Protect employees against the risk of falling from heights

Being protected against falls means that no employee should fall over, slip, stumble, step sideways or fall through a surface. Nor should anyone fall from one level to a lower level. As an employer, you must always remedy risks of falling from heights. The stipulations on risk of falling from heights apply to all activities in all workplaces where the Work Environment Act is in force.

There are also measures against risks of falling from heights in other provisions such as the design of workplaces, use of work equipment and personal protective equipment and in the provisions on risks in certain types of work, in the chapter on building and civil engineering work.

Where could there be risks of falling from heights?

Risks of falling from heights are normally divided into two different types.

• Falls on the same level.
• Falls to a lower level.

Falling accidents are the most common cause of serious occupational accidents with more than 30 days of sick leave.

Falls on the same level

It is very common for employees to fall on the same level. Falls on the same level may be due to the surface being more or less defective and unsafe to walk or stand on, both indoors and outdoors. There may be defects in various types of

• floors
• storage locations
• roofs
• streets
• quays
• walkways
• connecting paths.

The risks can also be caused by a workplace or connecting path being too crowded.

Falling accidents at ground level outdoors mainly occur during winter. Two out of three accidents occur between November and March. The risk of slipping plays a big role here, but darkness can also contribute to more accidents occurring. Poor lighting where employees are working or moving around is a risk source that can lead to employees falling. Lighting conditions must therefore be included in work environment management.

Surfaces can cause slipping

Floors and other surfaces that are slippery due to snow, ice and water can be a risk source. It is common for the effects of the different seasons to be overlooked, even though weather changes often increase the risk of employees falling.

If a surface has too little surface roughness, i.e. slip resistance, this can increase the risk of slipping:

• Hard surfaces with little surface roughness, such as floor tiles, can be slippery.
• Loose mats, especially small ones, can increase the risk of slipping if they are laid directly onto a surface with little surface roughness.
• Chairs with wheels that slide away when employees sit down are also a fall risk that can cause injuries.

The surface roughness is particularly important in walkways that turn or have curves.

Obstacles and unevenness in the surface that can lead to falls

Obstacles and unevenness can also pose a risk of falling, if for some reason they cannot be removed and have not been fenced off or marked in a good, clear way. In the same way, unnecessary level differences, single steps and inappropriately placed loose cables, hoses and the like can pose a risk of employees tripping and falling.

Surfaces that slope, have poor bearing capacity or can move need special attention in order not to cause fall risks. Surfaces that move, or could move, include for example

• vehicles
• agricultural machines or other work equipment
• boats
• pontoons
• gangways
• ladders
• work trestles
• mobile scaffolding
• conveyor belts and rollers

Other risky surfaces can be found where employees move between different workplaces indoors and outdoors, or step into, off of or up onto defective steps on means of transport. It can also be where employees wear shoes with soles that are made for a certain purpose and work, but which may be highly unsuitable for use on a different surface and purpose.

Falling to a lower level is a particular work environment risk

Working on heights usually involves special work environment risks. However, working on heights does not always have to mean a big difference in levels; it could also be a small level difference of a few decimetres, for example. There are no specific measurements of fall heights in the regulations.

Larger level differences can occur, for example, with work

• next to cliffs or steep slopes
• next to a wharf, jetty or loading dock
• when stacking goods
• on a vehicle with a high load
• on a mast or tower
• on technical devices
• on containers

Holes and openings can cause falling accidents

There is a risk of falling to a lower level through holes and openings, for example when employees are near a tank, a tub or any other open vessel. Other examples could include

• an opening in a floor
• a roof
• a wall
• an open well, pit, shaft or pipe trench.

Never remove safety devices without informing the employer

Sometimes it can be necessary to remove a safety device for a short period so that a job can be performed. If you are an employee who must perform this work, you must not remove the safety device on your own initiative. First, contact your employer so that you can decide how the job can be performed safely.

The employer needs to be informed so as to decide how the risk of falls from heights can be handled while the safety device is removed. You and your employer may also need to discuss with another professional to find a solution. Sometimes the employer will need to take further safety measures to prevent anyone from falling when a safety device has been removed.

You also need to agree on what should happen after the work is finished, so that you ensure that the safety device is put back as soon as possible.

Contact the person who is responsible for coordination at joint workplaces

In cases where one of your employees is at someone else's workplace to perform a job where a safety device must be removed, you as an employer need to contact the person who is responsible for coordination and is in charge of safety at the workplace where the job needs to be performed.

It is a criminal offence that may result in a fine for an employee to temporarily remove a safety device or put it out of service without a valid reason. If repair or maintenance makes it necessary to temporarily remove the safety device, this may be a valid reason.

It is important to remember to put a safety device back when, for example, repair or maintenance work has been completed, as this is a common cause of fall accidents. Everyone who performs activities in a joint workplace has a responsibility to prevent fall accidents.