Falls from height

Work-related accidents involving a fall from height, person or object, results in approximately 80 fatalities and thousands of major injuries each year. The main cause being falls from ladders.

What are falls from height?

Falls from height include persons and objects falling from above floor level.

What should an employer do to prevent or minimise falls from height?

An employer has a duty under health and safety legislation to ensure the health and safety of their employees and others who may be harmed by their activities.

The 'Work at Height Regulations 2005' require employers to ensure work at height is:

• planned and use safe systems when undertaking work at height
• select, use and maintain suitable equipment for work at height
• ensure those involved in work at height are competent
• ensure work is properly managed and supervised
• ensure that all works have been appropriately assessed. Where possible working at height should be avoided. If however work is undertaken at height, the work must be adequately assessed and suitable control measures must be implemented.

For further information on falls from height, please visit the Health and Safety Executive website

Complaints and enquiries

To make a complaint or enquiry online please use this form.

Further information about the Food and Environmental Safety Service and other contact details can be found on our Standards of Service page.