European Commission prepares work at height guidelines

Mr Angel Fuente-Martin, of the European Commission's employment and social affairs and equal opportunities directorate general, told Access International that the guidelines were designed to help small and medium sized companies comply with the directive.

He said a final draft of the guidelines was to be assessed by the Commission's advisory committee in February, with final adoption likely in May and publication possibly in September.

Neither the Commission nor Eurogip would comment on the contents of the guidelines in advance of their final approval. However, AI understands that the report will not, for example, take a hard line on the use of ladders, and will instead provide more general, non-binding guidance on best practices.