Working at height warning given to facilities management companies
October 23rd 08:54 Health and Safety
Facilities management firms need to ensure that they take every possible precaution to guard against the dangers of working at height, it has been suggested.
Nicola Surrey, an inspector at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), said her organisation offers lots of advice and guidance in this area and warned of what can happen when proper practices are not followed.
She pointed to the prosecution of Tim Philpott of Philpott Demolition and Recycling in Norwich over an incident in which an employee broke his spine after falling at Norfolk's former RAF Watton site.
Pleading guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act, he was fined £7,500.
"Working at height is one of the most dangerous things employees can do. This case highlights the need for companies to do everything possible to minimise the risks employees face," Ms Surrey remarked.
The HSE issued another warning about working at height earlier this month.
