Businesses ‘oblivious’ to working at height danger

20th, August 2008

Norwich Union (NU) warns that ‘cheap and simple controls’ could save lives.

NU are advising that companies invest in cheap and simple controls to prevent their employees having accidents while working at height. Many accidents are resulting from ‘poor management’ rather than equipment breaking, or structural failures. And falling from height is the most common cause of workplace deaths.

Employers may also be under the misconception that the regulations apply to sizeable heights, when in fact anything above a metre is classed as ‘working at height’. According to NU a high number of serious accidents occur from falling at ‘low height’, such as unloading materials from a Heavy Goods Vehicle.

Phil Grace, liability risk manager at Norwich Union, says: "Despite the Work at Height Regulations 2005, businesses still seem oblivious to the risks involved and are often unwilling to put cheap and simple controls in place.

"The regulations apply whether working at one or fifteen metres above the floor."

"Statistics indicate that incidents commonly result from poor management rather than equipment breakage or structural failure, so this emphasises the need for those responsible for ensuring worker safety to implement effective risk assessment," he concludes.

HSE inspector for Nottinghamshire, Angus Robbins said: "Falls from height remain the most common cause of fatal injuries. Latest figures show that 45 people died from a fall from height at work in 2006/07, with 3,750 suffering major injury.

“More than half of all fatalities from falls occur in construction. Companies involved in building, refurbishment or maintenance should ensure that the work is planned properly and sensible measures taken so that workers are not exposed to risk.”

Businesses ‘oblivious’ to working at height danger

Norwich Union (NU) warns that ‘cheap and simple controls’ could save lives.

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