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Simple steps can save accidents and prevent injuries

It’s easy to keep workers safe when they are working at height

Author: Dee Jones/23 July 2024/Categories: HEALTH & SAFETY, Safety when working at height , PRODUCT GUIDANCE, Height access, WORKPLACE ADVICE, Gain elevation

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Business owners beware, if your employees fall and injure themselves whilst working at height, unless you can prove that you have provided the correct access safety equipment, staff training and regular maintenance of that equipment, you could be in line for an expensive outcome!

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reported that in 2021/22 the total cost of workplace injury to Britain was £7.7 billion out of which falls from height accounted for the third highest cause of fatal injury. Popular causes were seen as being from ladders, platforms, steps, scaffolds and other regular access workday activities. Fines, costs and compensation can run into huge sums, with even simple non-fatal injury falls from under 2 meters height have regularly seen fines imposed on business owners exceeding £40,000.

What can employers do to mitigate their exposure? Well, it is not easy to cover each and every situation, but seeking specialist help from suppliers of access equipment is a very good start point. They can advise on the best types of equipment for different access tasks, they can suggest replacement equipment for items that are no longer fit for purpose and they can help to service or maintain your existing equipment.

 

Combination extension ladder
Combination extension ladder
Handy steps with domed feet
Combination extension ladder
Podium steps
Podium steps
Safety steps with safety lock
Safety steps with safety lock
Compact folding work platforms
Compact folding work platforms

A risk assessment is an essential tool in your armoury. Identifying the risk of falls from height before they can happen is key to setting out your safety strategy. Once again, the HSE provides great advice on this and immediate steps should be taken to implement such an assessment, because in so many cases employers are often totally unaware of the processes that employees are taking when trying to gain access to height.

We can summarise the necessary steps that should be taken by all businesses, to enable them to at least try to mitigate the risk of falls, accidents and injury or even a fatality. This could help you to avoid an expensive outcome.

Can you avoid the process of working from height?
If you can, then that is the best course of action to be taken by employers and employees.

Seek specialist advice
Help and knowledge from a trusted access equipment supplier. Speak to expert sales staff to gain information. In many cases it may be preferable to obtain a site visit from a supplier representative in order to assess the risks and processes involved.

Carry out a risk assessment of all working at height processes
This should also include the possibility of risks that your employers take off their own backs without you having considered this as a working at height process. Simple things like reaching for files on top of shelves or moving components from point to point over head height.

Check that access equipment is provided and available at the point of need
Don’t allow workers to gain height using inappropriate means.

Check that the access equipment is suitable for the task
Is it stable and strong enough for the job and the operators using that item(s) of equipment?

Check that the access equipment is in good working order
Is it regularly maintained and serviced as required to a company schedule?

Ensure that workers are fully trained
Provide tuition on how to use the access equipment provided and understand the risks associated with working from height.

 

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