Calls for Enhanced Reporting to Improve Work at Height Culture

A NEW report calling on the Government and construction and roofing industries to undertake a major review of work at height culture, expand enhanced reporting and introduce reporting on near misses, is published today (26 February) by the Working at Height All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG).

The report, Staying Alive: Preventing Serious Injury and Fatalities while Working at Height, is the result of a year-long APPG inquiry exploring why the 18% of people who die as a result of a fall from height at work, do so and what steps can be taken to prevent incidents for the 10 million people in the UK that work at height.

The report makes four primary recommendations to reduce the number of falls:

• The introduction of an enhanced reporting system through RIDDOR.
• The appointment of an independent body that allows confidential, enhanced and digital reporting of all near misses, to be shared with government and industry to inform health and safety policy.
• The extension of the Working Well Together – Working Well at Height safety campaigns.
• An equivalent system to Scotland’s Fatal Accident Inquiry process extended to the rest of the UK.

Alison Thewliss, Chair of the APPG on Working at Height.

Alison Thewliss, Chair of the Working at Height APPG and Glasgow Central MP said: “Every fall from height can have
life-altering consequences for workers and their families. There is an urgent need to improve work at height culture, yet this issue is sadly not at the top of decision-makers’ agenda.

“A lack of empirical data prevents us from understanding the root causes of falls from height. This is compounded by a cultural obstacle when it comes to supporting people to report unsafe practices.”

The APPG is now calling for a further period of consultation and a major review of work at height culture, including how to engage with difficult to reach sectors, the suitability of financial penalties, and the role of digital technologies in improving the safety environment.

Gary Walpole, NFRC Safety, Health & Environment Officer

Gary Walpole, the NFRC’s Safety, Health & Environmental Officer, said: “Accidents caused by falls or falling objects are a major concern to the roofing industry, which is why the NFRC supported the APPG on Working at Height by submitting written evidence to its inquiry and attending a Parliamentary questioning session.

“Although, there is no silver bullet to solve the problem, the Inquiry Report findings and recommendations give a good foundation to build momentum so that we can challenge all industries to adopt safe working practices when working at height.”

Tim Whiteman, CEO of IPAF.

Tim Whiteman, CEO of IPAF, commented: “This is a project of vital importance given the millions of people who work at height, and the millions more who organise and oversee the work but don’t ever leave the ground themselves.

“We must always acknowledge our collective responsibility to keep workers safe and strive to eradicate falls from height wherever possible. This can be achieved by sharing data and ideas, training and safety awareness programmes or the adoption of innovative new technology.”

Ken Diable, Managing Director at Heightsafe.

Ken Diable, Managing Director at Heightsafe commented: “The report itself should be a wake up call to employers and regulators that more needs to be done to educate employers and employees, while proactively controlling  the risks of Working from Height. Unfortunately, many organisations lack a culture of safe working at the most basic levels, which leads to injuries and deaths which are entirely Preventable.

“Over the last 35 years this sector has demonstrated a fatal injury rate of around 20 times the average. While such statistics are shocking, it’s important not to forget the individuals and families that must live with the devastating consequences of injuries and fatalities caused by uncontrolled Working at Height.”

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