I have recently been made aware of three accidents, all caused by people working from a height of three metres or less, which, sadly, resulted in death or serious injury to the person who was working at height.
All of these accidents could have been avoided, and companies involved were prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive and found guilty in court and heavily fined.
Unfortunately, all too often people do not see the risk they are taking or the risk they are asking others to take. Companies have a duty under law – Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, which requires employers to carry out a “suitable and sufficient” assessment of the risks created by its activities, and Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulation, which requires employers to ensure that all work at height is properly planned, appropriately supervised, and carried out in a safe manner.
It is not good enough to say: “we have done it this way before and had no problems,” because the next time it might result in an avoidable accident.
To carryout proper risk assessments and devise a safe method of work only takes a fraction of the time that a company would lose if there was an accident, added to that the loss of reputation, clients and employees due to the stigma attached to the company following a court case. Not forgetting the death or injury of an employee.
It is not just SME’s that fail to carryout proper Risk Assessments and devise Safe Methods of Work, larger companies often fall foul of the law. There is no excuse for any size company not to safeguard its employees. Larger companies often employ a Health and Safety professional whereas smaller companies can retain the services of a Health and Safety advisor without the need to employ a full-time person.
What you need to know about Working at Height:
Definition: Work at height means work in any place where, if there were no precautions in place, a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury, even if it is at or below ground level.
HSE: Before working at height you must work through these simple steps:
■ avoid work at height where it is reasonably practicable to do so;
■ where work at height cannot be avoided, prevent falls using either an existing place of work that is already safe or the right type of equipment;
■ minimise the distance and consequences of a fall, by using the right type of equipment where the risk cannot be eliminated.
Those in control of work have a responsibility to devise safe methods of working, provide proper equipment and to provide the necessary information, instruction and training to their workers in a safe system of working.
Find out more about Independent Advice for Businesses’ Health and Safety team.
