Falls from height in ports

Many of the activities carried out in ports could lead to a fall from height. These activities may be during routine operations or during one-off maintenance activities. In ports, the added hazard of working near water means a fall may lead to the risk of drowning.

Typical falls from height hazards in ports

• Access to and from vessels by accommodation ladders and gangways
• Container top working - lashing and unlashing containers, use of slewing jib cranes
• Access to and from places of work on board vessels (holds, hatches, decks etc)
• Falls from vehicles during loading/unloading and sheeting
• Falls from car transporters
• Maintenance work
• Unloading some types of cargo, such as pipework, timber packs etc can result in open edges from ships decks, passages and from the cargo itself
• Working adjacent to open edges of docks, wharves etc

How the risks can be reduced 

• Do a risk assessment for any work carried out at height. Select and use suitable work equipment.
• Avoid work at height where possible, for example working from the ground using a long-handled tool.
• If work at height cannot be avoided, you should use work equipment or other measures to prevent falls, eg guardrails, mobile elevating working platforms (MEWPs).
• If there is still a risk of falls, you should use work equipment that minimises the distance and consequences of a fall, eg nets, airbags, fall arrest systems.
• All work at height should be properly planned and organised.
• Workers involved in work at height should be competent.
• Equipment for work at height must be properly inspected and maintained.

When working over or near water

• Provide secure and adequate fencing where a risk assessment has found this to be needed.
• People should wear suitable personal protective equipment, eg lifejackets or buoyancy aids.
• Provide dock premises with adequate and suitable rescue and lifesaving equipment and means to escape from danger, eg handholds on the quayside at water level, ladders on quay walls and life-saving appliances.
• Take into account the risks to lone workers.

Which laws apply?

• The Work at Height Regulations 2005
• The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
• Docks Regulations 1988
• Loading and Unloading of Fishing Vessels Regulations 1988

Further information

• Publications and guidance - Fall from height