Falls from height account for 45 deaths at work in 2006\2007. Although this figure is at the lowest it has ever been, Falls from height are still the most common cause of fatality. They also account for nearly 4,000 major injuries over the same time period.
A large number of these accidents are in sectors which are presumed to be low-risk (teaching, retail etc). Even if a worker is working on ground level, the work at height regulations 2005 (amended 2007) apply if there is a risk of injury (which should have been taken into account).
These regulations place duties on employers, the self-employed, and any person that controls the work of others (for example facilities managers or building owners who may contract others to work at height).
These duty holders must then ensure all height work is:
Properly organized and planned
Undertaken by someone who is competent to do so
The risks are fully assessed and controls are put in place
Appropriate equipment is selected and used for the task
The equipment is properly inspected and maintained.
When selecting equipment to be used whilst undertaking height work, there is a simple hierarchy that should be followed.
If possible avoid doing the work at all. Perhaps the work can be done at ground level?
Use work equipment or other measures to prevent falls where they cannot avoid working at height
Where they cannot eliminate the risk of a fall, use work equipment or other measures to minimize the distance and consequences of a fall should one occur.
CASE LAW
A demolition company from Surrey was fined £15,000 and £4971 costs after pleading guilty to a breach of section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. One of the company directors was fined £5000 and £1657 costs after pleading guilty to a breach of section 3(1) of the Act. Both companies were sentenced at the City of London Magistrates Court. The maximum fine for a breach of the HSWA in the Magistrates Court is a fine not exceeding £20,000.
The prosecution was brought by the HSE following an incident on 11 March, 2005 after an Electrician was seriously injured at a factory at Church Manorway, Erith, after falling more than five metres. His injuries included a broken pelvis, fracture to his right hip, a shattered hip socket and a broken rib.
“Mr Murrell’s injuries were very serious, but the consequences could have been far worse. The risks of falls from height on this demolition project and the measures needed to control those risks had been identified on more than one occasion; Wooldridge simply failed to implement the necessary measures. The director, Mr Anderson, had personal knowledge of the circumstances surrounding or leading to this accident and he failed to take obvious steps to prevent it”
