A look at how inspection pits can be a lethal hidden danger if the proper precautions are not put in place.
When you think of the term ‘fall from height’, your mind likely jumps straight to images of maintenance workers on rooftops or telephone poles, plummeting dozens of feet to the ground when things go wrong.
However, the term in fact encompasses a much greater range of potential risks. According to the Health and Safety Executive, ‘work at height’ is defined as ‘work in any place where, if precautions were not taken, a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury.’
Other areas that are considered falls from height include:
Although they are below the ground, falls into vehicle maintenance pits are considered falls from height, and as such, fall under Work at Height Regulations.
Unfortunately, as vehicle maintenance does not seem like ‘typical’ work at height, employers might be unaware of their responsibilities under these regulations. This misconception regarding falls from height can put people at risk, as employees and managers can fail to put the correct measures in place.
Whether due to ignorance or simple lack of awareness, work at height – even at a low level – is made even more lethal without the right measures, often putting innocent employees and visitors at risk of serious injury, or worse, and landing managers and business owners in serious legal hot water…
To find out more, download this whitepaper from Oxford Safety Components. Simply fill out the form opposite…
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