According to statistics published by the Health & Safety Executive, approximately 26% of UK workplace fatalities in 2018 came as a result of falling from height.
That sobering statistic highlights just how dangerous working at height can be and, moreover, just how important it is to take the correct precautions before engaging in such activities.
If working at height is a big part of your job, keep yourself and others protected by being mindful of the risks involved.
Here’s a rundown of some of the most important things to consider when working at height.
Laws are implemented for a reason, so it’s important to take note of the relevant legislation. When it comes to working at height, this point is extremely important.
Make sure that you fully understand what applies to you and take the appropriate actions to adhere to these rulings at all times.
For workers, knowing and following these guidelines can help ensure that the working conditions are safe and risks are kept to a minimum.
Meanwhile, for employers, it can also help ensure all actions are done by the book, protecting the workers while also protecting the company from liability claims in the event of an accident.
Like any potentially dangerous situation, a comprehensive risk assessment is vital in preparing for the task at hand and can help highlight any areas of concern.
Conducting a thorough risk assessment can not only allow you to minimise the dangers but also potentially allow you to eliminate them altogether.
Should the risks be unavoidable, the identification of these dangers allows for preventative measures to be put in place, such as a fall arrest or fall restraint system.
It’s the employer’s responsibility to provide the worker with the relevant training for the task at hand. This point is included in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and is naturally extremely important to take into consideration.
Suitable training can prepare workers for the proposed job and allow them to carry them out safely. Only those that have the relevant level of experience and training should be authorised to carry out the corresponding task.
At SafetyLiftinGear.com, we offer a variety of relevant training courses for height workers, including the Working at Heights Training course and our Risk Assessment & Method Statement (RAMS) Training.
While every step should be taken to avoid a devastating accident, failure to prepare for the worst is not only foolish and short-sighted but also potentially very dangerous.
Be sure to formulate and implement an appropriate rescue plan to keep all parties covered in the event of an unfortunate mishap. This includes supplying the appropriate emergency rescue equipment.
Which leads us nicely to our next point…
In order to ensure you are completely protected in the event of a fall, it’s vital that the correct equipment is used at all times. Often referred to as PPE (Personal Protection Equipment), this is the last resort standing between you and the ground in the event of a worst-case scenario.
It’s important to remember that not all fall protection equipment is universal and some protection measures will be more appropriate for a specific job than others. For more information on the different kinds of safety restraints, check out our blog on overhead and horizontal safety lines.
In addition to supplying equipment for working at height, we also provide inspection and certification of such equipment. For advice and guidance on what equipment may be best for you, get in touch today to speak with one of your specialist advisors.
For more information on precautions for working at height and general safety measures for height work, why not drop us a line today? Call now on 0117 9381 600 or get in touch online using the button below.
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A scaffolding company located in Dorset has been sentenced after a 49-year old worker fell victim to serious, life-changing injuries as a result of falling five metres through a skylight whilst working.
Paul Norris was working for Solar Scaffold Services Limited, who were contacted to erect an access tower and guard rails on the roof perimeter of industrial units in Christchurch during April 2017. On completion of the work on the access tower, Mr Norris proceeded to assist his co-workers with work on the guard rails, gaining access via the roof. As he was doing this, Mr Norris fell through a skylight which was approximately five metres above the floor and suffered a number of serious injuries to his arm, elbow, wrists, ribs and pelvis as a result.
Following the injuries, Mr Norris remained in the hospital for three weeks, undergoing several operations with much physiotherapy still required. This has resulted in him being registered disabled, forced to move into an adapted flat, the inability to return to work and his wife having to give up work in order to provide full-time care.
Following an investigation conducted by the HSE, it was found that the employer Solar Scaffold Services Limited, failed in their duty to provide adequate safety measures, through poor planning, supervision and execution. Insufficient measures were taken to prevent the fall whilst work was carried out on the fragile roof.
