No Falls Week: Our Guide to Fall Prevention

No Falls Week is a campaign taking place between the 12^th and 16^th May 2025 that is dedicated to promoting safe working at height in the UK. Falls from height are one of the leading causes of workplace injuries and fatalities, particularly in the construction, maintenance and warehousing industries.

In fact in 2023-24 alone, over 100 people every day were injured working at height and at least one person per week died from their injuries. This is why fall prevention and safer working at height practices are so important to understand for employers and employees alike.

Best Practices for Preventing Falls from Height

Employers have a legal and ethical responsibility to minimise the risks of falls from height by implementing best practices and adhering to the following regulations…

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require employers to:

• Avoid working at height where possible.
  
  
• Use appropriate equipment to prevent falls.
  
  
• Implement measures to minimise fall risks when working at height cannot be avoided.
  
  
• Train employees on safety measures.
  
  
• Regularly inspect and maintain all fall protection equipment.
  
  

Other best practices for fall prevention include:

1. Conducting a Risk Assessment

Before any work at height begins, employers must carry out a thorough risk assessment where they identify potential fall hazards, assess the severity of the risk involved and implement measures to minimise these risks.

2. Providing the Right Equipment

Employers should provide appropriate fall arrest and fall prevention equipment to their employees for any tasks at height. This equipment should meet safety standards set by regulatory bodies and employers should also take the work environment into consideration. For example, if the work is being carried out in extreme temperatures, the equipment must be able to withstand these temperatures.

Wherever possible, collective fall prevention systems should also be implemented such as guardrails and edge protection, safety nets and toe boards.

All fall protection equipment should also be routinely inspected before use and maintained according to manufacturer guidelines. If there is any evidence of damage, the equipment should be replaced immediately.

3. Ensuring Proper Training

Employers must ensure that all workers operating at height have received sufficient training on height safety and how to use fall protection equipment. All employees should also understand emergency procedures and what to do in the case of a fall, and a strong system for reporting and investigating incidents should be in place.

By following these work at height best practices, you can help to prevent falls and injuries and protect your employees from the risks of working at height.

If you have any questions about fall prevention or our safety equipment, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us using the button below.

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