WAIT for help

The HSE is promoting a toolkit, called WAIT, designed to help people working at height select the right access equipment.

WAIT works by answering questions on how long the work will last, the height of the working platform, time between equipment movements, whether the access equipment must fit through a standard doorway, and whether the access equipment needs to be freestanding.

Additionally, the type of work activity being undertaken is also required to effectively use WAIT. Work such as cleaning windows, replacing light bulbs and carrying out inspections is considered light; work such as replacing roof tiles is considered medium, and work such as replacing heavy machine parts is considered heavy.

On the downside, although there are many different types of access equipment available for working at height, WAIT limits its suggestions to the most common.

www.hse.gov.uk/falls/wait/wait-tool.htm