Working at height: Critical training points to protect your team

Working at height continues to be the number one cause of workplace fatalities in the UK. Recent Health and Safety Executive (HSE) statistics show 40 people lost their lives as a result of falls from height between April 2022 and March 2023 – 11 more than the previous year.

Fall-from-height injury levels also show no signs of improvement. 5,000 people in Britain suffered a work-from-height-related injury last year, leading to 992,000 working days lost. The majority of these accidents involved low-level falls from two metres or under.

Whatever your business, training your staff to recognise, avoid, and act on work-at-height risks is a critical priority. This article shares crucial coaching points and guidance on developing a results-based training programme for your team.

• Clear training goals – Your training programme should help staff understand the specific hazards linked to working at height.
• Safe working practices – Teach your team to avoid working at height altogether, finding safer alternatives that complete tasks from the ground.
• Correct equipment use – Your training programme should cover types of fall protection equipment – including harnesses, lanyards, and guardrails.
• Ladder safety (and alternative options) – Offer targeted training on ladder safety and introduce safer alternatives like access platforms, scissor lifts, and mobile steps.
• Secure movement at height – Ensure workers know how to safely access and exit the place where they're working at height and take extra precautions on fragile surfaces.
• Effective communication – Outline key communication and coordination techniques for work at height, including clear roles and responsibilities, pre-task briefings, and signalling methods.
• Emergency procedures – Your team should know the vital steps to take in the event of a fall, including minimising further risks and accessing rescue equipment.
• Inspection, maintenance, and reporting – Train workers to conduct regular equipment and site checks, follow strict maintenance routines, and report issues including near misses.