Working at heights: risks, regulations and prevention

Working at height is the second leading cause of fatal workplace accidents (12% of fatalities in 2015).

Remedying this risk requires a genuine prevention approach based on a risk assessment. First of all, collective protection must be installed to protect traffic and work areas, and then suitable work equipment must be used at height.

Find out more about the risks, regulatory framework and prevention objectives associated with working at height.

What are the risks related to work at height ?

The main risk is falling from heights. The construction sector is the most affected, as building and civil engineering professionals work on frameworks, roofs, pylons, platforms and scaffolding.

However, there are other high-risk situations, such as working in confined spaces, working on elevated areas (ladders, stairs, walkways, etc.), working on pylons or other work equipment (scaffolding, tanker trucks, etc.), or working near trenches, excavations or cliffs.

What is the regulatory framework for working at height ?

The regulations do not provide a clear definition of work at height. According to the French decree of 11 January 1993 (Art. R. 4321 to R. 4323 of the French Labour Code), the site manager is responsible for putting in place adequate safety measures to protect employees:

Risk analysis and assessment
Provision of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
Verification and compliance
Providing conditions of use, maintenance and storage
Informing the personnel concerned: PPE training and practice
Check for proper operation, hygiene, compatibility and use
Periodic checking of PPE and maintenance of safety registers

List of European standards for fall protection PPE

EN 12841/C	Rope access systems, rescue equipment
EN 353-1	Mobile fall arresters including a rigid anchor line
EN 353-2	Mobile fall arresters including a flexible anchor line
EN 354	Lanyards
EN 355	Energy absorbers
EN 358	Work positioning and fall restraint belts & work positioning lanyards
EN 360	Retractable type fall arresters
EN 361	Full body fall protection harnesses
EN 362	Connectors
EN 795	Anchor devices
EN 341	Descenders
EN 813	Sit harnesses
EN 363	Fall arrest systems

What are the prevention objectives when working at height ?

To prevent falls from height, we need to take action on the design of structures and equipment, on workstations and on operating procedures.

Objectives for the employer :

Avoiding risks
Assessing unavoidable risks
Combating risks at source
Adapting work to people
Take into account the state of the art
Replace what is dangerous with what is not dangerous or / less dangerous
Plan prevention by integrating technology, work organization, working conditions, social relations and the influence of environmental factors into a coherent whole.
Take collective protection measures, giving them priority over individual protection measures
Give appropriate instructions to workers

Objectives for employees :

Take care of your own health and safety and that of others affected by your acts or omissions.
Prevent serious, imminent and unavoidable danger, stop work and move to safety

The procedure to follow when working at height is :

Prevent falls by eliminating work at height
Installation of permanent collective protection (stairs, walkways, platforms, etc.) or temporary protection (scaffolding, netting, lifting equipment, etc.).
Fitting personal protective equipment (harnesses, anchor points, fall arrest systems, etc.)

How do you prepare for work at height ?

Check that the equipment selected is suitable for its intended use
Carry out an assessment to identify the most appropriate means of prevention (including means of access)
Check accessibility and strength of anchor points
Locate the anchor points' routing
Anticipate the need for help in the event of a fall