The main hazards associated with working at height are people falling, and objects falling onto people.
Falling from heights and objects falling from height.
When we think of working at heights, we tend to think that you have to fall from a great height to be injured. Unfortunately, there are many examples of fatal accidents that have occurred when working at a great height, however, both fatalities and major injuries have been recorded from falls below head height.
The risk of injury associated with low falls is often not recognised and it is therefore particularly important to appreciate that a person does not need to be working far above the ground to be at risk of serious injury. Anyone who works from a height, be it on a roof, a ladder, or standing on a chair in the office are exposed to the risks of falls from height.
Note: There is no ‘safe height’. Even falls from a low height can kill.