Falls from height remain one of the leading causes of serious injury and fatalities in UK workplaces. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), working at height continues to account for a significant proportion of reportable accidents each year, many of which could have been prevented with proper planning, equipment, and training. For duty holders, employers, and facilities managers, understanding how to reduce risk when working at height is not just good practice; it’s a legal obligation.
Reducing these risks of working at height begins with following the Work at Height Regulations 2005. These regulations set out clear, mandatory steps for identifying and managing hazards before any work at height begins.
The foundation of safe work at height is a comprehensive risk assessment. Before anyone sets foot on a ladder, platform, or roof, employers must identify potential hazards and determine whether the work can be done another way. The hierarchy of control prioritises:
This process isn’t optional. It’s the first legal duty under the Regulations and the most effective way to prevent avoidable incidents. Every project should have a documented assessment that identifies safe systems of work, the right equipment for the task, and clear rescue procedures should something go wrong.
For many facilities managers and project engineers, scaffolding or mobile platforms are often seen as the default choice for working at height. However, these methods can be costly, time-consuming, and sometimes impractical, especially in environments where access is restricted or where operations must continue below.
In complex industrial settings, tall façades or congested plant environments, traditional access can create more risk than it mitigates. Large structures and live facilities demand flexible solutions that reduce both setup time and exposure to height-related hazards.
That’s where specialist access methods such as rope access and man-safe systems offer a safer, faster, and more compliant alternative.
Rope access is one of the most efficient and controlled methods for carrying out inspection, maintenance, or repair in difficult-to-reach areas. Certified under IRATA (Industrial Rope Access Trade Association) standards, trained technicians use a dual-rope system that provides full redundancy and allows safe, precise positioning without the need for bulky scaffolding or powered platforms.
The key advantage from a safety perspective is time exposure. Rope access systems can be deployed rapidly, allowing technicians to reach work areas quickly and complete tasks in a fraction of the time traditional setups would take. Less time at height means less opportunity for incidents to occur, a fundamental principle of risk reduction.
At ADSS, all rope access work is planned and supervised in compliance with the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and relevant British Standards (BS 7985 and BS 7883). Rescue procedures are designed and rehearsed before work begins, ensuring full compliance and peace of mind for employers and duty holders.
For sites that require regular roof or façade maintenance, such as commercial buildings, power stations, or treatment plants, a man-safe system provides a fixed, compliant means of fall protection.
These systems include horizontal lifelines, rigid rails, and anchor points that allow maintenance teams to move safely across exposed areas while remaining continuously connected. Properly installed, inspected, and certified, a man-safe system ensures that every person working at height has a secure attachment point throughout the task.
Under the Work at Height Regulations, employers must ensure that equipment used for access or protection is properly installed and maintained by competent persons. ADSS’s man-safe systems are designed, installed, and tested in accordance with BS 8610 and the latest British and EU safety standards, providing a long-term, auditable record of compliance.
No fall protection system, whether rope access or a fixed safety line, is truly safe unless it is installed and used by competent, certified professionals. The Regulations make it clear that anyone involved in planning, managing, or carrying out work at height must have the right training and experience.
This is where the value of working with an accredited contractor becomes clear. A certified partner will provide:
By choosing a professional partner like ADSS, facilities managers can demonstrate full compliance with legislation while ensuring all operatives are competent, qualified, and properly equipped.
Reducing risks when working at height is not achieved through a single action; it’s the result of comprehensive planning, certified systems, and a safety-first culture. Whether through rapidly deployed rope access or man-safe installations, the goal is the same: to protect workers, maintain compliance, and allow essential maintenance or inspection work to continue safely and efficiently.
At ADSS, safety is never compromised. Every project is delivered under IRATA, FASET, and British Standards, ensuring complete compliance and reliable protection for every operative on site. Contact ADSS today to discuss your specialist access requirements or to arrange a consultation with our certified team.
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