Falls from Height.

Identifying the dangers in your organisation.

Whether working at height is what you do as part of daily operations or just the occasional use of a stepladder to retrieve supplies from the stockroom, unless staff are fully aware of the risks involved, falls can occur at any time and serious injuries may result.

All workers can be at risk of falls from height; from high up on a platform or vehicle, or down into an inspection pit. Just slipping off the bottom rung of a set of steps can result in multiple breaks in the ankle or, on rare occasions, a short fall can involve more serious head injury and lead to death.

It is essential therefore that a thorough review is made of your working practices, both those that are official company policy and where short-cuts have been commonly adopted.

Common causes of falls from height.

As stated previously, falls from height can occur in any organisation whatever the nature of their work. A simple task such as putting up festivity decorations can result in staff falling off stepladders, or worse still, off office chairs!).

However, the most common causes of workers falling from height are:

• overstretching when using ladders
• standing on insecure platforms; such as when not positioned correctly on uneven ground
• not using equipment correctly; e.g. not tying-in ladders or always maintaining three points of contact
• using inappropriate equipment, or the proper equipment not being available

Other causes include:

• the area not being correctly guarded; e.g. no barriers around trenches
• poor housekeeping, such as obstacles being in the way or slipping on spillages
• being distracting and people losing their footing
• not following company procedures as set out in your risk assessment i.e. taking short-cuts

Avoiding the dangers.

Falls from height remain the biggest cause of workplace fatalities in Great Britain. In 2022/23 40 people died as a result of a fall from height while carrying out their work i.e. a staggering 30% of all deaths during that period*. 

While some of these fatalities have been falling from high up (such as through fragile roofs, where safe access had not been provided) serious, or even fatal injuries, can occur even when the fall is less than 2m!

As an employer therefore, you should ensure that no work is done at height if it is safe and reasonably practicable to do it on the ground and the need for access to height should be designed out wherever possible. For example:

• arrange office supplies or client files so everything is within reach, without the aid of stepladders
• on plant, machinery or road tankers sampling, checking and control operating points can often be located at ground level
• cleaning of plant might be carried out from ground level using a foam jet cleaner or cleaning might be reduced by better extraction of dust, fumes etc.

*HSE work injury statistics for 2022/23

Where tasks involve working at height.

Where working at height is unavoidable, all reasonably practicable measures should be taken to prevent workers from falling. Employers must ensure that an appropriate risk assessment is carried out and the risks identified are properly managed. This includes the supply and maintenance of appropriate equipment and ensuring all staff using that equipment have been properly trained.

Improper use of ladders is one of the main causes of falls from height. To use ladders safely, always maintain three points of contact. That means two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand on the ladder at all times. Moving quickly often results in only 2-point contact. A conscious effort to maintain 3-point contact is therefore essential throughout the task undertaken.

You will find comprehensive guidance on the use of ladders in our H&S A-Z. This includes important information from the Ladder Association on purchasing telescopic ladders that satisfy British Safety Standards (many don't!).

What happens after a fall from height?

Whether a serious or minor injury occurred, all falls from height should be reported and recorded in the accident book, as soon as possible after the incident. Such occurrences will help you spot where there are potential weaknesses in your safety procedures and what appropriate control measures you will need to put in place as a result.

In conclusion, you don't have to be involved in working from height as your principal business for your workers to be at risk from falls from height. Even if you run a small retail concern for example or have office premises, now may be a good time to review your policies and procedures applicable to any tasks that involve working at height. Do they cover every possible occasion? Are they adequate or need updating? Are your staff aware of the dangers and comply with your procedures? Or are they behaving contrary to instructions?

Find out now and ensure the appropriate safety controls are in place - before someone has a fall.