Taking place between 13 and 17 May 2024, and organised by the No Falls Foundation, the mission for 'No Falls Week' is simple yet crucial - to raise awareness about the importance of safe working at height, prevent falls and ensure that everyone who works at height comes down safely.
Falls from height are consistently the leading cause of workplace fatalities in the UK, with 40 people losing their lives at work due to a fall from height in 2022-2023. The latest figures from the Health and Safety Executive show that falls from height were responsible for a third of all workplace deaths last year.
There is an even greater number of non-fatal injuries resulting from a fall from height, with over 5,000 people in Great Britain having been reported injured at work in 2022/23. However, the No Falls Foundation claims a substantial underreporting of non-fatal falls from height for all workers - particularly among the self-employed, who were found to report just 12% of workplace incidents.
“Everyone who needs to work at height should be able to work safely and return home unharmed at the end of every shift," said Hannah Williams, charity manager at the No Falls Foundation. “Unlike most other types of workplace injuries, the consequences of a fall from height are usually life-changing for the person involved, with many unlikely to return to their previous occupation, as well as having long-term consequences for employers, colleagues and families.
“Whether you work in construction, manufacturing, agriculture or any other sector, No Falls Week is an opportunity for everyone to shine a spotlight onto the mental, physical, and societal consequences of working at height accidents.”
Employers can sign up to get involved via the No Falls Week website, where there are a host of toolkits and resources from members of the Access Industry Forum to help organisations plan activities during No Falls Week.
