No Falls Week is an annual campaign that aims to raise awareness of safe working at height practices. Organised by the No Falls Foundation, this week-long event encourages employers, workers and safety professionals to think carefully about fall risks and take practical steps to prevent falls in the workplace.
No Falls Week is now in its third year. Since launching in 2024, the campaign has helped to keep height safety squarely in the spotlight, reminding businesses across all sectors that falls from height are preventable when work is properly planned, closely supervised, and carried out using the right equipment.
No Falls Week 2026 is scheduled for Monday 18th – Friday 22nd May. Read on to learn more!
Why No Falls Week Matters
Working at height is part of everyday life for roofers, window cleaners, tree surgeons and many other professionals across all sorts of industry sectors. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 exist to protect these people from the serious injuries that can be caused by falls from height.
No Falls Week is a timely reminder that those regulations are more than just red tape. Height safety is about making sure every person who works at height has the knowledge and the tools they need to avoid falls and return home safely at the end of each day.
What Counts as Working at Height?
According to the HSE's working at height guidance, you are working at height if you could fall from one level to another and suffer personal injury. For example, if you're working in any of the following places...
- On a roof
- Up a ladder
- On scaffolding
- In a cherry picker
- On a fragile surface
- Near an unprotected edge
...then you are working at height.
It's a common mistake to think that working at height only means working high above the ground. In reality, a fall from a relatively low height can still cause serious harm (especially if you land badly or hit something on your way down). And even if you're standing on the ground, you're still technically working 'at height' if there's a risk of dropping to a lower level, e.g. through an open manhole.
READ MORE: What Does 'Working at Height' Actually Mean?
What Should I Do During No Falls Week?
No Falls Week is a good opportunity for businesses to pause, review their current procedures and open up practical conversations about height safety. This could include:
- Holding toolbox talks about fall prevention and correct equipment use
- Reviewing your risk assessment procedures for jobs involving ladders, MEWPs, etc.
- Checking that safety products like harnesses and lanyards are still fit for use, with no signs of damage
- Refreshing your team's knowledge of best practices for fall prevention and emergency rescue
- Sharing No Falls Week resources on social media using the #NoFallsWeek hashtag
The official No Falls Week resource pack includes materials that your organisation can use to support safety talks, awareness campaigns and workplace discussions throughout the week.
A Real-Life Reminder of the Risks
Statistics are important, but real stories often bring the message home more powerfully. The video below features Dylan Skelhorn, who suffered life-changing injuries after he fell while working at height. His experience is a stark reminder that one unsafe moment can have consequences that last a lifetime.
We recommend sharing this video with anyone you know who works at height, manages people who work at height, or makes decisions about height safety equipment and procedures.
Working at Height Safely
Safe work at height starts before anyone leaves the ground. Every job should be properly planned so that you can choose the most suitable safety system for the task at hand. As a general rule, the safest approach is to avoid working at height altogether – but if that's not feasible, the risks should be controlled as much as possible.
Before work at height commences, the employer or site manager should consider:
- Whether the work can be done from ground level
- Whether collective protections (such as guardrails) can be used instead of relying on personal protective equipment
- Whether all workers are competent and trained for the task
- Whether each piece of equipment is in good working order
- Whether the weather, ground conditions or fragile surfaces might pose additional risks
- Whether there is a rescue plan in place for the worst case scenario
Harnesses and lanyards can play an essential role in fall protection, but they must be selected and used correctly. A fall restraint system, for example, is designed to stop the worker from reaching a fall hazard, while a fall arrest system is designed to catch a person after a fall has begun. You can learn more about this distinction in our guide to the differences between fall arrest and fall restraint.
Safety Harness Direct Supports No Falls Week 2026
At Safety Harness Direct, we support the aims of No Falls Week and the vital work of the No Falls Foundation.
We supply a wide range of certified height safety equipment for professional use – including safety harnesses, lanyards, fall arrest blocks, anchor points, tool tethers and PPE. No matter your line of work, we can help you to find reliable products that will enable you to work at height safely.
Good safety culture starts with awareness, but it must be backed up by the right training, planning and equipment. No Falls Week is the perfect time to review your current setup and make sure your people have what they need to work safely and confidently at all times.
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