Most falls from height occur in the construction industry, but such falls are a significant yet overlooked hazard across all sectors. Read on to find out more.
What counts as a fall from height?
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), you are working at height if you are at risk of falling from one level down to a lower level. This includes situations where:
- you are working above ground or floor level
- you are working near an edge, opening or fragile surface that you could fall through
- you are at risk of falling through a hole or opening in the floor / ground
Ascending or descending a permanent set of stairs does not count as working at height. Falls, slips and trips on the same level are also not counted as falls from height.
Where are falls most likely to occur?
Ladders.
Most of us have climbed a ladder of some sort in our lives. Unlike scaffold towers and MEWPs (which are mainly used in the construction industry), ladders can be found just about everywhere.
Unfortunately, familiarity breeds complacency, and workers all too frequently overlook key safety procedures when using ladders. The following failures are common, which is probably why falls from ladders are the most common type of fall from height:
- Forgetting to inspect the ladder before use and ensure that it's in good working order
- Setting the ladder up incorrectly
- Disregarding safe working practices
Consistently implementing good safety practices can keep you safe when using ladders. We recommend adding an extra layer of protection with a ladder safety harness, just in case.
Scaffolding.
A common sight in the construction industry, scaffolding must be assembled correctly, regularly assessed and also maintained for however long it remains up. Since scaffolding is usually exposed to the elements, weather conditions can have a significant effect on its safety too.
In addition to following the correct setup and maintenance procedures, fall arrest systems are crucial for safety when working on scaffolding. Safety Harness Direct has you covered with scaffolding harnesses to keep you secure when working on a scaffold.
Roofs.
A deceptively dangerous working environment, roofs comes with several risk factors for falls:
- The roofing material can be fragile and may be unable to support your body weight, causing you to fall through the roof.
- Like scaffold towers, roofs are also subject to changing weather conditions that can make the work surface dangerously slippery.
- Roofs often don't have any built-in safety measures (e.g. edge protection rails) to keep you from tumbling off.
Roof safety harnesses are essential for anyone carrying out roof work.
Mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs).
MEWPs come in a variety of forms, including cherry pickers, boom lifts and scissor lifts. They are lifting platforms or buckets mounted on a truck or similar vehicle, allowing elevation of workers to hard-to-access work places.
They also come with a host of unique features that must be taken into account (in addition to the standard working at height precautions) when you carry out your risk assessment. For example, the MEWP could collide with passing traffic or overhead hazards.
Given the range of hazards that come with this machinery, it's essential to use the right cherry picker safety gear when using a MEWP.
Staying safe while working at height
The risk of falling from height can be greatly reduced by following the correct procedures and using the right safety equipment. Fall protection gear is a non-negotiable piece of the puzzle.
Safety Harness Direct has you covered no matter what your situation. Browse by work situation to find the right safety solution for you.
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