The Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland (HSENI) has launched a campaign reminding the construction industry about the importance of using suitable access equipment, working platforms and edge protection when working at height.

Sadly since 2020, falls have killed nine workers carrying out construction work at height in Northern Ireland.

It is essential, for those in control of work at height, to make sure work is properly planned, supervised and carried out by competent people with the skills, knowledge and experience to do the job.

If in doubt seek advice from a competent health and safety professional as to how to carry the work out safely, HSENI said.

When planning work at height it is essential to select the most appropriate piece of work equipment for the activity to be undertaken, i.e. properly erected external scaffolding when building a house, an extension or when having substantial roof or chimney works undertaken.

Always consider internal falls such as those from external scaffold platforms into the building or from openings, roof lights and voids.

Falls from flat roof edges can be prevented by providing temporary edge protection, e.g. double guardrail and toe board around the edge of the roof installed by a trained scaffolder or other suitable proprietary edge protection systems. When erected it should be strong and rigid enough to prevent people from falling.

A competent person also needs to assess the roof to ensure it is not fragile and can hold the weight of any people and materials to be used by them.

A mobile access tower or mobile elevated work platform (MEWP) such as a cherry picker may be the best options for shorter duration work and where the work activity can be carried out from within the platform such as maintenance and cleaning.