HSE press release E114:03 - 30 June 2003

HSE publishes research on falls from height

New research identifying the underlying factors for falls from height in the workplace and the most effective ways of controlling them has today been published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The research report Falls from height - Prevention and risk control effectiveness provides:

• a definitive baseline for measuring improvements in the incidence rate of falls from height;
• a quantified model of the influences affecting falls from height covering human, hardware and external factors; and
• a toolkit for selecting measures, setting performance targets and monitoring improvement.

RIDDOR accident data on falls from height from 1996/97 to 2000/01 was analysed by BOMEL Limited and confirmed that construction and agriculture had the highest frequency of falls from height accidents. The research draws upon consultation in workshops with key stakeholders in these industries to obtain a consensus view on the key issues relating to falls from height and the measures available to prevent and control risks.

The research then goes on to identify and compare the effectiveness of alternative measures to prevent and control the risk of falls from height in order that effort can be targeted most appropriately.

Some of the key issues highlighted are:

• The importance of design and designers in eliminating work at height hazards;
• Enough guidance and information is available but people need to be aware of risks and actually use guidance available;
• The importance and large number of 'low falls' especially on stairs. The report states around 60 per cent of non-fatal accidents and injuries over the past five years have been due to low (under two metre) falls; and
• The economic benefits of good health and safety performance need to be better understood and publicised.

The research was commissioned by the HSE to support and inform the work of its Falls From Height Priority Programme.

Dr Bill Gillan, Falls From Height Priority Programme Manager said: "This report provides valuable insight into the factors which cause Falls From Height and offers the Priority Programme a useful tool to help achieve its target of a 10 per cent reduction in the number of deaths and major injuries as a result of a fall from height by 2010."

Notes to editors

1. Falls from height kill about 70 workers a year and seriously injure another 4,000. Falls from height are the most common cause of death and the second most common cause of major injury to employees.

2. Accident data is collected under is the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR).

3. This research was commissioned by the Falls from Height Priority Programme which has the target of reducing the number of deaths and major injuries resulting from this workplace hazard by 10% by 2010.

4. Copies of Falls from height - Prevention and risk control effectiveness RR116, price £50.00, ISBN 0 7176 22221 5 are available from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2WA, tel 01787 881165, fax 01787 313995. Priced publications are also available from good booksellers.

5. HSE's research reports are available on the HSE website at: www.hse.gov.uk/research/

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