July 14, 2003—New research identifying the underlying factors for falls from height in the workplace and the most effective ways of controlling them has just been published by the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The research report provides: a definitive baseline for measuring improvements in the incidence rate of falls from height; a quantified model of the influences affecting falls from height covering human, hardware, and external factors; and a toolkit for selecting measures, setting performance targets, and monitoring improvement.
The research, including consultation with key stakeholders in the construction industry, identifies and compares the effectiveness of alternative measures to prevent and control the risk of falls from height.
Some of the key issues highlighted include:
- The importance of design and designers in eliminating work at height hazards;
- The fact that enough guidance and information is available but people need to be aware of risks and actually use guidance available;
- The importance and large number of “low falls,” especially on stairs. The report states around 60 per cent of non-fatal accidents and injuries over the past five years have been due to low (under two meter) falls; and
- The economic benefits of good health and safety performance need to be better understood and publicized.
According to the HSE, falls from height kill about 70 workers a year in the UK and seriously injure another 4,000. Falls from height are the most common cause of death and the second most common cause of major injury to UK employees. This research was commissioned by the HSE’s Falls from Height Priority Programme, which has the target of reducing the number of deaths and major injuries resulting from this workplace hazard by 10% by 2010.
Copies of Falls from height—Prevention and risk control effectiveness RR116, price 50.00, ISBN 0 7176 22221 5 are available from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2WA, tel. 01787 881165.
