Keeping cool in the cold
February 1st 2010

New guidance on working at height in cold stores proposes to tighten up practices and help operators avoid potentially costly prosecutions

New Work At Height guidance in the frozen food and cold storage industry has been released. The guidance supports cold store operators in their selection of work at height equipment by outlining a hierarchy of options. The guidance supplements the existing Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Guidance note PM28. All companies must adhere to requirements within the Work At Height Regulations 2005.

The paper called Guidance on the Selection of Appropriate Work Equipment for Work at Height Activities within a Cold Store Environment has been written by the BFFF and the FSDF in consultation with the HSE. The paper can be found at www.bfff.co.uk.

The guidance responds to a lack of current state-of-the-art technology providing work at height solutions for the industry.

Prior to the agreement of this guidance, many cold store operators were in breach of existing HSE guidance in this area by regularly utilising non integrated working platforms for planned work. This meant that companies were potentially liable for prosecution and the industry lacked practical safety guidance in this area.

As well as outlining a decision making hierarchy designed to help operators comply with regulations, the guidance offers some examples of elements to consider in developing a safe system of work for the operation of lift truck and nonintegrated working platform combinations.

The hierarchy for selecting work at height equipment (for

occasional work) within a cold store outlined by the paper is:

1) If possible, avoid working at height.

2) Use fixed access equipment, such as permanent access steps and tower scaffolds.

3) Use a fully integrated working platform with your existing forklift truck.

4) Use purpose built access equipment such as Mobile Elevating

Work Platforms (MEWPs).

5) Use a permissioning controlled working platform.

6) Use a non-integrated working platform.

The paper acknowledges the temperature of the cold store may be a relevant consideration in the selection of equipment.

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