The key piece of legislation for people who work at potentially dangerous heights in Great Britain is The Work at Height Regulations 2005. As stated on the HSE website, this legislation was put in place "to prevent death and injury caused by a fall from height". The regulations state that work at height must be:

• Properly planned
• Appropriately supervised
• Carried out in a safe manner by competent personnel only

Interestingly, the 2005 regulations do not specify any particular equipment that must be used when working at height - they simply state the need for "sufficent work equipment" and remind employers that, when selecting appropriate height safety equipment for any given task, they must take account of working conditions, fall distance, the duration of the job, and several other factors.

In a nutshell: the law doesn't state that you HAVE to use a safety harness or a fall arrest block, but you are required to have some kind of fall prevention system in place, and the aforementioned items are among the most commonly-used solutions. In the end, it is up to you to decide what kind of equipment is most appropriate for the task at hand.

What will happen if I don't use any height safety equipment?

If one of your employees suffers an accident whilst working at height, you may investigated by the Health and Safety Executive. If they decide that you neglected to provide the right safety equipment or otherwise failed to fulfil your duties as an employer (as prescribed by the 2005 regulations and several other pieces of legislation), you will likely be prosecuted, which can lead to hefty fines and even jail time.

So don't leave anything to chance! Plan your work properly, carry out a full risk assessment before starting, and always use the appropriate height safety equipment to minimise the risk of a fall.

Further Reading: Height Safety Checklist

When presented with a heavy load, you may occasionally be tempted to just lift it on your own, rather than calling for help or using the proper lifting equipment. You're pretty strong, and after all, you're only carrying it a short distance - what could go wrong?

Well...a lot of things, actually. Heavy lifting is serious business, and you can really hurt yourself if you don't do it in the right way. Here are some of the risks you run when you lift a heavy load without the proper assistance and/or equipment...

More...

(image via Flickr)

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) account for roughly one-third of all workplace injuries. Common MSDs include tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and lower back injuries.

Just because your job isn't based around manual labour doesn't necessarily mean that you won't be affected by musculoskeletal problems. In this blog post, the SafetyLiftinGear team will share some health and safety tips that should help you and your employees/colleagues to steer clear of musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace.

• Use ergonomic equipment. Perhaps the most common causes of workplace musculoskeletal disorders are poor posture and repetitive strain. Employers can address this by providing ergonomic equipment for their workers - you can get ergonomic chairs, keyboards, computer mice, and a variety of other items that are designed to prevent musculoskeletal disorders and related complaints.
  
  
• Lift heavy items properly. We recently published a safe lifting guide, which explains, step-by-step, how to lift heavy loads without injuring oneself. If you repeatedly lift heavy objects in a manner that puts strain on your body, it's likely you will end up with a workplace musculoskeletal disorder - so lift with care!
  
  
• Use the correct material handling equipment where necessary. Material handling injuries are very common across many different working environments. It's not always sensible to lift heavy objects using manpower alone - some loads should only be transported using a forklift, pallet truck, or similar.
  
  
• Carry out a workplace risk assessment. Conducting a thorough risk assessment is key to keeping the workplace safe for all who use it. Risk assessments should be carried out by trained health and safety personnel, and renewed whenever there is a significant change in the working environment.

By following these simple health and safety steps, you can drastically reduce your chances of a workplace musculoskeletal disorder. 

As we've discussed previously, working at heights can be very dangerous, and failure to observe the proper safety regulations can lead to dire consequences. Height safety guidelines are in place to keep you from falling and, if you do fall, to prevent you from being badly hurt; you may feel that you are careful or sure-footed enough not to need a safety harness, but one slip is all it takes and it's never worth taking that risk.

With all of this in mind, we at SafetyLiftinGear would like to draw your attention to the following Height Safety Checklist. These safety precautions are recommended by the HSE (Health and Safety Executive), so you can rest assured that they were thought up with worker safety in mind.

Before working at height, ask yourself the following questions:

• Have I been properly trained to carry out this job? Do I have the correct permit to work?
  
  
• Will the current weather conditions have any impact on my safety while working at height?
  
  
• Have I chosen the best means of reaching the heights necessary to complete this job? Could I use a cherry picker instead of a ladder?
  
  
• Is this ladder safe? Is it in good condition? Is it tied, footed, or otherwise secured at the base? Is it long enough* for the job?
  
  
• Will I have to walk on a roof or another raised surface? If so, is this surface at all fragile? Is there any risk of falling through?
  
  
• Will I be able to avoid stepping on roof lights? Are all roof lights clearly visible?
  
  
• Do I need crawling boards to safely bridge joists?
  
  
• If I fall, what will prevent me from hitting the ground? Am I wearing a safety harness, and is it properly secured?
  
  
• Is there any chance that I will drop something to the ground below? Could this cause any damage? Should I be wearing a tool lanyard?
  
  
• If a fall or accident should occur, do I have a suitable rescue plan in place?

*To ensure worker safety, ladders should reach at least 0.9m (35 and a half inches) beyond the stepping-off point.

Visit SafetyLiftinGear's Height Safety department to ensure that you have everything you need to safely work at height.

Heavy lifting can be dangerous, frequently resulting in injuries and accidents when done improperly. Here, courtest of the experts at SafetyLiftinGear, are some tips to help you stay safe next time you're lifting heavy objects:

• Plan your actions. Don't jump head-first into lifting a heavy item - think about what you're doing first. What route are you planning to take? Would it be possible to push or slide the load instead of lifting it? Can you lift it alone without putting yourself in harm's way, or do you need to call for help?
  
  
• Bend your knees. When you bend down to pick up the object in question, make sure you bend at the knees instead of at the waist. This will put the weight on your legs, rather than putting your back at risk.
  
  
• Get a good grip. Before you rise to a standing position, ensure that you have a good hold on the load that will not slip as you move.
  
  
• Keep it close. Don't hold the load at arm's length; instead, hug it close to your body (especially as you rise from picking it up).
  
  
• Take it slowly. Never rush when lifting and moving a heavy load - that's how accidents happen!
  
  
• Don't twist your spine. Twisting your body while carrying a heavy item can do a lot of damage - ensure that you're facing in the same direction as your feet at all times.
  
  
• Put it down properly. Don't simply drop the load when you reach your destination - find a suitable space to deposit the item, then bend at the knee and place it down gently.

One final tip: know when you're beaten! Some loads are simply too heavy to be lifted by manpower alone, and in situations like these, you may need to use specialist lifting equipment (e.g. slings, hoists, chains) to get the job done. Don't try to show off by lifting something that could get you hurt!