Working at Height

In recent years falls from height accounted for 48% of fatal injuries to workers in the UK

The main areas where falls occurred were:-

  • Falling From Height (Scaffolding and Scaffold Towers) 
  • Falls from mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPS)
  • Falls from Ladders
  • Falls when working on roofs or other structures
  • Falling through Fragile Roofs
  • Tools/materials falling from MEWPS or scaffolding

In many circumstances the work areas and scaffolding has not been inspected, handrails were loose, scaffold boards had been moved or removed and not reinstalled.

When working in mobile elevating platforms the injuries and deaths occurred where no fall arrest system in place as well as over reaching and overloading. 

How should risks be assessed? The Health and Safety Executive state that:-

AVOID work at height if you can. (If you cannot then:-)

PREVENT falls by selecting and using the right access equipment and

MINIMISE the impact of any fall.

 

Basically if you are unable to avoid working at height then you can use work equipment to reduce the height and impact of any fall.

We have an example and fully editable Risk Assessment for working at height http://www.method-statement-template.info/risk-assessments/work-at-height-risk-assessment