When you're working at height, there are a lot of different risks that you need to consider. Working at height is precarious, and if you need to take equipment or materials up with you, then you need to work out how you can do so safely. We always recommend that you conduct a thorough risk assessment before you do any work at height. This risk assessment will allow you to identify possible dangers and put the correct safety equipment and precautions in place to minimise the risk of an accident or injury.
Common risks when working at height
Let's start by taking a look at some of the common risks you might face when you're working at height. These are things that should be considered when you're faced with working at height in any scenario, whether that's on a building site, at work, or even in your own home.
- Dropping tools and equipment on people below you
- Inefficient or faulty safety equipment
- Ledges and un-guarded openings
- Fragile surfaces such as roofs & scaffolding
- Inexperienced staff members
- Poorly conducted risk assessment
How can you manage the risks of working at height?
Before working at height, it's absolutely vital that you carry out a risk assessment. The things that you check may vary depending on the type of job you need to complete, but a lot of these things are transferrable to any risk assessment that you do.
It's important that you've considered ALL possible risks (not just the obvious ones) so that you aren't caught in a potentially dangerous or life-threatening situation once work begins. Let's take a look at some of the common things that should be checked when you're conducting a risk assessment.
Weighing up your options
It's always advised that if a job can be done without working at height, then you should avoid working at height altogether. However, if a job can't be completed from the ground then you should:
- Prevent falls by investing in the right safety equipment.
- Minimise the distance you have to climb to eliminate as much of the risk as possible.
Checking for risks
Here are some of the risks that commonly get highlighted during a working at height risk assessment.
1. Equipment - is the equipment that's been selected for the job suitable, safe and in good working order? You should check for any signs of wear and tear and replace damaged safety equipment immediately. Never work at height with safety equipment that you're not 100% confident in!
2. Surfaces - inspect the surfaces that you'll be working and standing on. Are they fragile? Are they wobbly or unstable? If so, how can you stabilise them?
3. Falling objects - whether you're going to be working at height, or working on the ground beneath someone who's working at height, you need to know that all equipment and materials will be secured. We have a great range of tool lanyards that will come in handy.
4. Emergency procedures - should be put in place so that you know what to do in the event of an emergency. Whether there's a fire, a fall or some other kind of emergency, you don't want to be making an escape/evacuation plan while you're working at height. Make sure that everyone on site is aware of the emergency procedures whether they're working at height or not.
Things to avoid when working at height
Finally, as part of your risk assessment, make sure that everyone is well-versed in the do's and don'ts of working at height. Some of the key things you shouldn't do when working at height are:
- Overloading equipment with too much weight
- Overreaching on ladders/platforms/scaffolding
- Resting ladders and other access solutions on weak or unstable surfaces
- Using the wrong equipment for the task at hand
- Let people who are untrained or incompetent work at height
So now you're aware of the risks of working at height, let's take a look at some of the top-of-the-range safety harnesses and equipment we can supply you so that you can work at height safely.
Safety Harness Kits
If you want to purchase a single kit with everything you need to work at height comfortably and safely, take a look at our safety harness kits. These kits contain a combination of our most comfortable, durable harnesses, safety lanyards, and accessories so that you can start working from height ASAP.
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Safety Harnesses
Here at Safety Harness Direct, we specialise in a wide range of safety harnesses like the one you see here. Whether you need a single-point, double-point, or full-body harness - we will be able to supply you with a harness that will support you while you're working at height. Browse our full range of safety harnesses below.
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While there are a lot of risks to consider when you're working at height, you can work safely and effectively when you have the right equipment to support you. If you have any questions, or if you'd like to speak to our team about your safety equipment needs, feel free to get in touch - sales@safety-harness.com.
