Risks of working at height

A worker is classed as working at height where they are able to fall a distance that would cause injury to themselves, the distance can vary from being on a roof of a building to a small rise off the ground.  Working at height contributes to a big percentage of fatalities and injuries while at work in the world.

Who is at risk from working at height?

Anyone is at risk in the workplace who work at any height above ground level. Particularly workers in construction are at risk and in maintenance as they are normally at significant height fixing machinery or constructing buildings. There are various jobs that are at risk on a daily basis from window cleaners , painters ,  to fixing a leak in the roof. Not only is there a risk of people falling, its also objects falling on to people, so making sure the environment is safe before working is essential.

Safety measures for Working at Height

• Make sure the environment is suitable for working in, no unnecessary objects lying around.
• If you can avoid working at heights to do the job and if possible try completing most of the work on level ground.
• Where the risk of a fall cannot be eliminated, use work equipment to minimize the distance and consequences of a fall if one occurs.
• Safety nets , scaffolds, soft landing systems and a harness can help prevent the fall or help reduce major injuries from happening.
• Make sure the person is qualified to do the job, you don’t just want anyone doing the job. They will not be aware of the risks involved.
• Surface/access equipment in use is stable and strong enough to support the worker’s weight and that of any equipment. Any edge protection should be wide enough and strong enough to prevent a fall.
• Precautions in place while working on or near fragile surfaces.
• Make sure it is safe for workers to go back and for from there workplace with emergency evacuations and rescue procedures in place.
• Appropriate equipment to be used for the type of work being done and how often it should be used
• Provide protection from falling objects.
• Make sure equipment used for work at height is well maintained and inspected regularly.
• Do not overload ladders, the worker should not be carrying too much weight while going up the ladder. Keep your belt buckle (navel) inside the stiles and both feet on the same rung throughout the task. Also use a ladder or stepladder if the work will take more than 30 minutes to complete.
• Always use ladders if workers cannot maintain three points of contact (hands and feet) at the working position. If this is not possible, consider an alternative safe system of work.