No Falls Week is a nationwide safety campaign focused on raising awareness around one of the biggest risks in UK workplaces: falls from height. Across construction, maintenance, warehousing and industrial sectors, falls continue to cause serious injuries and fatalities every year, many of which are entirely preventable.
Whether using ladders, scaffold towers, access platforms or rooftops, understanding the hazards when working at height is essential for creating a safer workplace.
Book your Working at Height or PASMA Training Today
Working at height refers to any task where a person could fall and suffer injury. Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, this includes far more than just working on tall buildings.
Examples of working at height include:
- Using ladders or stepladders
- Working on scaffolding or tower systems
- Roof work and maintenance
- Operating MEWPs or cherry pickers
- Working near openings, edges or fragile surfaces
- Accessing elevated storage areas
Even low-level falls can result in serious injuries, which is why proper planning and safety controls are critical.
Why No Falls Week Matters
Falls from height remain one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities in the UK construction industry. No Falls Week was created to help employers and workers improve awareness around safe working practices and reduce avoidable accidents on site.
The campaign highlights the importance of:
- Safer access equipment
- Proper planning before work begins
- Correct use of PPE
- Equipment inspections
- Supervision and communication
- Working at height training
By promoting safer habits and stronger safety culture, businesses can help reduce the risk of incidents and improve compliance across their workforce.
Understanding the hazards when working at height is one of the most important parts of preventing accidents.
Unsafe Ladder Use
Using damaged ladders, incorrect ladder angles or unsuitable ladder types can quickly lead to falls.
Poorly Erected Tower Scaffolds
Mobile towers that are incorrectly assembled or used on unstable ground create major risks for workers.
Fragile Roof Surfaces
Rooflights and fragile materials can collapse without warning if they are not identified and protected properly.
Weather Conditions
Rain, ice and strong winds can affect stability and visibility when working at height.
Falling Objects
Tools and materials dropped from height can seriously injure workers and pedestrians below.
Lack of Training
Many working at height incidents happen because workers have not received suitable training or instruction for the equipment being used.
Who Do the Working at Height Regulations Protect?
The Work at Height Regulations are designed to protect anyone who may be affected by work carried out at height, including:
- Employees
- Contractors
- Self-employed workers
- Site visitors
- Members of the public nearby
Employers have a legal duty to properly assess risks, provide suitable equipment and ensure workers are competent to carry out the task safely.
Safety When Working at Height
Good planning and proper training are essential for reducing risk when working at height.
Some of the most effective safety measures include:
- Carrying out risk assessments
- Inspecting ladders and access equipment
- Using guardrails and edge protection
- Wearing suitable PPE
- Keeping work areas organised
- Ensuring proper supervision
- Using trained and competent workers
- Having emergency rescue procedures in place
Choosing the correct equipment for the task is also important. In many cases, mobile access towers provide a safer alternative to ladders for longer duration work.
Training plays a major role in preventing falls and improving workplace safety standards.
Workers using tower scaffolds should receive appropriate PASMA training to ensure they understand how to safely assemble, inspect and use mobile access towers. Employers should also ensure workers receive general working at height awareness training where required.
Proper training can help businesses:
- Reduce accidents and downtime
- Improve legal compliance
- Build worker confidence
- Promote safer working practices
- Support site safety culture during No Falls Week and beyond
Explore our working at height training and PASMA training courses to help improve safety across your workforce.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main hazards when working at height?
Some of the most common hazards include unsafe ladders, unstable platforms, fragile roofs, poor weather conditions, falling objects and lack of training.
What is classed as working at height?
Working at height includes any work where someone could fall and suffer injury, including ladder work, scaffolding, roof work and elevated platforms.
Who do working at height regulations protect?
The regulations protect employees, contractors, self-employed workers and anyone who could be affected by work taking place at height.
Is working at height training a legal requirement?
Employers have a legal responsibility to ensure workers are competent and properly trained for tasks involving work at height.
What does PASMA training cover?
PASMA training covers the safe assembly, inspection, movement and use of mobile access towers.
How long does PASMA training last?
Most PASMA certificates remain valid for five years before refresher training is required.
