BS 5974:2010: Code of practice for the planning, design, setting up and use of temporary suspended access equipment

Temporarily suspended access equipment (TSAE) support or contain workers working at height on engineering and construction sites. BS 5974 gives guidance and recommendations on installing (erecting, altering and dismantling), maintaining, examining and using TSAE in a safe manner. It also sets out the responsibilities of all staff involved in working with TSAE. BS 5974 makes recommendations for the selection, design, installation, inspection, use and maintenance of temporarily installed suspended access equipment/systems (TSAE), as defined in BS EN 1808. Non-standard installations are also covered by this code. TSAE can be a working platform or platforms, work cage or chair suspended from a suspension rig which would be assembled at the place of work, used to carry out specific tasks. TSAE will then be dismantled and removed from the place of work when the specific tasks are complete to be used elsewhere. The equipment referred to in BS 5974 is typically suspended from steel wire ropes that are attached to the outriggers of a suspension rig or other suitable high-level anchor point. It is capable of being raised or lowered by means of a winch or climbing device that can be attached either to the working platform(s), work cage or chair or be incorporated into the suspension rig. The lifting appliance or appliances can be manually or power operated. In certain instances, the TSAE can be incorporated into a system that allows it to be traversed horizontally. Steeplejacks and steeplejack operations are not covered in BS 5974. It also does not cover permanently installed suspended access equipment, that equipment is covered by BS 6037-1. Requirements for slung scaffolds, being working platforms on scaffold tubes or wire ropes but which cannot be raised or lowered by the user, are contained in BS EN 12811-1. This version of BS 5974 is a full revision of the standard, and introduces changes as a result of the following: • Changes in legislation, in particular the introduction of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) 1998 • Advances in technology. This version of BS 5974 replaces BS 5974:1990, which is now withdrawn.