Work at Height (Amendment) Regulations 2007 came into force on 6 April 2007. The amendment applies to those who work at height providing instruction or leadership to one or more people engaged in caving or climbing by way of sport, recreation, team building or similar activities in Great Britain.

HSE, representatives of the Adventure Activities Industry Advisory Committee and the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority have produced the following practical guidance to help duty holders to interpret the requirements of the Amendment Regulations:

• Guidance on the application of the Work at Height Regulations 2007 to persons instructing climbing and caving [PDF 200kb]

The adventure activities sector has a good reputation for risk management. HSE undertook a pilot study of the application of the Work at Height Regulations to the adventure activities sector which shows current ways of working procedures would normally be sufficient to comply with these Regulations. The amendment was consulted on and addresses technical issues, mostly the use of ropes, particular to climbing and caving. It creates the most cost effective way forward for the adventure activities sector to comply with the WAHR by demonstrating an equivalent level of safety based on existing national governing body best practice.

• Consultative document: Proposal for Work at Height (Amendment) Regulations [PDF 800kb]

During March 2007 HSE ran a small number of briefing sessions for HSE and LA inspectors on the application of these Regulations, copies of the materials used at the inspection briefing events are available.