What Does Working at Height Mean?
Working at height refers to work where, without precautions, a person could fall from one level to another resulting in an injury.
Falls from height are among the leading causes of injury and fatalities at work, but these falls aren't always from the heights of towering skyscrapers like you may expect - in fact, it is those who work on ladders and fragile surfaces that are most at risk.
Working at height refers to any work on a raised level where harm could occur from a fall, so whether they're scaling the side of a building one hundred feet up or they're only a few inches off the ground, precautions must be taken to protect the worker from a fall from height.
What Does a Fall From Height Mean?
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), to qualify as a fall from height, a person must "fall from one level to a lower level" (like from a roof to the ground below, or from ground level to a below-ground level). There doesn't have to be a huge distance between levels - if an injury could occur from the fall, then it's a fall from height.
A fall from height can occur if you are working:
- Above ground level
- Near an edge or opening that leads to a drop
- On a fragile surface with a drop below it
Safety Equipment for Working at Height
Safety equipment, like safety harnesses, can be used in certain conditions to control the risks of working at height. Other forms of height safety equipment may also be necessary, such as:
What Are the Rules for Working at Height With a Harness?
There are important rules to follow when working at height with a harness. You must choose a safety harness that is suited to the job and connect it to a suitable anchor point using a shock-absorbing safety lanyard.
The type of safety harness needed will depend on the job. You'll need to consider factors such as the load capacity, visibility, fire resistance, attachments, etc.
For example, if you're a construction worker, you'll likely need a harness with multiple attachment points in order to position yourself when working. You might also require a harness that can carry extra weight if you're working with heavy tools and materials.
READ MORE: Safety Harness Types: What Do You Need?
Working at Height Equipment From Safety Harness Direct
At Safety Harness Direct, we specialise in working at height equipment and pride ourselves on only stocking the most trusted manufacturers in height safety.
If you'd like any help with your purchase, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our friendly team. We can advise you on the best products to suit your needs.
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