Health, Safety and Environment
Health and Safety Executive "Falls From Height Campaign" May/June 2006
In 2004/2005 53 people died and nearly 3800 suffered a
serious injury as a result of a fall from height in the workplace.
As such falls from height are the most common cause of fatal injury and the second most common cause of major injury to employees, accounting for around 15% of all such injuries. All industry sectors are exposed to the risks presented by this hazard. Falls from Height are a key priority in the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) Injury Reduction Programme. The objective is to reduce injury rates by 10% by 2010 against a 1999/2000 baseline.
The HSE State: "Experience shows that falls from height usually occur as a result of poor management control rather than because of equipment failure."
- Common factors found by the HSE include:
- Failure to recognise a problem.
- Failure to provide safe systems of work.
- Failure to ensure that safe systems of work are followed.
- Inadequate information, instruction, training or supervision provided.
- Failure to use appropriate equipment.
- Failure to provide safe plant/equipment.
- HSE Key Messages are:
- Those following good practice for work at height now should already be doing enough to comply with these Regulations;
- Follow the risk assessments you have carried out for work at height activities and make sure all work at height is planned, organised and carried out by competent persons;
- Follow the hierarchy for managing risks from work at height - take steps to avoid, prevent or reduce risks; and
- Choose the right work equipment and select collective measures to prevent falls (such as guardrails and working platforms) before other measures which may only mitigate the distance and consequences of a fall (such as nets or airbags) or which may only provide personal protection from a fall.