Did you know that falls from a height are the main cause of fatal accidents in the workplace? This is why it’s so important that you follow the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) regulations and guidelines to ensure you remain safe at work at all times.
In this blog we will explore what working at height is including everything you need to know. Read our article to find out more.
What is Working at Height?
According to HSE, working at height means any workplace where accidents could occur without proper precautions. You are considered to be working at height if you:
- Work above floor level
- Could fall through an opening or fragile surface
- Could fall off an edge
- Could fall into an opening in the floor
The working at height regulations first came into effect on 6th April 2005 before some amendments were made two years later on the 6th April 2007.
The HSE introduced working-at-height regulations to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries related to working from a height.
But, what height is considered working at height? Simply put, there is no minimum height threshold. The HSE states that working at a height refers to any work where a person could fall from a high enough distance to cause injury.
Risks Associated With Working From a Height
The main risk associated with working from a height is the risk of falling. It is the main cause of death among construction workers.
Even if you think you are safe at a height, you can still slip if the surface is wet, lose your balance or trip over debris. This is why it is so important to have the correct PPE in place at all times – to reduce the risk of accidents or fatalities.
How to Stay Safe When Working at Height
Although there are many risks associated with working at heights, there are ways you can reduce these risks to ensure you remain safe, such as:
- Use railings: When possible, make sure that you use railings when working above ground level. Installing railings may mean that your job takes longer to complete, however, this doesn’t matter as your safety comes first.
- Wear the correct PPE: As briefly mentioned before, wearing the correct PPE is important to stay safe at work. Some essential PPE you need when working at a height include a helmet, non-slip footwear, eye protection, and protective gloves.
- Check your PPE: Once you have the correct PPE in place, you must inspect your equipment to make sure it is secure and safe.
- Complete a risk assessment: This is one of the most important ways you can stay safe when working at a height because it allows you to identify any potential hazards so you can come up with a solution to reduce them, if not eliminate them completely.
- Training is key: Whether you are an employee or employer, it is important that you either provide or receive the relevant training to ensure you remain safe when working at a height.
Stay Safe Working at Height With Beaconrisk
You should be able to go to work feeling safe at all times, and if you don’t, then there is a problem.
Here at Beaconrisk, your safety is our top priority, which is why we offer a wide range of health and safety e-learning courses to ensure you always remain safe and compliant at work.
One of the many courses we offer is our working at height course, which is aimed at anyone who works at a height, or who employs people to work at a height regularly.
This course covers what constitutes work at height, the safety issues, and how to assess and reduce some of the risks. To find out more about our working at a height course, contact us today at 0151 647 8658.