This week is “No Falls Week” – where the No Falls Foundation campaigns to make falls from height at work a thing of the past.
The latest statistics from 2023-2024 from the Health & Safety Executive show that falls from height were responsible for over half of all fatalities in the construction injury – despite advances in health and safety equipment and processes – this remains a real problem and is responsible for causing tragedy and devastation to many families.
The starting point in the law is employers should avoid having their workers work at height where reasonably practicable to do so.
Where working from height is necessary an employer should plan and supervise it, assess the risks and provided appropriate equipment.
Where an employer fails in its duty, the family of the person who died at work are likely to have a valid compensation claim – but of course that will not bring their loved one back.
Philip Edwards, a specialist in accident at work claims with national law firm, Clarke Willmott, said:-
“I am fully behind this campaign – over the years I have represented families who have lost loved ones to accidents of this type. All are tragic, but I think in particular of situations where very young children have been left behind and have lost a parent. In this day and age, industry has the knowledge, skills and equipment to ensure no one loses their life through a fall from height at work. It really is a moral duty for employers to do everything they should to make sure nobody else loses their life in this way”.
Employers and those in control of any work at height activity must make sure work is properly planned, supervised and carried out by competent people. This includes using the right type of equipment for working at height.