Social Sustainability

Working at Height

Meaning statusEstablishedSource recordDirect source requestedWhy these are different

Definition

Working at height means work in any place, including at or below ground level, where a fall could cause personal injury — on ladders, scaffolds, roofs, platforms or near openings and fragile surfaces. Falls from height consistently rank among the most common causes of fatal and serious workplace injuries.

References

www.ilo.orgBulk import source

This reference provides supporting context for how “Working at Height” is defined and used.

www.hse.gov.ukBulk import source

Source imported for editorial provenance.

Overview

How it is used

Employers conduct risk assessments and issue permits for roof and scaffold work; industries such as construction, telecoms and wind energy train workers in fall protection; OHS systems and ESG social metrics track fall incidents.

Why it matters

Falls remain a top cause of workplace death globally; rigorous control of work at height is a fundamental test of an organisation's safety management.