Following working at height safety tips like these can help keep you safe when working. Working at height is a common requirement in the construction industry. Unfortunately, working at height is one of the leading causes of on-the-job injuries and fatalities. This is why it's so important to follow working at height safety guidance and tips.
Because working at height is so risky (even if you’re not that far off the ground) there are lots of rules and guidelines in place to help workers stay safe while operating at height. In this blog post, you’ll find some key working at height safety tips to help you feel more confident when you’re working on a rooftop, ladder, or elevated work platform.
Working at Height Safety Tips
Here are some crucial working at height safety tips:
- Make sure a risk assessment has been carried out before working at height.
- Always check the maximum load capacity of equipment.
- Never overreach when working on a ladder.
- Ensure any equipment you’re using is regularly inspected.
- Only use a ladder when the task can be safely completed with minimal risk.
- Avoid working on unstable surfaces.
- When you can, use a railing system.
- Ensure you understand fall distance and can calculate the minimum distance for fall clearance.
- Wear relevant PPE and inspect all PPE regularly.
- Familiarise yourself with rescue procedures.
- Make sure you always select an acceptable anchor point.
- Keep a close eye on the weather at all times if working outside.
- Make sure the working area is safe and clear.
- Ensure those involved in the work (including the planning, organising, supervising and carrying out) are competent.
Following the above working at height safety tips can lower the risk of serious injury.
Working at Height Safety Resources
For more tips and guidance on working at height safety, check out the below resources:
The above resources all contain useful information for anyone who wants to work at height safely.
When to Use Working at Height Safety Tips
Not sure when you should be using these working at height safety tips? Working at height is simply a work situation where, if the proper precautions are not taken, there is a considerable risk of a fall, resulting in personal injury.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), “You are working at height if you:
- work above ground/floor level
- could fall from an edge, through an opening or fragile surface or
- could fall from ground level into an opening in a floor or a hole in the ground”
To clarify, a fall from height must involve a person falling from one level to a lower level (otherwise it’s classed as a slip or trip). If you are working at height in any capacity, then you should be following working at height safety tips and guidance.
Working At Height Safety - Safety Harness Direct
At Safety Harness Direct, we provide people with equipment for working at height safely. Using the proper equipment is one of the best safety tips we can offer. Browse our range to find the right safety equipment, then follow HSE guidance along with the working at height safety tips above.
If you require any further advice or working from height safety tips, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our helpful team.
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