Working safely at height | National Inclusion Week | Manufacturing inspections to start

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Managing the risk of working from height

Worker climbing ladder at oil refinery

Falls when working at height remain the most common kind of workplace fatality.

Considering the risks associated with work at height, and putting in place sensible and proportionate measures to manage them, is an important part of working safely.

 

Our step-by-step guide can help you control risks when working at height.

 

It is also vital to make sure any scaffolding is stable and safe at all times.

 

Our scaffold checklist explains when a scaffold design is required. It also covers the level of training and competence needed for those erecting, dismantling, altering, inspecting and supervising scaffolding.

 

Visit our website for more guidance on managing the risks of working from height.


National Inclusion Week: everyone needs support at work

25 September marked the start of National Inclusion Week 2023 and this year’s theme is 'take action, make impact'.

HSE published non-statutory guidance, a set of simple core principles, which will help employers create workplaces that are safe and supportive to enable disabled workers or workers with long-term health conditions to thrive.

 

Our Talking Toolkit will help employers and managers apply these core principles and includes questions you can use to start practical conversations with workers. 

 

We encourage you to think about your workplace and really consider the support available to colleagues and workers. You can also: 


Haulage company fined £100,000 after worker dies in fall

The worker died having sustained severe head injuries in the incident.

The worker, who was not employed by the haulage firm and was from Hungary, had been preparing a load of trailers in his lorry ahead of departure but fell onto the concrete floor below when the adjacent lorry was driven away.

 

HSE's investigation found that the haulage company had:

  • carried out a risk assessment that identified the risk from falls and introduced control measures, but these had not been used in practice

  • given insufficient consideration to visiting drivers, particularly when English is not their first language

Read this press release for further details on the incident.

 

HSE also has guidance about workplace transport management responsibilities.

 

Other recent prosecution cases include:


Metalworking inspections starting in October

From October until March 2024, HSE will be inspecting manufacturing businesses that use metalworking fluids or coolants in their machining processes.

Inspectors will be focused on how employers are ensuring workers are protected from exposure to fluid or mist generated by computer numerical control machines and that regular health checks are in place.

 

There are 3 areas where manufacturing companies, particularly smaller companies, commonly fall down on compliance:

  • not having local exhaust ventilation (LEV)
  • not completing regular fluid quality checks
  • not providing regular health checks for lung and skin conditions

Visit our campaign website for more details and free resources to help you prepare for the inspections.

 

Get the latest information on the campaign by signing up to our ebulletin.


Upcoming training courses with HSE

training in classroom

HSE training courses are delivered by experts to help organisations comply with the law and keep workforces healthy and safe.

Find out more about HSE's training and events.

 

Upcoming courses and webinars include:

You can get all the latest news and updates from HSE across a range of industries and topics.

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