According to the latest HSE statistics, falls from height are still the most common type of fatal workplace accident in Great Britain.
In response to the latest stats, Peter Bennett OBE—Chair of the Access Industry Forum (AIF) and the No Falls Foundation—said:
“Most falls from height are avoidable, but only if we can understand what’s causing them in the first place. Very little information is provided on the circumstance around fatal (and non-fatal) incidents, with current reporting focused on the type of incident as opposed to what caused it in the first place. This needs to change if we are to tackle the worsening issue of workers being killed, and the number of people who suffer the life-changing consequences of a fall from height.”
While the lack of data makes it difficult to definitively identify the main causes of falls from height, we can point to some possible causes that may be contributing to the bleak picture painted by the 2024 stats:
Insufficient safety measures
Negligence on the part of employers is unfortunately a recurring cause of fatal falls from height. Falls from roofs are a particular problem. Many companies have been fined to the tune of thousands of pounds, with directors charged and even found guilty of manslaughter when workers lose their lives.
Pre-work risk assessments and proper planning are essential to reduce the risk of deadly falls. This includes ensuring the right safety equipment is installed, such as guard rails and soft landing fall arrest bags. Workers must also be equipped with robust safety gear, including safety harnesses and appropriate anchoring products.
Faulty equipment
Of course, all the equipment in the world won’t help if that equipment is faulty. Supplying faulty gear is another form of negligence. It’s important to conduct regular checks on any equipment that keeps your workers safe. Faulty equipment can be especially dangerous because it gives a false sense of security when, in actuality, no protection exists.
This doesn’t just apply to items that workers climb on and use, but also to the safety items they wear on their person. We have a handy guide outlining how to inspect a safety harness—inspections should be carried out by a competent person at regular intervals.
Lack of training
Safety equipment is essential, but so is the correct training. Not knowing—and so failing to implement—the correct procedure for setting up, maintaining and using equipment can also contribute to fatal falls.
The HSE’s Work at Height guide is an excellent resource for keeping you and your workers safe on site.
Human error
With experience should come increased competence. However, we’re all human and it’s unfortunately all too easy to develop bad habits in our daily work routine—especially when there’s no immediate negative feedback to act as a warning and correct our behaviour.
To avoid slipping into unsafe work behaviour that could result in a fatal fall, review the following articles and refresh your knowledge on the best practices for staying safe when working at height:
Environmental factors
Even with the best equipment, excellent training and pristine practice, the environment itself can cause someone to suffer a fall from height.
Some examples include the weather, spills that happen on site causing slipperiness, or unexpectedly fragile surfaces (like roofs). The temptation can be to carry on regardless because the work still needs doing, but this can lead to unnecessary accidents.
If a change occurs in your environment, it’s essential that you evaluate the situation before deciding whether to continue or delay. It could be the difference between life and death.
Whatever your work situation, the chances of falling from height can be greatly reduced by using the right fall protection gear. Here at Safety Harness Direct, we stock all the gear you need to stay safe while working at height.
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Image source: Unsplash
