Working at heights is completely unavoidable on most construction sites today. While you may just accept that this is part of your job role, there are still things you can do to minimize the chance of an accident or injury. Portwest UK offers a wide range of protective equipment and clothing, as well as height safety training for your team, which can help minimise future falls. Read on to learn more about our important safety tips for working at any height.

Important safety tips for working at heights

While you may think that the point of working at heights is the protection and equipment you can provide your team, we always recommend training as the first step in reducing the chance of an accident. Safety at heights is something employers often overlook, but as part of the law, it's critical to update your team regularly so they are fully prepared for work at heights. Sadly, many people are seriously injured or killed each year due to a lack of training and equipment, so equip your team with the knowledge needed to work safely and to respond properly when an accident occurs. If you notice your team is getting lazy while working at heights, talk to them to make sure they stay focused and make health and well-being a top priority.

Add some form of support, such as railings, to provide your team with the easiest form of protection while working at heights. You don't need to add any extra equipment or training to benefit from it, and you'll find a railing system suitable for almost any type of construction site. When you add railings to a construction site, you immediately provide your team with another layer of protection, which may be something that stops slips or falls from happening.

Hopefully you've provided your team with Portwest apparel to perform their work, including Portwest coveralls to protect them from dust or debris. When working at heights, make sure your team is wearing well-fitting Portwest UK clothing to prevent them from tripping over in the first place. When working at heights, you need to add a fall arrest system, and you need to ensure compliance with local safety standards. A seat belt should give you full protection when working at heights, but it must always fit the wearer correctly. Improper lanyards and seat belts can cause a fall or trip, resulting in fatal injury.

In addition to providing your team with the right PPE and Portwest clothing, you also need to make sure it is maintained. While you may think that everything on your site is ready, there is no point in using expired PPE as it may fail due to its age or condition. As an employer, it is your responsibility to inspect PPE, but your team also needs to inspect it before each use. As part of the team's training, make sure they understand this fact to avoid any further problems.

When working at heights, it's important to make sure your team is given the right equipment for the job they're doing. No two construction sites are exactly the same and therefore require different fall protection solutions. Sometimes, you'll find that scaffolding is the best option, but a ladder may be suitable for smaller buildings. Lifts are also often used on large projects, and you need to ensure they are properly used and maintained during work at heights. When installing any form of equipment to assist you with working at heights, check regularly. While you may think this protects you, you also need to make sure you complete height safety training on this protective equipment.

What to do in the event of an accident

One of the biggest problems in the workplace today is the lack of height safety training on how to respond in the event of an accident. Heights safety isn't just about wearing your Portwest equipment and knowing how to operate it properly, it's also about your team responding appropriately in the event of a fall. Make sure new hires are fully aware of your work-at-height injury procedures so they know how to respond if an incident occurs.

While working at heights is part of the daily life of many workers, you should not put them in positions where they risk their health and safety while on the job. By putting all these important tips in your workplace, you will be able to protect your employees while they work.

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