Harness Inspection Requirements: Does PUWER Apply?
In short: In Great Britain, the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) can apply to a safety harness as work equipment, but they do not provide the…
Scaffolding Inspection Checklist: What Inspectors Must Check
In short: A scaffolding inspection checklist is the structured set of checks a competent person works through to confirm a scaffold is safe to use — and to record that…
Ladder Inspection for Hired Equipment: Who Is Responsible?
In short: The employer or organisation controlling the use of a hired ladder is normally responsible for ensuring it is suitable and safe, even though it does not own the…
Working Near Fragile Roofs: Risks and Controls Explained
In short: Working near a fragile roof means treating every roof surface as unable to safely support a person’s weight until a competent person proves otherwise. Falls through fragile materials,…
Ladder Safety in Work Environments – A Practical Guide
According to HSE’s provisional 2024/25 RIDDOR data for Great Britain, 124 workers were killed in work-related accidents, with falls from height accounting for 35 of these deaths. Although not every…
Working at Height Regulations 2005: A Guide for Employers
Falls from height are the most common kind of fatal accident in the UK, accounting for over a quarter of fatal injuries every year. Where work at height occurs, it…
How Often Ladders Should Be Inspected
Ladder inspection sounds straightforward, but making it work reliably is not. Organisations have to decide how often ladders should be inspected, who is competent to do it, and how inspection…
Working at Height Checklist for Site Supervisors: Managing Risks During the Job
Most working at height incidents do not occur because organisations failed to complete a risk assessment. They occur because the conditions assumed during planning no longer match those workers face…
How to Ensure Workers Use Harnesses Correctly — Organisational Strategies for Real-World Work at Height
Falls from height remain one of the most persistent and serious risks in industry. Fall-arrest harnesses are a key safety control — but unless they are used, and used correctly,…
The Common Working at Height Hazards Everyone Knows
Typical hazards include: Unprotected edges or openings Fragile, sloping or deteriorated surfaces Incorrect or unsafe ladder use Improvised or modified access methods Falling tools or materials Weather exposure, including wind,…
