows construction workers to carry out repairs and maintenance at varying levels. How else would those windows get cleaned?!
Ways to ensure worker welfare at height in London
All construction companies and their employees in London and beyond must work under the working at height regulations set out by the UK Government, and the precautions needed will vary from project to project. However, there are some ways in which working at height can be made safer, both legally, and in terms of good old common sense:
Thorough training
It’s essential that all construction workers that are working at height are sufficiently trained for the heights they’ll be working at, and the equipment they’ll need to use. For example, anyone working on an elevated work platform, such as a cherry picker, must have been IPAF trained before being let loose with one. From basics such as ladder safety to these more high-tech access arrangements, it’s critical that everyone knows how to keep themselves and those around them safe.
PPE
The right clothes and headwear are another vital part of working at height safety; hard hats, non-slip shoes and gloves, and, in some cases, harnesses, must all be used when appropriate to minimise the risk of injury.
Risk assessments
Full risk assessments should be carried out to fully inspect all height access equipment, including ladders, platforms, cherry pickers and scaffolding, flagging any areas in which improvements should be made to make them safer.
