I korthet
If you manage a building where others work at height, the Work at Height Regulations 2005 apply to you even when contractors do the work. Its anchor points, window cleaning eyebolts and lifelines are inspected at suitable intervals by a competent person. Cleaning cradles and their suspension equipment are lifting equipment, thoroughly examined under LOLER at least every six months or to an examination scheme.
This page explains how anchors, eyebolts and anchor points are commonly tested, inspected and recorded. It does not replace the law, the standards it names, the manufacturer's instructions, or the decisions of the person responsible for the job or the system, who sets the tests, the loads and the inspection regime. A test records what happened on the day; it does not approve an anchor for use.
Key figures
| Who the law covers | Employers, and those who control work at height, such as facilities managers and building owners (HSE) |
|---|---|
| Fall arrest anchor points | HSE: "periodic inspection and testing by a competent person" |
| Cradles and BMUs | LOLER thorough examination at least every 6 months, or to an examination scheme |
| LOLER reports | Periodic reports: until the next report or two years, whichever is later. The report after installation: while the equipment is used there |
| Inspection records | Kept until the next inspection is recorded (Work at Height Regulations, regulation 12) |
Do people need to work at height at all?
HSE's first point for window cleaning is to avoid work at height where that's reasonably practicable, for example with water-fed poles or by cleaning from inside. BS 8213-1:2004, still the current edition, covers designing windows for safety in use and during cleaning. Where work at height can't be avoided, plan the rescue too: HSE says "It is not acceptable just to rely on the emergency services."
What's on your roof, and what does each need?
| Equipment | Law | How often | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eyebolts and single anchor points for harnesses | Work at Height Regulations 2005, regulation 12 (outside LOLER, HSE says) | After installation, at suitable intervals, and after exceptional circumstances liable to jeopardise safety | Inspection result, kept until the next is recorded |
| Horizontal lifelines | As above | As above, and as the system's maker instructs | As above |
| Cradles, BMUs and their suspension equipment, including davits | LOLER 1998, regulation 9 | At least every 6 months where people are lifted, or to an examination scheme; after exceptional circumstances | Thorough examination report with the details LOLER's Schedule 1 lists. Keep the report made after installation for as long as the equipment is used there, and each periodic report until the next or for two years, whichever is later |
| Anchors used for rope access | Work at Height Regulations 2005; IRATA's code of practice | IRATA recommends a detailed inspection at least every six months | Recorded, IRATA says |
What should you give contractors, and ask them for?
For suspended access equipment such as cradles and BMUs, HSE says the building owner gives contractors copies of the LOLER thorough examination report and the inspection, maintenance and testing records, and that contractors ask for them before starting. Do the same for anchor points and eyebolts: give the contractor the latest inspection record, and ask any testing contractor for their tester's calibration certificate.
Can the contractor who maintains the cradle also examine it?
HSE advises not: the person doing the thorough examination shouldn't be the one who does the routine maintenance, or they'd be judging their own work. A competent person may come from another company or from your own staff, as long as they're independent and impartial enough to judge objectively.
Test in-house, or contract it out?
A testing contractor brings the competence and the kit. If you have a competent person on staff and many anchors, owning a tester can make sense: a t25 kit tests eyebolts and anchors to 25 kN, the davit testing adaptor kit fits Reid Lifting davit bases, and calibration is needed at least every 12 months. For a single round of tests, hire a t25.
Worked example: a year's inspection calendar
A building has 40 window cleaning eyebolts, a roof lifeline, and a cradle on davits that was installed and examined on 1 March.
- Cradle and its suspension equipment: it lifts people, so without an examination scheme the next thorough examinations are due by 1 September and then 1 March. The 1 March report, made after installation, is kept for as long as the cradle is used on this building; each six-monthly report after it is kept for two years, as that is later than the next report.
- Eyebolts and lifeline: inspected at the interval the competent person and the system's maker set, and again after exceptional circumstances liable to jeopardise their safety, such as damage from building work around them. Each eyebolt's result is kept until its next one is recorded.
- Every contractor visit: hand over the latest records before work starts.
Pages for building owners
- Window cleaning eyebolts: testing, inspection and records
- Davit sockets for cradles and BMUs: LOLER and socket proof tests
- Horizontal lifelines and roof anchors and eyebolts
- Davit socket testing and eyebolt testing: the kit
- Proof load test record: free template
More questions
Yes. The Work at Height Regulations ask for each inspection's result to be recorded and kept until the next one is recorded.
At least every six months, because it lifts people, unless a competent person has drawn up an examination scheme with other intervals; and again after exceptional circumstances.
A competent person: HSE says someone with "appropriate practical and theoretical knowledge and experience" of the equipment, independent and impartial enough to judge it objectively. They can be from a specialist company or your own staff.
Källor
- Work at height: the law, HSE
- Working at height whilst window cleaning, HSE
- Specialist access equipment (window cleaning), HSE
- Safe lifting by machine: LOLER, HSE
- Thorough examinations and inspections of lifting equipment, HSE
- Equipment and machinery frequently asked questions, HSE
- The Work at Height Regulations 2005, regulation 12: Inspection of work equipment, legislation.gov.uk
- The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998, regulation 9: Thorough examination and inspection, legislation.gov.uk
- The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998, regulation 11: Keeping of information, legislation.gov.uk
- BS 8213-1:2004 Windows, doors and rooflights. Design for safety in use and during cleaning of windows, including door-height windows and roof windows. Code of practice, BSI
- IRATA International code of practice for industrial rope access (ICOP), TC-102ENG, IRATA International
- Pull tester hire, Staht
Test your building's anchors
A t25 tests eyebolts and anchors to 25 kN, and records each test in an app.