Health & Safety Risk Management System

S31 - Working at Height

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Falls from height are by far the most common cause of workplace deaths and one of the main causes of major injury in the workplace. Latest figures reveal that 46 people died and 3,351 suffered serious injury as a result of a fall from height whilst at work. The majority of injuries sustained in this manner, and typically the most severe, occur within the construction industry and agriculture.

Almost a third of falls are from ladders; however, employees are at risk of falling when working on stepladders, goods vehicles (whilst loading/unloading), tankers (whilst filling), machinery, open edges, roofs, mobile elevated work platforms, and waste containers. There are several factors which contribute to falls from height, consequently the Working At Height Procedure advises responsible managers to:

  • Recognise a problem
  • Provide safe systems of work
  • Ensure that safe systems of work are followed
  • Provide adequate information, instruction, training or supervision
  • Provide and use appropriate, safe equipment.