APPG on Working at Height issue industry report

Established in October 2017, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Working at Height (APPG) have undertaken a 12-month investigation to understand the principal causes and effects of falls from height in the UK.

The inquiry received significant interest and support from individuals, companies, groups and associations operating throughout a diverse range of sectors including; Balfour Beatty, the City of London Corporation, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).

An estimated 10 million workers and over a million UK businesses carry out some form of work at height every year.

The report highlights the significant progress that has been made following the introduction of the Work at Height Regulations in 2005 and the continued work by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Although an overall reduction in serious injuries and fatalities has been evident, approximately 18% of those seriously injured or killed at work are due to a fall from height. Falls from height still remain the single biggest cause of fatalities in the workplace.

Several improvements and recommendations have been proposed as a result of the inquiry, you can read the full APPG report: ‘Staying Alive: Preventing Serious Injury and Fatalities while Working at Height’ here.