UK: Working at Height Breaches Up 84%

There has been an 84 percent increase in the number of ‘Working at Height’ breaches occurring on UK construction sites during the first quarter of 2021, according to a safety group.

The figures from the Building Safety Group (BSG) were obtained following 4300 independent site inspections.

The BSG said the figures were a cause for concern considering ‘Working at Height’ remains the biggest danger for construction workers.

In fact, UK HSE data shows that in 2020 almost half of all construction accidents (47 percent) were from falls from height.

Over 60 percent of deaths during working at height involve falls from ladders, scaffolds, working platforms, roof edges, and fragile roofs.

BSG Technical Support Manager, Andy Harper said working at height was clearly the most dangerous activity carried out in the construction sector.

“We can all do more to ensure that work is properly planned, supervised, and conducted by qualified workers who have the required skills for the job in hand. Having the correct control measures in place and assessing the risk is also essential for avoiding accidents.,” he said.

“In addition, companies should try to complete as much work as possible from the ground, ensure safe access and egress and importantly, make certain that any equipment used is suitable and designed for that purpose, installed and used by a competent person and inspected as required by the Working at Height Regulations 2005 and relevant guidance”.

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require employers and those in control of any work at height activity to ensure that the work is properly planned, supervised and carried out by competent people.