What is the leading cause of deaths in the workplace? Short Answer: falls from height count for more than a quarter of workplace fatalities in Great Britain, making falls the biggest cause of workplace deaths.
Workplace Deaths in the UK
According to the latest statistics from the Health & Safety Executive, approximately 26% of fatal workplace injuries in Great Britain are the result of a fall from height. Between 2013 and 2018, more workers died from a fall than died from:
- Being struck by a moving vehicle (18%)
- Being trapped under a collapsed/overturned object (9%)
- Coming into contact with moving machinery (9%)
Falls from height also accounted for around 8% of non-lethal accidents in British workplaces during the same period.
How can I protect workers from falls?
The above statistics have prompted calls for more stringent safety laws, but it's worth noting that The Work at Height Regulations 2005 already require work at height to be properly planned, appropriately supervised and carried out in a safe manner by competent personnel only.
Read More: What Height Safety Equipment is Legally Required?
Perhaps the real problem is that too many employers don't take the existing regulations seriously until an accident has already happened. If you and/or your employees work at potentially dangerous heights, you may require one or more of the following systems to keep them safe:
Here at SafetyLiftinGear.com, we specialise in high-quality height safety equipment that protects workers from potentially deadly falls. Contact us today to get a quote for your fall protection needs, or use the links below to browse our full range of height safety products.
Height Safety Equipment > Fall Protection Hire >
Photo courtesy of Pixabay
0117 9381 600
