Training Focus: Working at Height

Our working at height courses are aimed at Managers and Supervisors who are responsible for planning, managing/ organising work activities at height, as well as those who carry out the work activity.

Falls from ladders lead to many fatalities. Major injuries are also often caused by working at height. The latest HSE annual figures (2020/21) revealed that 35 fatal injuries were due to Falls from a height accounting for 25% of all worker deaths over the year.

Although mainly affecting those in the construction industry, working at height is one of the greatest risks taken within many industries and therefore clear safety information should be given and risk consideration is required when anyone is working at height.

Managing health and safety at work, including height work, should be part of the day to day operation of an organisation, and an integral part of workers behaviour and attitude towards safe working and ensuring legal compliance should be treated as a minimum standard.

All work at height must be properly planned, supervised and organised. This will require co-operation and communication between all parties involved. The place of work must be safe. Temporary platforms should be designed by a competent person and built by trained and competent people (or under the supervision of a competent person).

You must always be aware of current guidance and policies updated to reflect this where necessary. New ladder safety guidance was introduced last summer by HSE and the Ladder Association who joined forces to release two new ladder safety guidance documents.

Our top tips;

• Carry out as much work as possible from the ground and if you can’t, work off scaffolding in preference to working off ladders
• ensure workers can get safely to and from where they work at height
• provide protection from falling objects
• do NOT overload ladders – check the pictogram or label on the ladder for information
• do NOT overreach on ladders or stepladders or rest a ladder against weak upper surfaces, e.g. glazing or plastic gutters

And Under NO circumstances, do not let anyone who is not competent (who doesn’t have the skills, knowledge and experience to do the job) work at height.

Existing places of work should be reviewed to see if any additional measures are needed to ensure compliance with the Work at Height Regulations which require inspections of workplaces and equipment, including any fall prevention equipment.

All those working at height must be trained and competent. The requirements for training and competence will depend on the work being done, but workers should have sufficient skills, knowledge and experience to perform the work tasks safely.

Our working at height course programme employs a variety of teaching techniques to meet the needs of individual delegates and includes the following:

• An overview of working activities involving risk of injury from working at height
• Actual cases and examples of criminal and civil litigation
• The occurrence of bad practice in the workplace
• Planning work at height
• Supervision of work at height
• Organising work at height
• Selection of appropriate access equipment and formal inspections
• Risk assessment
• Main precautions to prevent falls and falling materials

The course is 3 hours (half day) in duration and runs as both an in house and open course. Our next open course availability is 4th September and you can book here

Alternatively we can carry out in-house group training at your premises and tailor the course to include the activities an organisation routinely carries out as required.

Whatever your training needs, give us a call today 0117 958 2070 or e-mail us