Workplace Report July 2003

Features: Health & Safety HSE Monitor

Falls from height

New research on falls from height has been published by the HSE. Falls from height - prevention and risk control effectiveness confirms that construction and agriculture have the highest frequency of these kinds of accidents. Falls from height kill about 70 workers a year and seriously injure another 4,000. They are the most common cause of death and the second most common cause of major injury to employees. The report also found around 60% of non-fatal accidents and injuries over the past five years have been due to low (under two metre) falls.

* Copies of the report are available from HSE Books or from the HSE website at: www.hse.gov.uk/research/index.htm