Falls from height are still a problem

The number of injuries arising through falls from height is decreasing but still unacceptably high, according to the HSE.

Deaths from high-level falls fell by around a third between 2000-01 and 2002-03, and there was also a significant reduction in major accidents. Construction workers such as carpenters, joiners, electrical fitters and roofers were most likely to have high-level falls.

Major injuries from low-level falls fell by around a third over the period, while the number of accidents requiring over three days' sick leave halved. Goods drivers falling from vehicles during loading and unloading were the commonest victims.

New perspectives on falls from height - identifying high profile areas for intervention (RR356) is available from HSE Books (www.hsebooks.com), price £35, or can be downloaded free from www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr356.pdf