Over the next few weeks, the Health and Safety Service will be releasing comms to raise awareness of the risks from Working at Height.
In 2023, a city council was fined after a school caretaker died following a fall from a ladder. He was working from height for over 3 hours in direct sunlight with temperatures exceeding 24C. The caretaker was using a standard-length broom and a telescopic surface cleaner before falling approximately 2.5 metres onto the tarmacked surface below.
This was not a low-risk short duration activity, and there were alternative ways of working which would have eliminated the need to work at height.
Natalie Pomfret, an inspector from the HSE said; “In this case, this tragic incident led to a man’s avoidable death. This death could have been prevented if his employer had acted to plan and supervise the work activity and ensured a safe method of work was in place.”
Our Working at Height Awareness training video includes reminders about completing a risk assessment for all working at height activities, how to look for alternative safe methods to carry out the task from the ground such as ‘wash & reach’ and the need to use a qualified contractor for this type of work.
The working at height safety campaign from the No Falls Foundation takes place 12-16 May 2025 and it’s a big opportunity to shine a spotlight on safe work at height across all sectors. It also reminds Premises Managers and those with site responsibilities to inspect equipment used when working at height. The latest figures from the HSE show that 50 people lost their lives at work due to a fall from height in 2023/24.
Learn more:
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- Further information can be found in our Working safely at height policy: HS027 Working at Height
- Council fined £67k over school caretaker’s fatal fall – Brighton and Hove News
