WAHR Inspections in Barrow-in-Furness

Scaffolding erected within the submarine construction halls at BAE Barrow — including the Devonshire Dock Hall — and at any other construction or maintenance site in Barrow-in-Furness must comply with the Work at Height Regulations 2005. All scaffolding must be inspected before first use by a competent person, after any event likely to have affected its integrity, and at intervals not exceeding 7 days while it remains in use. Given the scale and complexity of submarine construction scaffolding — often spanning multiple decks at significant heights — thorough inspection records are essential for both WAHR compliance and BAE's internal safety management systems. Safe Lee provides WAHR scaffolding inspections for construction and industrial sites across the Barrow area.

Mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs) at BAE Barrow and across Barrow-in-Furness construction sites must be thoroughly examined under LOLER 1998 every 6 months, as equipment capable of lifting people. Under WAHR 2005, pre-use checks must also be completed before each use by a competent operator. The two sets of obligations apply concurrently — LOLER governs the mechanical integrity of the MEWP itself, while WAHR 2005 governs the management of the work at height activity. Safe Lee provides both LOLER and WAHR inspection services across the Barrow-in-Furness and Cumbria area.

Yes. Safety harnesses, energy-absorbing lanyards, inertia reels, and anchor points used on Team Barrow regeneration construction sites and at BAE Systems facilities must be inspected in accordance with Work at Height Regulations 2005. Equipment must be checked before each use by the person who will wear it, and must receive a formal detailed inspection by a competent person at intervals determined by the manufacturer's instructions and the intensity of use — typically every 6 to 12 months. Any harness or lanyard that has been subjected to a fall arrest must be removed from service immediately and inspected before any return to use, regardless of its apparent condition.

A WAHR inspection involves examining all work at height equipment for defects, damage, and suitability. This includes checking structural integrity, testing safety mechanisms, verifying correct assembly, and ensuring equipment meets the requirements of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.

Work at height equipment must be inspected before each use by the user, and must undergo a formal inspection by a competent person at regular intervals. The frequency depends on the type of equipment and the conditions of use — scaffolding requires inspection at least every 7 days when in use, while other equipment such as harnesses and lanyards typically require formal examination every 6 to 12 months.

WAHR inspections cover scaffolding, mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs), ladders, stepladders, roof ladders, safety harnesses, lanyards, fall arrest systems, guardrails, safety nets, and any other equipment used to prevent or mitigate falls from height.