Train Staff to Create a Safe Working Environment
To create a safe working environment when tasks are carried out at height, everyone involved needs the right working at height training. The appropriate course gives workers and supervisors the knowledge they need to establish and maintain safe practices off the ground.What Are the Risks of Working at Height?
There are many risks associated with working at height. The principal hazard is a fall — either a worker falling, or objects falling onto people below. This can happen where there is inadequate edge protection or where objects are poorly secured.Falls Can Cause Serious Injury
A fall from height can cause serious injury and can be fatal. Even a fall of a couple of metres can result in broken bones, fractures, or head and spinal injuries. Falls from height remain one of the most common causes of workplace fatalities in the UK each year, according to Health and Safety Executive statistics, with many more workers seriously injured. It is worth checking the latest figures on the HSE website when reviewing your own risk controls.Assess the Risk Before Work Begins
It is the moral and legal responsibility of the employer to ensure all work is carried out safely. Before any work at height, an employer should complete a working at height risk assessment to identify the risks and decide what measures are needed to control them. Start by looking for hazards: is the roof fragile? Is complex ladder work involved? Examine the working procedures and identify who might be harmed and how. Then determine whether suitable preventative measures are in place — for example, installing guardrails where there are none, or adapting procedures and setting them out clearly for employees.Which Industries Involve Working at Height?
Many industries involve working at height where employees could be at risk — maintenance and construction in particular, including window cleaners, decorators and painters, as well as workers installing or repairing roofing and telecoms equipment.14 Tips for Staying Safe While Working at Height
- Wherever possible, do as much work as you can from the ground.
- Never overload ladders, and make sure anyone using a ladder has a colleague footing it on the ground.
- Ensure everyone working at height has the correct working at height training for the task.
- Provide the right personal protective equipment (PPE), such as a correctly fitted safety harness, and inspect it regularly.
- Check that the surface and access equipment can safely support the worker’s weight.
- Never increase a ladder’s reach by standing it on another object.
- Ensure all scaffold towers are erected by a competent, trained person and inspected regularly.
- Inspect equipment used at height frequently, and repair or replace it at the first sign of wear.
- Protect everyone below from falling objects.
- For tasks that are difficult or last more than 30 minutes, avoid ladders and stepladders. Ladders and stepladders suit short-duration, straightforward work only.
- Never over-reach from a ladder — reposition it or find a safer means of access.
- When using a machine that lifts workers, check the surrounding area for obstacles such as manhole covers, power lines or low arches, and keep clear visibility when reversing.
- Have a rescue plan in case a machine cannot be lowered due to malfunction or injury.
- Carry out a pre-use inspection of machinery and report and repair any faults before use.