This has resulted in Solar Scaffold Services Limited pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and being fined £10,000 and ordered to pay costs of more than £3,000.
HSE Inspector Caroline Penwill stated after the hearing that "falls from height remain one of the most common causes of work-related fatalities and injuries in this country. This serious incident could have been avoided if the work had been properly planned to reduce risk."
To ensure you are properly protected whilst working at height, take a look at our range of Height Safety Equipment by clicking below - if you have any questions regarding any of our products, then please contact us today!
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If working at height is a regular part of your job, you know that proper fall protection equipment is imperative when it comes to getting the job done efficiently and safely. The dangers of working at height do not stop once the worker’s fall-arrest equipment performs effectively to reduce the consequences of a fall from height. The worker may now be at risk of an equally life-threatening emergency; suspension trauma.
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When carrying a heavy load, it is paramount that you are using the correct equipment to keep you, and your colleagues, safe. But when it comes to carrying heavy loads upstairs it is even more crucial that you are tackling the task with the appropriate equipment, having fully evaluated potential risks.
The added hazard of falling and/or crushing means carrying loads upstairs is something you should take very seriously. The good news is, Safety Lifting Gear offers the equipment you need to make lifting loads upstairs easier and more efficient! Read on, to find out How to Safely Carry Loads Upstairs:
If you work at height, you'll know that taking safety seriously is an important priority. Working at height is the leading cause of injuries and fatalities in the construction industry, and this is no surprise with workers commonly working on rooftops, ladders, and fragile surfaces.
The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) are fully aware of the risks involved with such tasks and have stated working at height regulations that must be adhered to for safety when working at height. More...
It’s important to stay vigilant when working in hazardous environments, and this is particularly important when working in confined spaces. Confined space safety is vital as a confined environment is usually associated with dangerous chemicals and gases, as well as other hazards.
That’s why it’s important to not only have the right equipment but to make sure that equipment is completely reliable. Here at SafetyLiftinGear, we sell high-quality, reliable confined space safety gear that you can rely on time after time. To see our full collection of confined space safety gear, click here.
Here’s a closer look at some of the products we supply:
Confined Space Kits
Whether you need to retrieve something using a tripod/winch combination, or a full-scale rescue kit with an included safety harness, we have something for you. Have a browse through our selection of confined space kits and find the one that is right for your project.
Multi-Gas Detectors
Within a confined space, you’ll want to be aware of any potentially dangerous gases in that area. Our multi-gas detector can detect any H2S, CO, 02, LEL in the atmosphere so that you can evacuate to space if a harmful gas is present.
Safety Barriers
When working in a confined space the last thing you want to worry about is someone accidentally joining you! This not only risks pedestrian's safety but your own so it’s important you have something that lets people know where you are. Our high-visibility safety barriers are perfect to make people aware of the hazard.
If you need any advice on what confined space safety equipment best suits your project then feel free to get in touch. For that, or any query about our products give us a call on 0808 123 69 69.
Safety barriers can be used for a wide variety of jobs, from traffic control to keep people away from potentially dangerous areas. If you're wondering where and why you should use a safety barrier, here are some examples of situations where a barrier can be useful:
Our 4-panel safety barrier (pictured above) is the perfect solution for most barrier requirements. This high-visibility folding barrier is both lightweight and easy to store. The warning DANGER – NO ENTRY is printed on each panel of the barrier to deter both pedestrians and vehicles from passing it.
We also stock the Armorgard BAR1 expandable safety barrier, pictured above. The concertina design makes it easy to mark out a work area, and when you're finished, the sturdy barrier can be folded away for storage (and secured with the safety catch provided).
The perfect accessory for our 4-panel safety barriers, these connecting clips will hold your safety barriers together securely. No matter how large the space you need to cordon off is, these connectors will allow you to create a safety barrier of any length!
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If you have any questions about our barrier products, feel free to get in touch with the SafetyLiftinGear team - we're always happy to help!
0117 9381 600
