Voice of the Industry
The greater the potential danger to workers in carrying out certain tasks, the greater is the requirement for employers to ensure their people are safe, well-equipped, and protected as much as possible against risks.
Working at height, especially on roofs and industrial buildings, can be a hazardous and sometimes dangerous business. The onus is on architects and designers to take all necessary steps to reduce the risk of serious injury to those working in challenging front-line activities, says James Fisher, general manager at Bilco UK.
Good design is no accident F
alls from height remain the most common cause of death in the workplace. In 2008/9 there were 35 fall-related fatalities and more than 4,600 major injuries. In addition, over 7,000 other injuries resulted in employees being off work for three days or more after falling from height. Many falls in the workplace involve ladders.The latest figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) indicate that incidents involving ladders account for more than 25% of all fall injuries. Sometimes this is due to misuse but often accidents are caused by or are related to the equipment being unfit for purpose. The continued use of lean-to ladders is a particular concern. HSE statistics for 2009 show that 10 of the 11 ladder-related deaths involved movable equipment which was also a significant factor in most of the 2,400 accidents that resulted in serious injuries.
Provisional HSE figures for 2009/10 indicate there were 65 deaths from accidents at work in the construction and manufacturing sectors alone with a ‘higher proportion’ of reported injuries due to factors including falls from height and falling objects. Construction workers and roofers are not the only people risking serious or fatal injuries by carrying out tasks at height. Building maintenance staff, security personnel, window cleaners, painters and decorators, among others, are also at risk. Often those risks could be reduced by the proper design of buildings and access systems to allow people to work safely at height. The good news is that the number of work-related falls from height has decreased in recent years.The willingness of employers to embrace HSE regulations that set out specific requirements for all types of work at height has been a major factor in the declining number of accidents
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