On average, 35 workers die each year in the UK due to falls from height, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Beyond the human toll, these incidents carry severe legal, financial and reputational consequences for businesses.
Recent cases underscore a troubling pattern when it comes to falls from height in workplace failures in planning, supervision and basic safety measures continue to cost lives.
A recent HSE investigation into the case of a roofer who tragically lost his life after falling through a fragile roof concluded basic control measures required under the Work at Height Regulations were not in place. The regulator described the incident as “very preventable.”
In 2025, HSE fined a shop sign company and its director after an employee fell from an unguarded scaffolding tower and later died from head injuries sustained in a six-foot fall, while another firm faced prosecution when a worker suffered life-altering injuries from a similar incident. HSE described the event as “fully avoidable.”
With the right controls, training and culture, your business can significantly reduce risk and protect its workforce.
The legal framework Work at Height Regulations 2005 surrounding work at height is built on a hierarchy of controls designed to protect lives.
At its foundation is the principle of avoidance. As employers, you’re expected to eliminate the need for working at height wherever possible. This might mean using extendable tools or machinery that allow workers to complete tasks safely from the ground, removing the risk altogether.
When you can’t avoid individuals working at height, the next priority is prevention. This involves implementing physical safeguards such as edge protection, scaffolding, or mobile elevated working platforms (MEWPs) to ensure your workers are protected from falling.
What steps can you take to minimise both the height and the consequences of a fall? Can you use safety harnesses, netting or airbags, which could prove the difference between a close call and a catastrophic injury?
We’ve seen this approach in action with the use of ground-based activities using reach and wash systems for window cleaning, eliminating work at height risk.
We’ve seen in practice how those businesses serious about reducing the risk of falls from height see the issue as less than a matter of providing the right equipment and more about people and the culture that surrounds safety.
A strong safety culture encourages teams to think beyond checklists and take ownership of risk. It means embedding safety into everyday decisions, not just formal procedures. One example is the growing use of dynamic risk assessments that integrate work-at-height considerations into all maintenance activities. This proactive approach helps teams identify and respond to changing conditions in real time, rather than relying solely on static plans.
When safety is part of the culture, workers feel empowered to speak up, share concerns and look out for one another. It’s this mindset, supported by leadership, training and open communication, that makes the biggest difference.
Falls from height are preventable. Building a culture where safety is second nature is one of the most effective ways to protect your workforce and strengthen your organisation’s resilience.
Reducing the risk of falls from height starts with robust compliance reviews and targeted risk assessments.
Comprehensive audits should examine the scope and quality of existing risk assessments, ensuring they specifically address work-at-height scenarios. This includes evaluating whether hazards are being identified dynamically, not just during scheduled reviews.
Access controls are another critical area. Are high-risk zones properly restricted? Is there a clear system for authorising and supervising work at height? These controls help prevent unauthorised or unsafe activity before it begins.
Contractor management also plays a key role. External teams must be held to the same safety standards as internal staff. That means verifying training, equipment and procedures before work starts, and maintaining oversight throughout.
By integrating these elements into regular compliance reviews, your organisation can move from reactive to proactive safety management.
To help your organisation strengthen its approach to working at height, please get in touch with our specialist team.
