Those responsible for employees and workplaces need to be clear that when safety nets are provided, there is a potential for the need to carry out a rescue.

The Work at Height Regulations make specific references to rescue as follows:
“Organisation and planning
4.-(1) Every employer shall ensure that work at height is-
(a) properly planned
…and that its planning includes the selection of work equipment in accordance with regulation 7”
(2)… planning of work includes planning for emergencies and rescue (The Work at Height Regulations 2005).

Regulation 7 of The work at Height Regulations goes on to say:
“Selection of work equipment for work at height
7.-(1) Every employer, in selecting work equipment for use in work at height, shall –
… (b) take account of-
… (v) the need for easy and timely evacuation and rescue in an emergency
(vi) any additional risk posed by the use, installation or removal of that work equipment or by evacuation and rescue from it” (The Work at Height Regulations 2005).