Work at height: legislation and risk assessment

In many professions, workers find themselves working at height, which obviously involves significant risks.
In fact, the so-called work at height sector is considered one of those most exposed to high-risk scenarios and situations.

Given the seriousness and weight of the responsibilities involved in work at height, specific regulations have been developed
to allow proper risk assessment and the adoption of appropriate prevention and safety measures.

In this article, we examine the current regulations for work at height, how to carry out a risk assessment,
and what the minimum reference height is according to current legislation.

Contents:

• Minimum reference height
• Work at height: employer obligations and regulations
  • Definition of work at height
  • Current applicable regulations
  • Employer obligations
• Risk assessment

Minimum reference height

The minimum height for work at height, according to Article 107 of Legislative Decree 81/08,
is set at 2 meters or more, measured from any surface considered stable.

The only activities that do not follow this assessment criterion are:

• Work carried out at sea;
• Mining-related activities;
• Activities related to hydrocarbons or gas.

Work at height: employer obligations and regulations

As mentioned above, work at height is governed by specific regulations that provide a definition,
establish legal requirements, and define the obligations of the employer.

Definition of work at height

Work at height includes all work activities carried out at a height greater than two meters,
which therefore expose workers to the risk of falling. The definition also includes excavation activities
involving depths greater than the stated limit.

Current applicable regulations

When referring to work at height, the applicable legislation is
Title IV, Chapter II of Legislative Decree 81/08.

Regulations concerning work at height outline all measures aimed at preventing accidents.
These measures include:

• Proper use of PPE.
• Use of appropriate equipment: it is mandatory to correctly provide the necessary equipment on site,
  such as ladders, ropes, and scaffolding.
• Installation of suitable fencing and barriers: appropriate barriers must be installed to prevent
  unauthorized personnel from accessing areas with a potential fall hazard.
• Prohibition of work in unsuitable weather conditions.
• Prohibition of alcohol consumption.
• Mandatory training.

Employer obligations

The safety manager and/or the employer are the figures responsible for ensuring worker safety.
For this reason, they bear both civil and criminal liability.

The person responsible for workplace safety is appointed to manage and coordinate all activities related
to risk prevention and protection. Their duties and responsibilities include:

• Identifying all fall hazard areas.
• Adopting appropriate safety measures and equipment required to work safely.
• Ensuring compliance with all obligations and requirements set out by regulations.
• Providing mandatory training to employees.

Risk assessment

A proper risk assessment for work at height begins with identifying the potential risks
that workers may face:

• Falls from height: during work activities at height, there is a risk of falling due to loss of balance
  or slipping. If adequate safety measures are not in place, the worker may suffer serious or even fatal injuries
  resulting from the fall.
• Suspension trauma: following loss of consciousness for various reasons, there may be a rapid deterioration
  of vital bodily functions caused by the worker being suspended in a harness. To mitigate this risk, it is essential
  to lower the suspended person to the ground as quickly as possible.
• Pendulum effect impact: the activation of certain fall arrest systems can cause the so-called pendulum effect,
  which involves the worker swinging while attached to an anchorage point. In such situations, the worker may strike
  obstacles or the ground, resulting in injuries of varying severity.

In addition to identifying risks, a proper risk assessment also includes safety planning and scheduling.

Planning and scheduling play a central role in workplace safety, as they allow the organization and implementation
of all necessary preventive safety measures. Specifically, this includes organizational measures and PPE aimed at
reducing risks to the lowest possible level.