Working at height is a routine part of many jobs, from building maintenance and construction to cleaning, inspections, and equipment servicing. However, even familiar tasks can expose employees to serious risks when the right precautions are not in place.
Businesses have a responsibility to create safe working environments, and that means treating work at height as an area that requires careful planning rather than relying solely on employee experience. A combination of risk assessments, suitable equipment and clear procedures can help reduce the likelihood of accidents.
Carry Out a Thorough Risk Assessment
Before employees begin any task at height, businesses should identify the hazards associated with the work. This includes considering the height involved, the condition of the working surface, access points, weather conditions and the equipment being used.
Risk assessments should also consider who will be completing the task. Employees need the appropriate knowledge, training and physical capability for the work they are expected to undertake. Assessments should be reviewed when working conditions, equipment or procedures change.
Prioritise Collective Protection
Where possible, businesses should choose safety measures that protect everyone working in an area rather than relying entirely on individual workers to protect themselves.
For rooftop environments, this may involve installing guardrails or other physical barriers around exposed edges. Solutions such as roof edge protection from Kee Safety can form part of a wider approach to reducing the risks employees face when working close to roof edges.
Collective measures can be particularly useful in areas that employees access regularly because the protection remains in place rather than needing to be set up for every individual task.
Provide Suitable Equipment
The equipment used for work at height should be appropriate for the job. Ladders, mobile access towers, platforms and personal protective equipment all have different purposes, so businesses should avoid taking a one-size-fits-all approach.
Equipment should also be inspected and maintained at suitable intervals. Damaged, unstable, or poorly maintained equipment can create additional hazards, even when employees are experienced in using it.
Invest in Employee Training
Providing safety equipment is only effective when workers know how to use it correctly. Training should cover the equipment employees are expected to use, safe working procedures, and the hazards they may encounter.
Employees should also understand when a task should be stopped. Unexpected weather, damaged equipment, or changes to the working environment can make a previously planned job unsafe.
Create Clear Emergency Procedures
Even with strong preventative measures, businesses need to consider what would happen in an emergency. Rescue arrangements should be established before work begins rather than developed after an incident occurs.
Employees should know who to contact, how to raise an alarm, and what actions to take if a colleague is in difficulty. Emergency procedures may need to account for the location and type of work being performed.
Make Height Safety Part of Everyday Operations
Improving safety when employees work at height requires more than purchasing equipment or completing a one-off risk assessment. Businesses should regularly review working practices, maintain protective systems and encourage employees to report potential hazards.
By making height safety part of routine operational planning, organisations can create a more controlled working environment and reduce unnecessary exposure to preventable risks.
