8 May Avoid the pain and costs of falls from height: No Falls Week 2024 Helping you work safely at height: A Blog Ahead Of No Falls Week 2024 Falls from height are the leading cause of workplace fatalities in the UK, making up 30% of all workplace deaths, with 40 fatalities in 2022-2023. Next week marks the inaugural No Falls Week campaign. No Falls Week (13 – 17 May 2024) exists to raise awareness about the importance of safe working at height, aiming to equip workers from all industries and sectors with the knowledge and tools to prevent falls and improve safety. Here are some considerations to improve safety when working at height: Can working at height be avoided? Avoid working at height where possible. Consider alternative approaches to the task. Can the task be redesigned to eliminate the need for working at height? Can equipment or tools be implemented to remove the need for working at height, e.g. extendable tools from ground level? Can the item or task be relocated to ground level? Can technology, such as a drone, be used to reduce the need to work at height? Assess the risk Conduct a suitable risk assessment for the task at hand. This will help you establish how the risk of working at height will be managed, and will determine safety measures and equipment that are appropriate to the task. As well as falls from height, falling objects also pose a hazard when working at height, and this should be considered in a risk assessment. Evaluate the risks and ensure all work at height is properly planned and organized with appropriate controls in place. Communicate this risk assessment with all workers involved and ensure they understand safe work practices. Continue to assess the risk as the work is undertaken, e.g. monitoring weather conditions. Review your assessment periodically, and update is as appropriate. Use appropriate equipment The safest, most appropriate equipment should be selected for the task at hand. Ensure equipment is well maintained and subject to regular inspection and servicing. Any defects or faults should be reported immediately, with defective equipment taken out of service. Fall protection systems (such as guard rails, safety nets etc.) must be properly installed and maintained. Equip your employees with the right level of training Training can be used to ensure that all operatives are equipped with instruction and knowledge on how to use equipment correctly, work safely at height, and recognise hazards. Do you managers require additional training to empower with the confidence and knowledge to control safe working at height? Training should be ongoing to reinforce knowledge and address new risks or equipment. Toolbox talks can also be used to bolster operatives’ knowledge. How can we help? We can help you ensure your work activities are safe, with suitable control measures in place. Risk Assessment creation and review Carrying out site safety audits Compliance with regulations Tailored support packages Looking for working at height training, or training for Site Supervisors? We can deliver: Training at your site Training from our offices Online E-learning. Get in touch to start a conversation today.