Working at height is often a necessity in the construction industry. However, even if you work at height often, you should never do so carelessly.
By definition, working at height creates a situation where an injury could occur due to a worker falling from one level to another. These injuries can be very serious, even life-threatening, so it’s important to be careful when you’re working at height.
To minimise the risk of a nasty fall, keep these dos and don’ts in mind:
Working at Height Dos
When working at height, make sure you do the following to help keep everyone on the project as safe as possible.
Do train your workers
Many accidents are down to plain old human error, and safety equipment will not be effective if it is not used properly. Make sure your workers are trained both in how to do their work, and how to do it safely. Nobody should be working at height unless they are competent to do so.
Do carry out a risk assessment
Before you start working at height, you need to carry out a full risk assessment. This involves identifying potential hazards, taking precautions, and producing a method statement.
READ MORE: Working at Height Risk Assessments
Do check your equipment
Safety equipment can be faulty or may become damaged over time. Never use a piece of height safety equipment (like a safety harness or lanyard) without inspecting it thoroughly first. On top of this, you’ll need to store all equipment correctly and take care of it properly to ensure that it doesn’t break unexpectedly.
Working at Height Don’ts
It’s important to avoid taking risks when working at height in order to help keep everyone safe. Steer clear of mistakes by paying attention to the “don’ts” listed below.
Don’t ignore the HSE working at height guidelines
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has lots of useful information on avoiding risks when working at height, and you should familiarise yourself with their guidance before undertaking any big project. These long documents might seem daunting, especially when they’re talking about your legal obligations, but the HSE’s advice is written in plain English to help you understand what is required. Ignoring the work-at-height regulations is incredibly dangerous, so reading these guidelines is in your best interest.
Don’t start without emergency procedures
Before you even put on your safety harness, you should have a good idea of emergency evacuation and rescue procedures. In the unfortunate situation that something does go wrong, are you prepared to handle it? You must consider this fully before you begin working at height.
Don’t work at height without proper equipment
When working at height, you need to use either fall arrest or fall restraint equipment. Check that you are using the right safety equipment for the job, and don’t ignore safety accessories like helmets or tool lanyards. Every piece of safety equipment has an important purpose!
READ MORE: Fall Arrest vs Fall Restraint
Ready to Work at Height?
Once you understand how to be safe when working at height, you need to find some sturdy safety equipment! At Safety Harness Direct, we have a wide variety of equipment available. Click the buttons below to get started with our safety harnesses and lanyards, or browse our website to discover our full range of safety equipment.
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