This guide provides guidance on minimising risk and ensuring compliance when working at height. It covers legal expectations, making safer decisions, industry best practice, and managing risk in real-world environments. Includes HSE statistics, case studies of prosecutions, and details on equipment selection, training, and inspection.
This document is a guide created by HLS, a company specialising in working at height solutions, materials handling, and floorcare equipment. It is intended for health and safety managers, facilities and operations managers, and maintenance and engineering professionals who specify, manage, purchase, or oversee equipment used for working at height.
The guide begins with an introduction explaining its purpose: to provide clear, practical guidance to support informed decision-making, reduce risk, improve safety outcomes, maintain compliance, and protect those required to work at height. It can be read from start to finish or used as a reference.
HLS's mission, expertise, and values are outlined, including a message from the Managing Director, Stuart Honeywood, who has over thirty years of experience. The company offers unbiased advice, site surveys, equipment hire, training, maintenance, and inspection services in line with LOLER and PUWER regulations.
The guide presents HSE fatal and non-fatal injury statistics, showing that falls from height remain the leading cause of workplace death in Great Britain, with 31 fatal falls in 2025/26. Non-fatal injury data from RIDDOR and the Labour Force Survey are also included, highlighting the scale of harm.
Real-world prosecution case studies are provided, including a ladder fall during renovation and a cherry picker struck by a bus, illustrating consequences of poor planning and lack of controls. The mandatory use of harnesses in boom lifts to prevent the catapult effect is emphasised.
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 are summarised, listing key duties for duty holders: proper planning, consideration of weather, competent workers, safe places of work, suitable and inspected equipment, management of fragile surfaces and falling objects.