Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

17.33.7 Fragile Surfaces – Regulation 9
Employers must take steps to prevent people falling 
through any fragile surface. Steps to be taken include:
➤
avoid, so far as is reasonably practicable, pass-
ing across or near, or working on or near, a fragile 
surface

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Summary of the main legal requirements
397
➤
where this is not reasonably practicable:
➤
provide suitable and suffi cient platforms, cover-
ing, guard-rails or other similar means of sup-
port or protection and use them
➤
provide suitable and suffi cient guard-rails to 
prevent persons falling through fragile surfaces
➤
where a risk of falling remains take suitable and 
suffi cient measures to minimize the distances 
and consequences of a fall
➤
provide prominent warning signs at approach to the 
fragile surface, or make people aware of the fragile 
surface if not reasonably practicable
➤
where the risk of falling remains despite the precau-
tions a suitable and suffi cient fall arrest system must 
be provided.
17.33.8
Falling Objects and danger areas – 
Regulations 10 and 11
Suitable and suffi cient steps must be taken to:
➤
prevent the fall of any material or object
➤
if not reasonably practicable to prevent the fall of 
any material or object, prevent persons being struck 
by falling objects or material (if liable to cause per-
sonal injury) by for example providing covered walk-
ways or fan scaffolds
➤
prevent material or objects being thrown or tipped 
from height where it is likely to cause injury
➤
store materials and objects in such a way as to pre-
vent risk to any person arising from the collapse, 
overturning or unintended movement
➤
where danger of being struck exists unauthorized 
persons must be kept out of the area by suitable 
devices and the area clearly indicated
➤
store materials and objects so as to prevent them 
collapsing, overturning or move in a way that could 
be a risk to people.