Emergencies, reporting and responsibilities — Working at Height Practice

Sample questions

1. 01Before a job on a factory roof, the supervisor says the first aider will "work out a rescue on the day if anything goes wrong". What is wrong with that?

   • ANothing, as a first aider is trained to rescue people from height
   • BRescue is the fire service’s job, so the first aider is not needed
   • CRescue is part of planning the work, so it is settled beforehand
   • DRescue only needs a plan once a fall has actually happened on site

   Why: Regulation 4(2) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 makes planning for emergencies and rescue part of planning the work, so it is done before anyone goes up. Being the first aider does not give anyone a rescue method or kit, and HSE guidance says not to rely on the emergency services for the rescue itself. Waiting for a fall means the first emergency meets no plan at all.

2. 02A rescue plan for work from a boom MEWP says a second MEWP on site will be used to reach anyone who gets stuck. What else does HSG33 say the plan should cover?

   • AThe weather limits, such as winds that would stop the MEWP
   • BThe operator’s daily pre-use check sheets for the MEWP
   • CThe fire service’s expected arrival time at the site address
   • DA note that the operator climbs down the boom if the MEWP fails

   Why: HSG33 says a rescue plan should cover the rescue equipment, how it is set up for different rescues, anchor points where needed, the limits the weather puts on the plan, and trained rescuers. High winds that would stop a MEWP being used to reach someone are exactly that kind of limit. Relying on the fire service is what HSE guidance says not to do, climbing down a boom swaps one emergency for another, and daily check sheets belong to the machine’s routine checks, not the rescue method.

3. 03An operative falls from a roof edge into a safety net rigged below and is unhurt. Which of these is an example HSG33 gives of a proportionate rescue?

   • APutting a ladder up to the net so he can climb down
   • BCutting the net so that he drops to the floor underneath
   • CLeaving him in the net until a fire crew arrives on site
   • DAsking him to climb back up the net onto the roof again

   Why: HSG33 says the rescue method must be proportionate to the risk, and gives a ladder up to a safety net, so the fallen person can climb down, as a simple example. Waiting for a fire crew is the reliance on the emergency services the guidance warns against. Cutting the net drops him a second time, and climbing back to the roof edge puts him straight back at the place he fell from.