An Oxfordshire-based construction company has been fined £120,000 after a carpenter fell through an unsafe floor and subsequently died from his injuries. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the work had not been properly planned or supervised, and that the company had not taken sufficient measures to protect workers from falls.
Employers (and others in control of work at height) are responsible for ensuring that any safety equipment is periodically checked by a competent person.
Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, the main responsibility for checking work-at-height equipment rests with the people in control of the work (e.g. employers, contractors or facilities managers). HSE guidance states that these duty holders must ensure that the work is properly planned and then carried out by capable individuals using suitable equipment.
That said, employees do have some responsibilities of their own while working at height. They must take reasonable care of themselves and others, co-operate with their employer and report any safety hazards they identify.
A fragile surface when working at height can be every bit as dangerous as an open edge. If the surface gives way, a worker may fall through it and suffer life-changing or even fatal injuries.
All roofs should therefore be treated as fragile until a competent person has confirmed otherwise.
'Falls from a height' are falls from one level to a lower level. This could mean falling from a roof, ladder, elevated work platform or unprotected ledge. Falling through an opening in the floor also counts as a fall from a height.
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!
