Any work over 2.4 meters will now require scaffolding under the new Best Practice Guidelines for Working at Heights. This means that all single-story buildings will require scaffolding – something that was not required before which will now add thousands to the cost of each build.
Prepared by the Department of Labour with the Roofing Association of New Zealand, the guidelines will bring changes to the way tradesmen work at any height deemed dangerous.
Failure to meet the guidelines can lead to enforcement by health and safety inspectors such as a written warning, a prohibition notice, an infringement fine or in the most serious cases, prosecution.
While there was confusion within the building industry over what the guideline specifications and expectations were, Department of Labour inspector Marcus Nalter said no minimum height restrictions existed.
“It’s not the height that we focus on, it’s the fall because even at low falls people are getting seriously injured or even killed,” he said.
The employer therefore had a responsibility to take all practical steps to ensure work places were safe. That required them to eliminate, isolate and minimise risks.
About 50 inspectors would be visiting work sites nationwide ensuring guidelines were being met.
Hassall Homes Ltd managing director Rodger Hassall said the costs for extra scaffolding would fall directly onto the consumer.
Mr Hassall, who has been in the building industry for 40 years, said the regulations were going too far. “I think it’s going a little bit over board with a single-storey dwelling.”
For an average home the extra scaffolding would cost a couple of thousand dollars, he said.
G.J. Gardner Homes Taranaki managing director Kevin Jarvis said his company would comply with any regulations.
“If the statistics prove it will benefit staff and workers on site then we’re all for it,” he said.
Installing the additional scaffolding would add costs and time and create logistical difficulties.
“They need to understand the impact it’s going to have on the construction industry. It will cause some challenges as to how we do a job yet still comply,” he said.
Master Builders president and Taranaki builder Dave Fabish said, though it would increase costs to the customer, he supported anything aimed at improving safety standards.
Adopting the regulations would require a significant culture shift.
“It does come at a cost and it does make housing work a bit less affordable but it’s for a good cause,” Mr Fabish said.
He didn’t think the regulations went too far.
Roofing Association president Graham Moor said to see scaffolding and edge protection being used on single level dwellings was a quantum leap for the industry.
“But there’s still work to do.”
Department of Labour harm reduction programme manager Francois Barton said the new regulations were aimed at reducing the human and financial toll caused by falls from height.
“More than half the falls from height reported to the Department are happening from under three metres and most of these falls are from roofs and ladders,” Mr Barton said.
The Department of Labour has set a target of a 25 per cent reduction in serious injuries and deaths by 2020.
Via: Stuff.co.nz The Voice of Scaffolding Since 2008 | U.K. Edition
A long-timetime advocate of the need for more detailed data, the Association says the latest figures, although clearly important, do little or nothing to help identify the cause of these fatalities. Such data, claims PASMA, is essential to help target information and initiatives at those areas needing it most.
Firmly committed to advancing safety and best practice in the work at height sector – a major cause of workplace injuries and deaths – the Association says the need for in depth information is paramount in order to help influence future outcomes and enable all organisations who champion safety to focus their attention where it matters most.
Comments Neil Tomlinson, PASMA’s head of marketing and communications: “Only in this way will we be able to prioritise, direct and take the action necessary to influence the figures and be able to demonstrably show progress on significantly reducing accident statistics. Not only in the UK, but ultimately internationally.” 
We have all seen them and worn them and by far the best gloves for all scaffolding tasks. i got at least 3 to 4 days work out of the gloves before holes started appearing.
Overall very comfortable to wear and retained grip even when wet.
Price: £1.10 each
ScaffMag Rating: 
The Swedish firm Blaklader have created a comfortable pair of gloves that provide a decent amount of protection. The gloves are made from synthetic leather and are a slip on design.
But like the Snickers gloves they fell short when used for erecting and dismantling scaffolding.
Price: £13.68 each
ScaffMag Rating: 
Another well known brand giant Dewalt provides a well rounded protective glove but comes with a huge price tag. The glove provides a gel palm with Toughgrip Reinforced palm and fingers and comes with Velcro straps around the wrists.
When i first wore the gloves they felt like what i call “riggers gloves” but performed well during everyday scaffolding tasks and lasted well over the review period. Saying this I can not ignore the fact that these gloves cost a small fortune and why I can only give them a 4 star rating.
Price: £25.38 each
ScaffMag Rating: 
