Working at height

Responsible: Geoff Hense, Head of Production, Arcola Theatre.

Geoff is managing the working at height policy as it a fundamental part of how the theatre operates in terms of rigging lighting, sound, AV and general maintenance and has the potential to apply to all staff at some point.

Our priority is to inform all affected staff of the risks posed by working at height, defined

as ‘any place including at or below ground level from which a person could fall. Obtaining access to or

egress from any place while at work involving a risk of a person falling a distance liable to cause personal

injury, not including access by means of a permanent stairway’ and to provide necessary training and support to ensure the risk to health is minimised.

Instances of working at height at Arcola are extremely varied and can cover anything from painting a wall on a stairway to rigging at height from the top of a 13 rung zarges a-frame ladder and each instance requires a different approach.