Fewer falls: Rise to the challen

Last year, according to the HSE, more than 4000 employees suffered major injuries after falling from height. In this article Gary Fallaize,MD of RRC Training, explains how companies can reduce problems in this critical area

While it's true that certain sectors are more vulnerable to height-related accidents than others, no sector can afford to be complacent. For instance, a cladding firm was recently fined after an employee fell through an open skylight and a plant hire company was fined £200,000 when an employee fell 5m to his death. There are some simple steps companies can take to minimise the risk: Avoid work at height where you can by using customised equipment or where possible taking the item down and working on it at ground level.

Use work equipment or other measures to prevent falls where working at height cannot be avoided.

This might include using scissor lifts and scaffolds rather ladders, or something as simple as a long-handled squeegee when cleaning windows.

Where you cannot eliminate the risk of a fall, use work equipment or other measures to minimise the distance and consequences of a fall should one occur.

This includes thinking about nets and airbags to protect your workforce.

Practical considerations There are also some practical rules which should be followed. For instance: When deciding on the equipment, consider what the job entails, the duration and location. Remember, ladders should only be used for light work, as a means of access, a work platform should be considered as one of the most stable ways of working at height.

Consider the risk of falling objects.

Equipment such as electric drills can be easily dropped, but also the little objects - nails, screws or even rubble can cause significant injury when falling from a height.

Again, planning and design is indispensable.

Platforms should be constructed so that objects cannot fall, and tools such as drill should be attached to safety lines.

Roof work accounts for the majority of deaths and serious injuries. Roof workers need the appropriate training as they must be able to recognise hazards quickly, understand the appropriate work systems and have the competence to implement them. Risk assessment should be carried out on all roof work before commencement, and secure entry and exit from a roof must be assured.

Creating the mindset However, just as important as these practical steps, is the ethos an organisation instills among all those working on its site. This can have a huge impact on accident levels. For instance,Holcim Group employs 85,000 people worldwide and is a global supplier of cement, aggregates (gravel and sand), concrete and construction-related services. In 2006, it started a project to improve the safety records of the company's Eastern European plants.

A total of 36 key employees - safety officers or coordinators from each of the territories - undertook the NEBOSH International Certificate, joined by colleagues from Russia and Azerbaijan. Training was based on-site and organised entirely by RRC.

Sessions included lots of 'real life' situations that Holcim staff encounter every day, rather than theoretical scenarios. The course also addressed the issues most relevant to Holcim plants - including working at heights.

This training induced a real culture shift; reporting levels improved and more personnel identified hazardous situations.

Most impressively, there has been a 20% reduction in injuries each year.

Nimble skills Changing work patterns is another source of height-related accidents. In tough times, in a bid to keep headcount down but operational flexibility up, staff are often assigned to new roles. If their health and safety training does not keep pace, accidents can happen. In these cases quick, focused training is what's required.

For instance, Ian McClymont a selfemployed health and safety security manager in the oil and gas construction industry in West Africa, enrolled on our short working at heights online course to familiarise himself with all new regulations as he was about to work on a pipeline that would involve working at heights. The course quickly helped him cover everything, from tips to legislation through to day-to-day know-how.

When it comes to a high risk area such as working at heights, the knowledge required is not complex but it is essential. Training has the potential to slash accident levels, keep companies nimble and their staff both flexible and safe. Companies who overlook it - not only risk the health and well being of their workers - they risk missing out on a huge commercial trick.