Working at Height – the leading cause of death in the workplace

Posted 4 years ago

Falls from working at height still remains the leading cause of death in UK workplaces. The provisional figures for 2019/20 under RIDDOR show that around a quarter of workplace fatalities are a result of falls from height and they also account for the fifth highest number of major injuries at work – but with the right training, care and planning, falls from height can easily be prevented.

Every employee that is required to work at height as part of their role requires training and it doesn’t have to be time-consuming, boring or expensive! Ask us for a free trial of our Working at Height Training by clicking on the button below and you can see how simple sorting out your training with iHasco really is!

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Why is Working at Height Training important?

The latest statistics from the HSE should be enough to remind us about the dangers of working at height…

Falls from a height, being struck by a moving vehicle and being struck by a moving, including flying or falling object, continue as the three main causes of fatal injury, between them accounting for over half of all fatal injuries each year since at least 2001/02.

In 2019/20, 29 fatal injuries to workers were due to falls from a height, accounting for around a quarter of all worker deaths over the year, a similar proportion to the latest five years combined.

The HSE

Working at height injuries and fatalities are always preventable, some of the most common causes of injuries and death whilst working at height include:

Using ladders or step ladders incorrectly
Overstretching from ladders
Standing on benches or chairs to reach higher
Incorrect use of Mobile elevated platforms, or faulty equipment
Incorrect use of suspended access equipment, or faulty equipment

Training, especially eLearning, provides a simple way of making employees aware of the dangers whilst working at height and helps you work towards compliance with The Work at Height Regulations.

Guidance on minimising risk

The HSE’s guidance on minimising risk is as follows and again, as with many guidelines, you’ll see that it’s fairly straightforward and simple measures that can go a long way in preventing injury:

Avoid work at height when there’s a practical alternative
Use the right type of equipment and ensure that it is stable, strong enough for the job and maintained correctly
Ensure workers can get to their working position safely
Don’t overload or over-reach when working at height
Take precautions when working on or near fragile surfaces
Provide protection from falling objects
Prepare and know the emergency evacuation and rescue procedures

Why iHasco?

iHasco’s Working at Height Training can be completed in just 35 minutes and split into three easy to follow sections that look into legal responsibilities, the risks when working at height and how to choose the right equipment for the job.

It’s animations and interactivity throughout keep learners engaged and instant printable certificates allow you to show your commitment to the Work at Height Regulations 2005!