Whether a building or structure is two or 20 storeys high, there are intrinsic health and safety risks involved for those responsible for construction and maintenance. And with falls from height consistently amongst the most common causes of work-related fatalities and serious injuries in the UK, there has been a marked upturn in media focus on health and safety practices in the workplace. 

Even the very concept of ‘work at height’ is beginning to be challenged – and rightly so – as fatal falls can occur mere metres off the ground. In any scenario where there is the risk of someone falling and suffering from a personal injury, fall protection and arrest systems are essential.

Fall protection mechanisms

One size definitely does not fit all when it comes to fall protection systems, and deducing which is most suitable for a particular site is not always straightforward. The first step involves conducting a thorough site survey to assess the requirements and obstacles of the structure, the level of access needed and the specific environmental risks. Then, the best fit for that particular job can be determined, and its design and installation can begin.

Depending on site requirements, there are a number of different fall protection mechanisms available, each with optimal applications. These include:

• Edge protection  – simple, yet highly effective guard rails for rooftop edges, including modular, counterbalanced, freestanding and top-fixed options
• Horizontal safety lines – effective fall restraint and arrest protection systems, suitable for almost any roof, walkway or industrial safety environment
• GRP walkways – Glass Reinforced Plastic offers a reliable anti-slip solution, essential for any roof with an incline over 15 degrees.

Following installation and testing, ongoing maintenance inspections are then required to uphold security and ensure compliance with the Work at Height Regulations 2005.

Safety on the line

Of course, the very purpose of fall protection is to mitigate the dangers of working at height. So, what about the technicians tasked with carrying out the initial inspections, as well as installing and maintaining these systems?

To a bystander, rope access may look terrifying, but it is quickly becoming recognised as one of the safest and most efficient means of conducting work at height. Using abseiling and climbing techniques, rope access technicians can skilfully and easily navigate their way around incredibly tall and complex structures, conducting inspections, installations and maintenance more safely and efficiently than is possible with alternative methods.

With risk assessments and method statements carried out for every job, this ‘two points of contact’ technique is becoming widely renowned as an optimally efficient, safe, eco-friendly, affordable and non-disruptive method of working at height.

Of course, there are inherent risks with any elevated job, which is why safety is paramount for any professional rope access firm. For instance, at Access North Structures, our technicians are all IRATA-qualified, meaning that they have trained in line with the robust safety standards set by the Industrial Rope Access Trade Association. We also have a five-pronged approach to H&S, which means that we continually review our protocol in line with the latest industry advancements, and invest extensively in the ongoing development of our employees.

The priority of any company should always be to guarantee a safe environment for its workers, with no risk overlooked. Just as fall protection systems deliver this security for others, we are committed to ensuring it for the skilled rope access technicians who install them.