It's a sad fact that a lot of the accidental deaths in the workplace are directly linked to working at height. When working at height, it's absolutely vital that you have proper precautions in place to help prevent a slip or fall. The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) have a lot of great information about working safely at height to show you how it's done properly. We've put together this blog, with the help of the HSE Working at Height Resource, to show you how to work at height safely.
Who should work at height?
You may think that because you have a ladder and you know how to climb it that you're perfectly competent to work at height safely. The truth is, even people who work at height every day can make mistakes. So, no matter who you are, if you need to work at height it's important you follow safety guidelines laid out by Health and Safety Executive.
Before you start working
Before you even think about touching a ladder, you need to make sure that the work has been planned properly, will be supervised properly and is being carried out by someone with the correct training/experience and knowledge of working safely at height. You also need to check that you've got the right safety equipment.
Assessing the risks
We've spoken about step ladder risk assessments before, but when you're working at height on any ladder, a risk assessment is important. Think about how long the task will take, how many times you'll need to do it, and the type of surface you'll be working on. Working safely at height is largely down to how well you understand and manage potential risks. For example, if you think that there's any chance of a slip or fall, make sure you explore fall arrest equipment before making a start.
Working safely at height - what you should and shouldn't do:
You should:
- Get as much work done from the ground as you can
- Make sure extra precautions are taken if you're working near a fragile/breakable surface
- Ensure you're wearing protective headgear in case of falling objects
- Consider what would happen in the event of an emergency & make sure everyone on site is aware
- Ensure the climbing space is clear & free of debris
You shouldn't:
- Lean over or overreach while using ladders or scaffolding
- Overload ladders - make sure you check the maximum working weight before you start!
- Use ladders for tasks that require you to work at height for longer than 30 minutes at a time
- Use a ladder or work at height if you aren't qualified to do so
Ladders for Working Safely at Height
Here at Ladders UK Direct, we offer a huge selection of ladders for domestic and trade use that will allow you to work at height safely. We work with well-known suppliers to bring you some of the safest & most-loved ladders on the market. Use the buttons below to shop our ladders & scaffold towers - perfect for working at height in any location.
Ladders > Step Ladders > Scaffold Towers >
If you have any questions about working safely at height, you can contact the Ladders UK Direct team here - sales@laddersukdirect.co.uk.
