The No Falls Foundation has announced the start of No Falls Week – a campaign dedicated to preventing falls from height in UK workplaces. This important cause aims to prevent fatalities and injuries that are unfortunately too common in industries like construction.
In 2023/24, falls from height were responsible for 36% of all workplace deaths in Great Britain. Participate in No Falls Week from 12th to 16th May 2025 to help reduce these figures, and prevent falls from height!
The Importance of Preventing Falls from Height
According to the No Falls Foundation, hundreds of thousands of people work at height each year. Working at height is most often associated with construction, but window cleaners, wind farm workers, arborists, utility workers, and many others find themselves working at height on a fairly regular basis.
In the UK, employers are legally required to follow The Work at Height Regulations 2005 and take reasonable steps to prevent falls from height. Unfortunately, there are still some businesses who do not take adequate precautions, and 50 people lost their lives due to falls from height in 2024/24.
No Falls Week aims to prevent falls through education, research and support. To help them with their mission of educating people on fall prevention, we’ve put together the information below.
SEE ALSO: Why Is Fall Prevention Equipment Important?
Tips for Fall Prevention
You can do your part to prevent falls when working at height by paying attention to the below advice:
> Plan ahead
Most accidents can be prevented with thorough preparation and planning. Before work at height commences, you should conduct a full risk assessment and develop emergency evacuation / rescue procedures. Be aware of any dangers that could occur when working at height, and consider what you will do if anything goes wrong.
> Follow HSE guidelines
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) is the body that’s responsible for enforcing good health and safety practices in UK workplaces, so it’s crucial to follow their guidance when working at height. Ignoring the law can lead to serious issues for your workers and your company, so take the time to read through the relevant HSE guidelines and follow their advice carefully.
> Use the right equipment
There’s a lot of different equipment available for working at height, so it may seem like a challenge to choose the right tool for the job. Fall arrest equipment is used to stop a person’s descent in the event of a fall, whereas fall restraint equipment is used to prevent a fall from occurring in the first place. You should always know which kind of equipment you need to use for your unique work situation.
Additionally, all equipment should be thoroughly checked before use – damaged equipment can lead to danger. Immediately replace any equipment that is at risk of failing and causing a fall from height.
This No Falls Week, make sure all of your equipment is appropriate and in good working condition. You can find a great range of replacement equipment here at Safety Harness Direct.
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