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14 September 2004 - Two New Research Reports by HSE - Pushing/Pulling Loads and Ladder Safety Hoops

Two new research reports have been issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) this week, details below:

• RR228 - Review of the risks associated with pushing and pulling heavy loads

• RR258 - Preliminary investigation into the fall-arresting effectiveness of ladder safety hoops

RR228 - Review of the risks associated with pushing and pulling heavy loads:

A review by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) aims to identify the risks associated with the pushing and pulling of heavy loads for future updates to guidance on the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (L23; HSE, 1998).

Outcomes of this report were as follows:

• Pushing and pulling assessment checklist to be included in HSE’s revised guidance

• Guidance on the selection of trolleys and wheeled equipment

• The L23 pushing and pulling risk filter guidelines for starting and stopping a load reduced to 20kg for men and 15kg for women, assuming the distance of the push or pull to be no more than 20 metres

• It should be recognised that the competency required to assess a pushing or pulling
  operation may be greater than that required to assess a lifting or carrying operation.

RR258 - Preliminary investigation into the fall-arresting effectiveness of ladder safety hoops:

Although there are various Legislative and guidance documents specifying ladder safety hoops (caged ladders), for the prevention of workers falling to the ground, there appears to be a total lack of knowledge regarding the capability in providing any fall-arresting safety, as previous research indicates.

Uncertainties have been expressed by people involved in the Risk Assessments at height, as to whether the ladder safety hoops provide adequate protection. The problem being anecdotal accident evidence and lack of test methods.

It is felt by the HSE that a preliminary investigation is required, in order to understand what ladder safety hoops actually are, what their intended purpose is and to do preliminary testing to establish whether they actually could provide the fall-arresting capability as was their intention.

Article by Alexandra Johnston